Where Does OSHA Say Seat Belts are Required to be Used on Forklifts?
Not in the Standard!
This is a question we are asked quite often around here. Or, a colleague will call saying: “I know OSHA requires seat belts on forklifts, but now for the life of me I can’t find it in the standard.” So, I thought I would take just a moment and help everyone out on this one.
The short answer is: “Yes, the use of seat belts is required.” Where is it in the standard? Well, you won’t find it in the standard. But where you will find it is in the appendix B of the “OSHA CPL 02-01-028 - CPL 2-1.28A - Compliance Assistance for the Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Standards”. The appendix states: “OSHA’s enforcement policy relative to the use of seat belts on powered industrial trucks is that employers are obligated to require operators of powered industrial trucks which are equipped with operator restraint devices or seat belts to use the devices. OSHA should enforce the use of such devices under Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act.”
