Forklift Seat Belt Law

Click here for risk assessment guidance on seatbelt use on forklift trucks.

Forklift seat belt law.

Forklift seat belt forklift seat belt interlock. It s not only dangerous but it s also against the law. Although not all many manufacturers offered retro fit kits to install seat belts on older forklifts. The safest place for an operator is strapped into the seat of the forklift with the seat belt fastened.

This includes seat belts regardless of how often the operator has to get on and off the forklift. In many cases the adjustment went beyond bolting on a seat belt. If there is any form of restraining system on the truck as there should be post 1992 it must be used while the forklift is in use. This is absolutely not the case.

Why is a forklift seat belt important. 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. This legislation forms part of the provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998 puwer. Osha does not have a specific standard that requires the use or installation of seat belts however section 5 a 1 of the occupational safety and health act osh act requires employers to protect employees from serious and recognized hazards.

Wearing seat belts osha requires that operators use seat belts when they are furnished. Many don t realize the power they wield when using forklifts or how deadly even a bump to a person can be. The rules and exceptions. Recognition of the hazard of powered industrial truck tipover and the need for the use of an operator restraint system is evidenced by certain requirements for powered industrial trucks at asme b56 1 1993 safety standard for.

Put simply this is a myth that needs to be squashed. If the forklift has a seat belt attached must the operator wear it. Forklift seat belts are required by osha regulations. Statute law puts the onus on employers to do a risk assessment which has a risk assessment within a risk assessment in this case decide from their risk assessment whether or not seat belts should be in forced which in many cases should be done which then puts the onus on the employees under section 7 of the health and safety at work act to follow company health and safety procedures employers also need to actually in force their procedures using disciplinary measures for those who.

The answer to this is for counterbalanced trucks rough terrain trucks and sideloading trucks an operator restraining system e g. 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. Instead the requirements included a change in hood latch and hinge design or battery retention systems. Employers are responsible for ensuring that forklift operators are wearing their seat belts.

Regulation 27 of puwer refers. Otherwise seatbelts should be regarded with the hse s rule in mind. Seatbelt must be fitted since 1998. No seatbelt is an extremely rare exception to the rule and one that should not be taken lightly.

If the operator does not use seat belts the employer could be cited for failure to comply with osha standards which requires companies to. Because of the complexity some manufacturers offered kits others did not and some offered. Think about it you d never drive a car with known hazards ahead on the open road. Since december 5th 2002 the majority of fork lift trucks must be fitted with seat belts.

Where restraining systems are fitted they should be used. Seat belts were introduced on forklifts during the late 1980 s.