There is a common myth surrounding the use of seatbelts in forklift trucks if their use isn t specified during a risk assessment then they don t need to be used.
Forklift seat belt law uk.
The answer to this is for counterbalanced trucks rough terrain trucks and sideloading trucks an operator restraining system e g.
The rules and exceptions.
This rule only applies to masted counterbalance trucks and does not apply to reach trucks.
It is a legal requirement to wear a seat belt whilst driving a car or other motor vehicle in the uk but is it a legal requirement to wear one whilst operating a fork lift.
The main piece of forklift legislation that affects users and owners is the 1974 health and safety at work act.
This is the fundamental legislation on which all uk health and safety law is based.
No seatbelt is an extremely rare exception to the rule and one that should not be taken lightly.
You can be fined up to.
Osha forklift seat belt.
Regulation 27 of puwer refers.
However employers are required to protect employees from serious and recognized hazards all powered industrial trucks manufactured after 1992 are required by osha to have seat belts or another type of restraint specifically to reduce the risk of being crushed or mousetrapped in the event that the forklift overturns.
You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you re using there are only a few exceptions.
A young person is anyone under eighteen years of age.
Otherwise seatbelts should be regarded with the hse s rule in mind.
Health and safety at work act and more.
Seatbelt must be fitted since 1998.
Layman s explanation of the common statutes that affect forklift operation in the uk.
Where restraining systems are fitted they should be used.
Click here for risk assessment guidance on seatbelt use on forklift trucks.
Since december 5th 2002 the majority of fork lift trucks must be fitted with seat belts.
This is absolutely not the case.
Osha does not have a specific rule requiring forklifts to have seat belts.
There are particular definitions of people by age in health and safety law.
It has been a legal requirement since december 2002 for operators of counterbalanced forklift trucks to wear seat belts.
It states the law but leaves the interpretation of it to employers and individuals aided by guidance notes approved codes of practice and regulations.
Must be fitted with an operator restraining system for example a seat belt.
Put simply this is a myth that needs to be squashed.
You re also only allowed 1 person in each seat fitted with a seat belt.
This legislation forms part of the provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998 puwer.