Forklift Seat Belt Safety is the Responsibility of the Company not OSHA…or Get Fined

Forklift seat belt safety is critical to keeping the forklift driver safe in the event of a forklift accident. Yes, it takes up extra time, especially if the forklift driver needs to exit the forklift, take care of a situation, enter back on the forklift and proceed to the next task. Sometimes, exiting the forklift may occur often. Then what…put it on, take it off, put it on, take it off… The forklift driver will opt to keep it off to save time. Forklift seat belt safety is vital to keeping the forklift driver safe. It’s that .01% from the 99.99% that companies are worried about, because that’s all it takes to get into a forklift accident. Who needs to enforce forklift seat belt safety? Is it OSHA? The company? Both? Let’s get into it.

What is Forklift Seat Belt Safety?

Forklift seat belt safety is used to keep the forklift driver restrained within the forklift in order to prevent severe injury, harm or death during a forklift accident. If for instance, the forklift experiences a turnover, or begins to fall on its side, the first instinct of the forklift driver is to jump off of the forklift. This is the worst thing to do as it can cause severe injury or death. The seat belt keeps the driver in the seat while the forklift falls to the side. Forklift seat belt safety standards will keep the forklift driver safe.

Does OSHA Require the Use of Seat Belts on Forklifts?

Clarification on forklift seat belt safety was made in October 1996 and corrected in October 2007. B56.1-1969 which is the safety standard for forklift trucks, does not have the provisions for the use of seat belts. Are all forklift drivers, EHS managers and the company as a whole breathing a sigh of relief? Well, not so fast.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act “requires employers to protect employees from serious and recognized hazards.” Remember that example given on tipover’s?  This and other situations, have created the need and use for forklift operator restraint devices or a seat belt should be used. In the more current versions ASME/ANSI B56.1a-1989 Addenda to ASME/ANSI B56.1-1988; and ASME B56.1-1993 Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks, the use of a seat belt is expected.

The Burden is Placed on the Company

Although there isn’t a requirement specifically for forklift seat belt safety, OSHA places the responsibility on the company. In the same document, OSHA states, “OHSA’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.” This means that if there is an accident, and OSHA finds that the forklift driver was not wearing a seat belt, the company will be held responsible.

What Can You Do?

Forklift to forklift collision can be avoided with a forklift safety system. Monitor all of the object and pedestrian detections with the telemetry Dashboard. Contact us to learn more about the SIERA.AI forklift safety system to help bring down the number of potential accidents in your facility today. Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.