Designations - powered industrial trucks

National Fire Protection Association, Fire Safety Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks Including Type Designations, Areas of Use, Conversion, Maintenance, and Operation, NFPA 505, Quincy, MA, 1996... 

Institute (ANSI) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). For example, ANSI Standard B56.1-1969, Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, covers the safety requirements relating to the elements of design, operation, and maintenance of powered industrial trucks. 

On all grades above 5 percent, the individual manufacturer should be consulted since a variety of other factors which must be considered vary with individual tractor designs. Minimum safety criteria for industrial tractors are covered in OSHA Standard Section 1910.178 (Powered Industrial Trucks) and should be referred to when equipment is being selected. 

Also, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas standard at 1910.110(e)(2) requires that LP-Gas fueled forklifts comply with NFPA 505-1969, Standard for Type Designations, Areas of Use, Maintenance and Operation of Powered Industrial Trucks. Although the 1969 edition does not reference fire extinguishers, the 2006 edition addresses their use in Chapter 9, which states that where either the authority having jurisdiction or the end user requires an industrial truck to be equipped with a portable extinguisher, the location of the extinguisher must be in accordance with the truck manufacturer s recommendation. The NFPA standard also says that industrial trucks can only be equipped with portable extinguishers if operators have been trained in their safe operation and use. 

Your letter refers to our standard 1910.178(a)(2). This paragraph deals with design and construction requirements for powered industrial trucks, not with operator qualifications. 

All industrial trucks in use shall meet the applicable requirements of design, construction, stability, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation, as defined in American National Standards Institute B56.1, 1969, Safety Standards for Powered Industrial Trucks. ... 

Response. The preamble to the Final Rule, found on page 66255 of Federal Register Vol. 63, No. 230, clearly states that equipment that was designed to move earth but has been modified to accept forks is not covered be the final rule. Therefore, if your vehicle is designed as earth moving equipment, it would not be considered a powered industrial truck... 

Response. A skid steer loader designed, manufactured, and used in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1057 would be not be considered a powered industrial truck under 1910.178. However, vertical mast skid steer loaders are designed as powered industrial trucks meeting ANSI B56.6 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks. These skid steers would be considered powered industrial trucks under 1910.178. 

Powered industrial trucks. Workers who must handle and store materials often use fork trucks, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other specialized industrial trucks powered by electrical motors or internal combustion engines. Affected workers, therefore, should be aware of the safety requirements pertaining to fire protection, and the design, maintenance, and use of these trucks. See chapter 5 of this manual for safety information about this equipment and vehicles. 

UL Subject 2267, for Installation in Industrial Electric Trucks, Scope The requirements cover fuel cell power systems intended to be installed in type E, EE, ES and EX industrial trucks used in locations as defined in the Fire Safety Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks including Type Designations, Areas of Use, Conversions, Maintenance and Operations NFPA 505, and the National Electrical Code NFPA 70. The fuel cell power systems are intended to be coimected to or integrated with industrial trucks to supply electrical power. These requirements anticipate the use of designs that are fueled by various fuels including hydrogen gas. 

In addition to powered industrial trucks, there are other devices designed to move product. Overhead cranes, hoists, conveyors, and magnetic lifting devices require special training. For some employees, this may be the first time they have seen this type of equipment in operation. Special safety precautions must be discussed with employees prior to working near these jobs. Follow manufacturer guidelines. 

All parts replacement on a powered industrial truck shall be replaced only by parts equivalent as to safety with those used in the original design. 

All training must be conducted ly a designated person with the requisite knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and judge their competency. OSHA does not require that the training be conducted by the employer, a supervisor, or any other particular person, only that the training be conducted ty a person who is qualified to do so. 

Trucks. Industrial trucks are the most commonly used form of transportation of materials. They are particularly suitable for chemicals packed in containers and are relatively cheap and flexible in their use. There are two t3 pes hand trucks and powered trucks. Hand trucks have been designed to suit the nature of the load to be carried. The main types are sack trucks, drum or barrel trucks, cylinder trucks, and carboy trucks which run on two wheels (Fig. 2.4). Only the correct truck may be used in safety since each type is specifically designed with a lifting platform suitable for the shape of the containers to be carried. Hooks or similar devices are often used to hold the load firmly to the truck. 

---