OSHA is proposing a new rule to update design and construction provisions of its powered industrial truck standard for general industry and construction to reflect current industry practice and technological advances.
The proposed rule would update design and construction requirements for powered industrial trucks, including forklifts, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks and other specialized vehicles.
Current design and construction requirements published by the American National Standards Institute and Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation would be included in the proposed rule, according to a Department of Labor news release.
Only design provisions changing
This would only update references to design and construction requirements, so provisions that don’t relate to design and construction wouldn’t change.
For example, 1926.602(c)(1)(vi) includes operator requirements on stability, inspection, testing, maintenance and operation, which wouldn’t be amended in this proposal to reference more current ANSI standards.
The original standard took effect in 1971 and is based on industry consensus standards from 1969, while the national consensus standards have been updated several times since that time.
These requirements would apply to the design and construction of future powered industrial trucks as well as address equipment manufactured before the effective date of the final rule.
OSHA is seeking comment on the proposed rule, which can be submitted here.
