WAC 296-56-60077   Powered industrial trucks.  (1) Applicability. This section applies to every type of powered industrial truck used for material or equipment handling within a marine terminal. Employers must comply with the provisions of chapter 296-863 WAC and this section. It does not apply to over-the-road vehicles.

     (2) General.

     (a) Modifications, such as adding counterweights, that might affect the vehicle's capacity or safety shall not be performed without either the manufacturer's prior written approval or the written approval of a professional engineer experienced with the equipment who has consulted with the manufacturer, if available. Capacity, operation and maintenance instruction plates, tags or decals shall be changed to conform to the equipment as modified.

     (b) Unauthorized personnel shall not ride on powered industrial trucks. A safe place to ride shall be provided when riding is authorized.

     (c) When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load-engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls neutralized and brakes set. Unless the truck is in view and within twenty-five feet (7.62 m) of the operator, power shall be shut off. Wheels shall be blocked or curbed if the truck is on an incline.

     (d) Powered industrial trucks shall not be operated inside highway vehicles or railcars having damage which could affect operational safety.

     (e) Powered industrial trucks shall be marked with their rated capacities, which shall be visible to the operator.

     (f) Only stable and safely arranged loads within the rated capacity of the truck shall be handled.

     (g) Drivers shall ascend and descend grades slowly.

     (h) Drivers shall slow down and sound the horn at crossaisles and other locations where visibility is obstructed.

     (i) If the load obstructs the forward view drivers shall travel with the load trailing.

     (j) Steering knobs shall not be used unless the truck is equipped with power steering.

     (k) When powered industrial trucks use cargo lifting devices that have a means of engagement hidden from the operator, a means shall be provided to enable the operator to determine that the cargo has been engaged.

     (l) When cargo is being towed on pipe trucks or similar equipment, a safe means shall be provided to protect the driver from sliding loads.

     (3) Maintenance.

     (a) Only designated persons shall perform maintenance and repair.

     (b) Batteries on all powered trucks shall be disconnected during repairs to the primary electrical system unless power is necessary for testing and repair. On trucks equipped with systems capable of storing residual energy, that energy shall be safely discharged before work on the primary electrical system begins.

     (c) Replacement parts whose function might affect operational safety shall be equivalent in strength and performance capability to the original parts which they replace.

     (d) Braking systems or other mechanisms used for braking shall be operable and in safe condition.

     (e) Powered industrial trucks shall be maintained in safe working order. Safety devices shall not be removed or made inoperative except as otherwise provided in this section. Trucks with a fuel system leak or any other safety defect shall not be operated.

     (f) Those repairs to the fuel and ignition systems of industrial trucks which involve fire hazards shall be conducted only in locations designated as safe for such repairs.

     (4) Approved trucks.

     (a) "Approved power-operated industrial truck" means one listed or approved for the intended use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

     (b) Approved trucks acquired and used after February 15, 1972, shall bear a label or other identification indicating testing laboratory approval.

     (c) When the atmosphere in an area is hazardous and the provisions of United States Coast Guard regulations at 33 CFR 126.15(e) do not apply, only power-operated industrial trucks approved for such locations shall be used.

     (5) Duties of operator.

     (a) A power-driven vehicle operator's special duties are:

     (i) To operate the vehicle in a safe manner.

     (ii) To test brakes, steering gear, lights, horns, or other warning devices, clutches, etc., before starting work.

     (iii) To have the vehicle at all times under control so that it can be brought to an emergency stop in the clear space in front of the vehicle.

     (iv) To back down any incline of two percent or more when traveling with a load on the fork lift jitney.

     (b) Unobstructed view. When traveling, power-propelled vehicles shall at all times be operated in a manner giving the operator a reasonably unobstructed view in the direction of travel. Where this is impractical, the operator shall be directed in travel, by a person designated to do so.

     (c) Employee riding safety. Operators and authorized passengers shall not be permitted to ride with legs or arms extending outside any vehicle nor shall they be permitted to ride while standing unless the vehicle is designed to be operated from a standing position.

     (d) Moving vehicles. Vehicles shall be controlled manually while being pushed or towed except when a tow bar is used. Special precautions shall be taken when pushing vehicles where view is obstructed. Vehicles shall not be pushed with blades of a forklift.

