Page 31 - Powered Industrial Trucks

P3 Safety Solutions, LLC Powered Industrial Trucks - Operators (1910.178)

• The operator has received an evaluation that reveals that the operator is not operating the truck
safely.
• A condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could affect safe operation of the
powered industrial truck.
• The operator is assigned to a powered industrial truck with operating functions not provided in
previous operator training.
• The existing powered industrial truck in operation has been modified.

Facility Assessments

Benchmarks for designing the optimum plant layout include but are not limited to the following
guidelines:
• Design for optimum pedestrian aisle space and crosswalks. Completely segregate pedestrian
from powered industrial truck traffic wherever possible.
• Locate drinking fountains away from active aisles.
• Do not store any material within 8 feet of aisle intersections, thus improving visibility of the
approaching intersection.
• Use 360-degree dome mirrors or convex mirrors at blind/congested intersections.
• Locate all personnel access doors away from the main aisles for powered industrial-truck traffic.
Access from doors should not lead immediately into an aisle.
• Wherever possible, dedicate aisles as material flow traffic aisles only.
• Identify space at dock locations as non-pedestrian areas only.
• Define tool operator space with an escape path and protection from equipment encroachment.
• Identify potential problem areas and mark them with signs, paint, or cross-hatching to alert
powered-equipment operators and pedestrians of potential hazard areas (e.g., use stop signs,
foot paths on floor, flashing light at intersections, etc.).
• Provide safe clearance between pedestrians and powered overhead equipment (e.g.,
conveyors, etc.).
• Provide railings around corners and high pedestrian areas to protect from trailing dollies being
towed. Ensure that railings do not result in tripping hazards.
• Provide dedicated zones for dolly drop-off.
• Provide adequate lighting for existing working conditions.
• Provide windows on each corner of all inter-plant offices located at aisle intersections to
eliminate blind corners.
• Dedicate one personnel access door for over-the-road truck drivers to enter/exit. Access should
lead directly to and from Shipping and Receiving offices. The personnel access door should be
located close to the respective offices to eliminate drivers walking across loading/unloading
bays. Install information signs instructing drivers to proceed to holding areas (canteen, break
room, waiting room, etc.) until summoned.
• Stairs located near powered industrial-truck traffic aisles and descending from elevated floor
levels should exit pedestrians parallel to the aisle, never perpendicular.
• Locate information signs stating “Place No Stock” in areas where storage of such material will
create blind spots.
• Wherever possible, provide aisles that can safely support two-way traffic and a separate
pedestrian aisle (twice the width of the maximum load handled + 18 inches load-to-load
clearance + a 3-foot pedestrian walkway). Aisle demarcation lines should be painted in
accordance with the mandatory requirements of Section 1.2.

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