OSHA Implements Regional Emphasis Program on Forklifts

Forklifts and similar industrial vehicles are the focus of a new OSHA regional enforcement program in Region 8.  The new program covers Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota—all in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Region 8. OSHA has similar efforts in New England, the Southeast, the Northwest, and the Central Midwest. Enforcement under the new program began November 23^rd.

OSHA stated that the effort was prompted by the high number of powered industrial vehicle violations found by inspectors. OSHA’s rule for driving and maintaining powered industrial vehicles was the seventh most cited rule in fiscal year 2022 with more than 1,750 alleged violations, according to enforcement data.

The program targets the dangerous operation of a wide range of wheeled vehicles used frequently in construction projects, factories, warehouses, building supply stores, and transportation depots, the directive said.  In addition to forklifts, inspectors can check on more than 20 other types of small vehicles including scissor lifts, pallet trucks, all-terrain vehicles, and golf carts and small electric trucks used to transport workers.

According to the directive, construction checks will be part of any building site inspection, including impromptu inspections prompted by other types of dangers such as workers falling.  Most workplace inspections, other than construction, will be based on businesses’ random selection from a list of covered worksites or based on workers’ complaints or referrals from other government agencies.