The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information as the agency considers a rulemaking to update the powered industrial trucks standards for general, maritime and construction industries.
The standards, which became effective in 1971, were based on industry consensus standards from 1969, according to OSHA. Since then, national consensus standards have been updated several times.
OSHA is requesting information on the following: the types, age and usage of powered industrial trucks; maintenance and retrofitting; how to regulate older powered industrial trucks; types of accidents and injuries associated with operating these machines; costs and benefits of retrofitting the machines with safety features; and other components of a safety program.
OSHA plans to use the information to determine what action, if any, it may take to reduce regulatory burdens and create jobs while improving worker safety, the agency explains.
Powered industrial trucks include forklifts, fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other specialized industrial trucks powered by an electrical motor or an internal combustion engine.
Comments must be submitted on or before June 9. More information can be found here.
