OSHA’s Amended Regulations on Trucks and Confined Spaces

OSHA has amended their regulations on powered industrial trucks and permit-required confined spaces. Here’s a summary:

Truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new requirements for powered industrial truck operator training (29 CFR 1910.178(l)). The new requirements are intended to reduce the number of injuries and deaths that occur as a result of inadequate operator training. They apply to all industries (general industry, construction, shipyards, marine terminals, and longshoring operations) in which the trucks are being used, except agricultural operations.

The new provisions mandate a training program that bases the amount and type of training required on:

• the operator’s prior knowledge and skill;
• the types of powered industrial trucks the operator will operate in the workplace;
• the hazards present in the workplace
• the operator’s demonstrated ability to operate a powered industrial truck safely.

Refresher training is required if:

• the operator is involved in an accident or a near-miss incident;
• the operator has been observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner;
• the operator has been determined during an evaluation to need additional training;
• there are changes in the workplace that could affect safe operation of the truck;
• operator is assigned to operate a different type of truck.

Evaluations of each operator’s performance are required as part of the initial and refresher training, and at least once every three years.

OSHA estimates that this rule will prevent 11 deaths and 9,422 injuries per year and that the annualized cost of this rule is approximately $16.9 million for all affected industries.

Effective Date:
The effective date is March 1, 1999 for the revised powered industrial truck regulation.

Compliance Dates:
The dates by which powered industrial truck operators must be trained are as follows:

• For employees hired before December 1, 1999, the initial training and evaluation of that employee must be completed by December 1, 1999.
• For employees hired after December 1, 1999, the initial training and evaluation of that employee must be completed before the employee is assigned to operate a powered industrial truck.

The amendments revise paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) addressing the development and implementation of permit space entry programs as well as (k) which covers employer responsibilities for rescue services. A new paragraph (l) on employee participation is being added as well as a new non-mandatory Appendix F which will help employers in selecting properly trained and equipped rescuers.

The standard will give employees more say in determining whether confined work spaces need permits. Employees will also be able to observe their employers’ monitoring and testing of spaces that may need permits. OSHA has also clarified employers’ responsibilities in rescue situations, and given them more flexibility when deciding where to attach safety retrieval lines.

Effective Date:
The confined spaces rule is effective February 1, 1999.

Source: Business and Legal Reports, Madison, CT, December 4, 1998.