OAR 437-002-0227: Additional Oregon Rules for Powered Industrial Trucks

(1) Overhead Guards. (a) Where a rider type lift truck operator is exposed to hoisted objects that might fall, or stacked objects that might be dislodged and fall, the truck shall be equipped with an overhead guard. The guard shall be of sufficient strength to support impact load tests as specified in Table OR-N-1: [Table not included. See ED. NOTE.] (b) Impact load tests shall be conducted with the guard in place on a vehicle for which it is designed or on a simulated mounting. Running gear need not be in place. The load shall be dropped in free fall from an appropriate height so that the impact is centered approximately above the driver’s position. Test loads shall have a length equal to or greater than the width of the guard, and shall strike the canopy at right angles to the vehicle frame. (c) Guards of a design which has been so tested shall be identified by a metal tag permanently attached to the canopy in a position where it may be easily read from the ground. This tag shall be permanently and clearly marked with the impact test load, expressed in foot-pounds to which guards of the same design have been tested. NOTE: Guards required by OAR 437-002-0227(1)(a) through (c), or by the rules following, are not intended to withstand the impact of a capacity load falling from any height. (d) Guards which are not of a design which has been tested in accordance with OAR 437-002-0227(1)(a) through (c) of this rule, may be constructed of material as specified in Table OR-N-2 or material of equivalent strength: [Table not included. See ED. NOTE.] (e) The construction of canopy guards are built in compliance with OAR 437-002-0227(1)(d) shall be based on the strength of four upright members. Guards constructed with less than four upright members shall be of equivalent strength. (A) Canopy type overhead guard frames shall be braced to overhead members on each side of the frame to provide structural rigidity both longitudinally and transversely. (B) All guard mountings or attaching brackets shall be constructed and secured to the vehicle in a manner to provide adequate support to the upright members of the canopy type overhead guard. (C) Cantilever overhead guards shall be of equivalent strength. (f) Guards shall be constructed in a manner that does not interfere with good visibility, but openings in the top shall not exceed 6 inches in one of the two dimensions, width or length. Guards shall be large enough to extend over the operator under all normal circumstances of operation, including forward tilt. (A) Provisions shall be made so that failure of the mast-tilting mechanism will not allow the overhead guard to cause injury to the operator. (B) Lift trucks operated by seated operators shall have not less than 39 inches of clear vertical space between the operator’s seat when depressed and the underside of the guard. Lift trucks operated by standing operators shall have not less than 74 inches of clear vertical space between the platform and the underside of the guard. NOTE: Where overall height of truck with forks in lowered position is limited by head room conditions and there is insufficient space for vertical clearance or for the operator to assume a normal driving position, normal overhead guard heights may be reduced, or the overhead guard may be omitted. The height and stability of stacks of piled material, the weight of individual units handled, and the operating space available shall be such as will provide reasonable safety for the operator if it is necessary to remove the overhead guard. (2) Load Back Rest. Lift trucks which handle small objects or unbanded units shall be equipped with a vertical load back rest. (a) It shall have height, width, strength, sufficient to prevent the load or any part of it from falling toward the operator. (b) It shall be constructed in a manner that does not interfere with good visibility. (c) Size of openings shall not exceed 6 inches in one dimension. (3) Shear Point Guards. Shear points on forklift loaders and similar type vehicles shall be guarded as necessary to protect operators from hazardous exposure. (4) Personnel Platforms. Whenever a lift truck is used for lifting personnel without controls at the platform, the following precautions shall be taken for the protection of personnel being elevated: (a) A work platform equipped with standard guardrails or equivalent means, and firmly secured to the lifting carriage or forks, shall be used. (b) The hydraulic system shall be so designed that the lift mechanism will not drop faster than 135 feet per minute in the event of a failure in any part of the system. (c) An operator shall attend the lift equipment while workers are on the platform. (d) The operator shall be in the normal operating position while raising or lowering the platform. (e) The vehicle shall not travel from point to point with the work platform elevated at a height greater than 4 feet while workers are on the platform. When necessary at heights greater than 4 feet, inching may be permitted provided it is done at a very slow speed. (f) If workers on the platform can contact the lift chains or other dangerous pinch or shear points on the mast or carriage, the platform must have a screen or guard that prevents contact. (5) Equipment and attachments. (a) Do not allow spinner knobs on vehicles without power steering. Spinner knobs must be on the inside of the steering wheel. (b) All vehicles must have a working horn that can be heard above surrounding area noise. NOTE: Paragraph (c) does not apply when the vehicle backs up with an observer or when the operator verifies that there is nobody behind the vehicle or when nobody may enter the danger area without the operator’s knowledge. (c) Vehicles with an obstructed view to the rear must have a backup alarm that can be heard over the surrounding noise. If surrounding noise prevents this or if there are so many vehicles using backup alarms that they cannot be distinguished from each other, flashing or strobe lights are acceptable. (d) Vehicle brakes must be effective when the vehicle is fully loaded. [ED. NOTE: Tables referenced are available from the agency.]