     (e) Moving highway trailers. In all cargo operations involving the use of highway trailers, trailers shall be moved in such a manner that the moving trailer is completely under control at all times. Special caution shall be exercised when such trailers are moving on inclines. Trailers shall be loaded in a manner which will prevent the cargo from shifting, and the load in the trailer shall be evenly distributed so as not to cause the trailer to tip to one side.

     (f) Prohibited forms of riding. Riding on tongue or handles of trailers or forks of power-propelled vehicles is prohibited.

     (g) Regular seats for riders. No one except the operator shall ride on power-driven vehicles unless regular seats are provided to accommodate passengers.

     (h) Jumping on or off moving vehicles. Employees shall not jump on or off moving vehicles.

     (i) Reporting defects. If a power-driven vehicle is at any time found to be in any way unsafe, the operator shall report same immediately to the person in charge and such vehicle shall not be used for production work until it has been made safe.

     (6) Vehicle equipment and maintenance.

     (a) Horns and lights. All power-propelled vehicles shall be provided with horns or other warning devices.

     (b) Power-propelled vehicles used for night work, when required to travel away from an illuminated work area shall be equipped with a light or lights directed in the direction of travel in order to safely travel about the area.

     (c) Guards on operator's platform. Every power truck operated from an end platform or standing position shall be equipped with a substantial guard securely attached to the platform or frame of the vehicle in such a manner as to protect the operator from falling objects and so designed that the operator can easily mount or dismount from the operating station.

     (d) Seat cushions. All vehicles having a driver's seat shall be provided with resilient seat cushions fixed in place.

     (e) Securing of counterbalances. Counterbalances of all power-driven vehicles shall be positively secured to prevent accidental dislodging, but may be a removable type which may be removed, if desired, prior to hoisting the vehicle.

     (f) Exhaust pipes and mufflers. Exhaust pipes and mufflers of internal combustion engines, where workers are exposed to contact shall be isolated or insulated. Exhaust pipes shall be constructed to discharge not less than seventy-two inches above the floor on jitneys and eighty-four inches on forklifts or less than twenty inches from the floor.

     (g) Ventilation where internal combustion vehicles are used. Internal combustion engines may be used only in areas where adequate ventilation is provided.

     (h) Concentration levels of carbon monoxide gas created by powered industrial truck operations shall not exceed the levels specified in WAC 296-56-60055.

     (i) When disputes arise concerning degree of concentration, methods of sampling to ascertain the conditions should be referred to a qualified industrial hygienist.

     (j) Cargo truck couplings. Couplings installed on cargo trucks (four-wheelers) shall be of a type which will prevent accidental disengaging.

     (k) Operating levers. Operating levers on power-driven vehicles shall be so placed as not to project toward the operator's body.

     (l) Front axle assembly. The front axle assembly on all trailers shall be securely fastened to the truck bed.

     (m) Air line hook-up. Tractors hauling heavy duty highway trailers shall have an air line brake hook-up.

     (n) Floor mats. On power-driven vehicles where the operator stands on a platform, resilient foot mats shall be securely attached.

     (o) Cleaning vehicles. All power-propelled vehicles shall be cleaned at frequent intervals to remove any accumulation of dust and grease that may present a hazard.

     (7) Forklift trucks.

     (a) Overhead guards.

     (i) When operators are exposed to overhead falling hazards, forklift trucks shall be equipped with securely attached overhead guards. Guards shall be constructed to protect the operator from falling boxes, cartons, packages, or similar objects.

     (ii) Overhead guards shall not obstruct the operator's view, and openings in the top of the guard shall not exceed six inches (15.24 cm) in one of the two directions, width or length. Larger openings are permitted if no opening allows the smallest unit of cargo being handled to fall through the guard.

     (iii) Overhead guards shall be built so that failure of the vehicle's mast tilting mechanism will not displace the guard.

     (iv) An overhead guard, otherwise required by this paragraph, may be removed only when it would prevent a truck from entering a work space and if the operator is not exposed to low overhead obstructions in the work space.

     (v) Overhead guards shall be large enough to extend over the operator during all truck operations, including forward tilt.

     (b) Supplies to ship's rail. Cargo or supplies shall not be hoisted to or from ship's rail with a forklift. This does not apply to ramp or side port loading.

     (c) Position of forks. When standing, lift forklift forks shall be lowered to floor. When moving, lift forklift forks shall be kept as low as possible.

     (d) Forklift use in gangplank moving. Not less than two forklifts shall be used to place or remove gangplanks unless fork width prevents tipping and manufacturer's rated lifting capacity of the forklift is not exceeded.

