Page 32 - Powered Industrial Trucks

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

• Fire extinguishers and related fire-fighting equipment should be mounted to the inside of vertical
structural support columns and not directly on the column adjacent to powered industrial-truck
traffic aisles.
• Picnic tables, rest areas, vending machines, etc., should be located away from powered
industrial- truck traffic aisles. If this is not possible, protective guards/barriers should be
installed as needed.
• Eliminate “pedestrian flow shortcuts” in production line areas. Design to prevent pedestrians
from cutting though production lines and into main powered industrial traffic aisles

Minimum Aisle Widths

Assembly /
Body shop Stamping
Machining

Aisles along building 15 feet (4.6m) 15 feet (4.6m) 20 ft. (6.1m)
perimeter wall

Cross aisles and 12 feet (3.7m) 15 feet (4.6m) 15 feet (4.6m)
storage areas

Service aisles 8 feet (2.4m) 8 feet (2.4m) 8 feet (2.4m)

• The truck dock apron and aisles that are used to service the truck unloading process should be
classified as "Authorized Personnel Only"
• The minimum aisle width for aisles servicing the truck dock apron is two times the widest load
handled, plus 3 feet (0.9m).
• The minimum overhead clearance is 18 feet (5.5m) throughout the dock apron and 12 feet
(3.6m) overhead clearance in adjacent aisles.
• Facilities for over-the-road truck drivers and the shipping office should be provided so that non-
company personnel are contained.
• The dock apron should contain no building columns.
• The minimum spacing between docks is 15 feet (4.6m), center to center.
• For docks where full-length in-plant trailer trains are to be used, the distance from the dock the
opposite side of the apron should be: [8 feet (2.4m) dock plate, plus15 feet (4.6m)

Facility Layout

Point-of-use docks should not unload directly into the building perimeter aisle. The dock area should
be isolated from other traffic and marked as such according to the Pedestrian and Vehicle Safety
Guideline. The minimum depth of the unloading area is 35 feet (10.7m) from the dock face to the
perimeter aisle [8 feet (2.4m) dock plate, 27 feet (8.2m) apron].

The rail dock apron is the interior area, which extends from the edge of the rail well to the edge of the
main plant aisle parallel to the rail spur. The apron should be a minimum of 20 feet (6.1m) wide [2 feet
(0.6m) clear, plus 18 feet (5.5m) maneuvering zone], although a wider apron may be required if the
rack length is greater than 108 inches.

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