Excerpt I:

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1926

[Docket No. S-008]

Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

VI. The Need for Training

Training is generally defined as making a person proficient through the use of specialized instruction and practice. Training is the means by which an employer ensures that employees have the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary for the employees to do their jobs correctly.

Once an employee acquires the basic knowledge, skills, and abilities, refresher or remedial training may be used to reinforce or improve those attributes, to provide new material, to provide material that was previously discussed in a new manner, or to simply maintain an awareness of the material that has previously been taught. Refresher or remedial training is normally conducted on a predetermined periodic basis, that is, on a monthly, semi-annual, or annual basis.

Training may be as simple and informal as a supervisor pointing out an error in the manner in which an employee is doing a job (making an on-the-spot correction) or showing an employee how to do a particular task (demonstrating the proper method to do the job). On the other end of the spectrum is the detailed, structured instruction that uses formal methods of training (lectures, conferences, formal demonstrations, practical exercises, examinations, etc.). Formal training is usually used to impart more, or more complicated information to a trainee.

For the most part, employees do not start out with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the tasks necessary for safe lift truck operation. Although many employees who are selected or assigned to drive powered industrial trucks are licensed to drive automobiles, there are enough dissimilarities between these two types of vehicles and their operation to require additional knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate a powered industrial truck safely. Operational characteristics of powered industrial trucks, such as vehicles equipped with rear-wheel steering and front-wheel drive and the capability to hoist-move-lower loads, require operator training and practice to master the different driving skills that must be used when an employee operates powered industrial trucks.

Many accidents can be prevented, or the seriousness of the injury to the employee can be mitigated, by training employees. Effective training and supervision also can prevent the occurrence of unsafe acts such as speeding, failing to look in the direction of travel, and failing to slow down or stop and sound the vehicle's horn at blind intersections and other areas where pedestrian traffic may not be observable. Another example in which training can prevent or lessen the severity of an accident of this kind is directly related to the stability of powered industrial trucks when traveling with an elevated load. Effective operator training should emphasize that the vehicle can only be moved when the load is at its lowest point. However, even if an operator fails to follow this practice and the vehicle tips over, the injury to the operator is usually minimal if he or she stays with the vehicle. As previously discussed, the usual injury in a powered industrial truck tipover occurs when the operator attempts to jump off the vehicle while it is tipping over. In these cases, since the normal tendency is for a person to jump downward, the operator lands on the floor or ground in the path of the overhead guard, leading to a crushing injury of the head, neck or back. Training an employee to stay with the vehicle will reduce the severity of some of these injuries.

The studies conducted by Cohen and Jensen, discussed under Studies, Accident, Injury and Other Data earlier in this preamble, found a reduction in operator errors rate of up to 70 percent from training. Although a 70 percent error rate reduction cannot be directly equated to a corresponding reduction in the number of accidents that this or any other group of operators will experience, improper or unsafe operation of powered industrial trucks is the major cause of accidents and their resultant fatalities and injuries. Therefore, a reduction in the unsafe operation of these trucks will reduce the number of accidents, and the resultant fatalities and injuries.

Although not all powered industrial truck accident reports spell out lack of training as a causal factor in the accident, each accident can, in part, be attributed to the actions or inactions of the operator. For example, when a powered industrial truck tips over, the accident is caused by one or more of several factors, including speeding, traveling with the load in an elevated position, or improperly negotiating a turn. Training can minimize the number of times that these events occur.

Proper training of an employee must take into account the fact that different operating conditions (including the type and size of the load, the type and condition of the surface on which the vehicle is being operated, and other factors) can adversely affect vehicle operation. Construction sites usually include many of these factors, such as rough terrain. Operator training must emphasize two points regarding any potential accident scenario. These two factors are: (1) The employee should not engage in activities that may cause an accident, and (2) the employee should minimize the potential for injury (either to himself or herself or to other employees) by taking appropriate actions.

 Excerpt II:

Standard Overview. The training requirement found in 29 CFR 1910.178 for operators of powered industrial trucks and the same requirement for operators of powered industrial trucks in the construction [1926.602(d)] and maritime [1915.120, 1910.16(a)(2)(x), 1910.16(b)(2)(xiv), 1917.1(a)(2)(xiv), 1918.l(b)(10)] industries specify that the employer must develop a complete training program. OSHA requires that operators of powered industrial trucks be trained in the operation of such vehicles before they are allowed to operate them independently. The training must consist of instruction (both classroom-type and practical training) in proper vehicle operation, the hazards of operating the vehicle in the workplace, and the requirements of the OSHA standard for powered industrial trucks. Operators who have completed training must then be evaluated while they operate the vehicle in the workplace. Operators must also be periodically evaluated (at least once every three years) to ensure that their skills remain at a high level and must receive refresher training whenever there is a demonstrated need. To maximize the effectiveness of the training, OSHA will not require training that is duplicative of other training the employee has previously received if the operator has been evaluated and found competent to operate the truck safely. Finally, the training provisions require that the employer certify that the training and evaluations have been conducted.

Excerpt III:

Amendment of subsection (a) and redesignation of former section 3664(a)(1)-(32) to section 3650(s)(1)-(32) filed 5-28-2002; operative 6-27-2002 (Register 2002, No. 22).

Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 4. General Mobile Equipment and Auxiliaries
Article 25. Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Haulage Vehicles, and Earthmoving Equipment