     (e) Forklift seat covers. Seats on forklifts shall be provided with a removable waterproof cover when they are exposed to the weather.

     (f) Raised equipment to be blocked. Workers shall not work below the raised bed of a dump truck, raised buckets of front end loaders, raised blades of tractors or in similar positions without blocking the equipment in a manner that will prevent it from falling. When working under equipment suspended by use of jacks, safety stands or blocking shall be used in conjunction with the jack.

     (g) Maximum speed. The maximum speed for forklifts on all docks shall not exceed eight miles per hour. The speed limit shall be prominently posted on such docks.

     (h) Load backrest extensions. Where necessary to protect the operator, forklift trucks shall be fitted with a vertical load backrest extension to prevent the load from hitting the mast when the mast is positioned at maximum backward tilt. For this purpose, a "load backrest extension" means a device extending vertically from the fork carriage frame to prevent raised loads from falling backward.

     (i) Forks. Forks, fork extensions and other attachments shall be secured so that they cannot be accidentally dislodged, and shall be used only in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

     (j) Counterweights. Counterweights shall be so affixed that they cannot be accidentally dislodged.

     (k) Capacities and weights.

     (i) Forklift truck rated capacities, with and without removable counterweights, shall not be exceeded. Rated capacities shall be marked on the vehicle and shall be visible to the operator. The vehicle weight, with and without counterweight, shall be similarly marked.

     (ii) If loads are lifted by two or more trucks working in unison, the total weight of the load shall not exceed the combined rated lifting capacity of all trucks involved.

     (l) Lifting of employees. Employees may be elevated by forklift trucks only when a platform is secured to the lifting carriage or forks. The platform shall meet the following requirements:

     (i) The platform shall have a railing complying with WAC 296-56-60123(3).

     (ii) The platform shall have toeboards complying with WAC 296-56-60123(4), if tools or other objects could fall on employees below.

     (iii) When the truck has controls which are elevated with the lifting carriage, means shall be provided for employees on the platform to shut off power to the vehicle.

     (iv) Employees on the platform shall be protected from exposure to moving truck parts.

     (v) The platform floor shall be skid resistant.

     (vi) A truck operator shall be at the truck's controls when employees are elevated unless the truck's controls are elevated with the lifting carriage.

     (vii) While employees are elevated, the truck may be moved only to make minor placement adjustments.

     (8) Bulk cargo-moving vehicles.

     (a) Where a seated operator may come into contact with projecting overhead members, crawler-type bulk-cargo-moving vehicles that are rider operated shall be equipped with operator guards.

     (b) Guards and their attachment points shall be so designed as to be able to withstand, without excessive deflection, a load applied horizontally at the operator's shoulder level equal to the drawbar pull of the machine.

     (c) After July 26, 1999, bulk cargo-moving vehicles shall be equipped with rollover protection of such design and construction as to prevent the possibility of the operator being crushed because of a rollover or upset.

     (9) Straddle trucks.

     (a) Accessibility. Straddle trucks shall have a permanent means of access to the operator's station, including any handholds necessary for safe ascent and descent.

     (b) Guarding.

     (i) Main sprockets and chains to the wheels shall be guarded as follows:

     (A) The upper sprocket shall be fully enclosed;

     (B) The upper half of the lower sprocket shall be enclosed; and

     (C) The drive chain shall be enclosed to a height of eight feet (2.44 m) except for that portion at the lower half of the lower sprocket.

     (ii) Gears shall be fully enclosed and revolving parts which may be contacted by the operator shall be guarded.

     (iii) When straddle trucks are used in the vicinity of employees, personnel-deflecting guards shall be provided around leading edges of front and rear wheels.

     (c) Visibility. Operator visibility shall be provided in all directions of movement.

     (10) Trailer-spotting tractors.

     (a) Trailer-spotting tractors (fifth wheels) shall be fitted with any hand grabs and footing necessary for safe access to the fifth wheel.

     (b) Rear cab windows shall be of safety glass or equivalent material.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 09-15-144, § 296-56-60077, filed 7/21/09, effective 9/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040 , and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, § 296-56-60077, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01; 00-01-176, § 296-56-60077, filed 12/21/99, effective 3/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-02-024, § 296-56-60077, filed 12/30/98, effective 3/30/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60077, filed 1/17/86; 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), § 296-56-60077, filed 4/19/85; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60077, filed 12/11/84.]