Therefore, they fall within the requirements of §1926.451(c)(2)(iv) and (v), along with the other requirements of that section for capacity, construction, access, use, and fall protection. In construction, powered industrial trucks, which include rough terrain forklifts, are "similar pieces of equipment" to forklifts and front end loaders in this context. * * * * * All supported scaffolds, including those supported by forklifts, front-end loaders and similar pieces of equipment, must comply with the applicable requirements of §1926.451 for capacity, construction, access, use, and fall protection. OSHA notes that the commenters are in general agreement that all equipment not specifically designed to support scaffold platforms must not be used. " At the end of that discussion, in explaining our findings leading to the promulgation of the final standard, we stated: OSHA finds there is insufficient reason to totally ban the use of forklifts, front-end loaders and similar pieces of equipment as scaffold supports. In the Preamble to Subpart L, published in the August 30, 1996, Federal Register, OSHA discussed comments that asked if the Agency "should prohibit the use of cranes, derricks, forklifts, front-end loaders, and similar pieces of equipment for the support of scaffold platforms. The next paragraph (§1926.451(c)(2)(v)) specifically addresses forklifts used to support scaffold platforms, stating that the entire platform must be attached to the fork, and that the forklift is not to be moved horizontally while the platform is occupied. Note that, under §1926.451(c)(2)(iv), the standard states that front-end loaders and "similar pieces of equipment" shall not be used to support scaffold platforms unless specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. In Subpart L, the standard for scaffolds, the term "platform" is defined as "a work surface elevated above lower levels." Therefore, §§1926.451, 1926.4.454 of OSHA's standards for scaffolds would be applicable for capacity, construction, access, use, fall protection, and training. That paragraph, ((c)(1)(viii), is derived from section 603.L of ANSI B56.1-1969), sets out additional precautions for the protection of personnel being elevated by a powered industrial truck.Īs mentioned above, other construction standards (besides §1926.602(c)) contain requirements to protect employees working on platforms. However, in 1993, paragraph (viii) was added to §1926.602(c)(1) as part of an administrative rulemaking to codify existing applicable general industry standards as construction standards. OSHA has not undertaken rulemaking to revise §1926.602(c). Paragraph (c) of §1926.602 was first published as an OSHA standard in 1971. In OSHA's forklift standard, under §1926.602(c)(1)(vi), the designs of all industrial trucks used by an employer are required to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B56.1-1969, Safety Standards for Powered Industrial Trucks. In addition, OSHA's construction standards for scaffolds (Subpart L of 29 CFR Part 1926, §§1926.451-1926.454 and Appendices A-E) also contain requirements that protect employees working on platforms elevated by forklift trucks. In short, requirements for the use of lifting and hauling equipment for material handling in construction, such as rough-terrain forklifts are set out in §1926.602(c). We apologize for the long delay in providing this response. You ask which requirements must be followed by a contractor using a rough-terrain forklift for lifting personnel in a platform, and if there are any specific requirements other than those found in §1926.602. This responds to your January 3, 2000, letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in which you ask several questions regarding the use of rough-terrain forklifts (powered industrial trucks) for lifting personnel in a platform.
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