SAFETY SOLUTIONS: Free Forklift ANSI Standards

Recently while I was teaching a Forklift Train-The- Trainer class at the OSHA Training Institutes, I was asked by one of the students where they could get the ANSI standards.

I was explaining that most companies forklift programs do not really meet OSHA requirements since OSHA has adopted the American National Standards Institute in both the general industry and construction standards. I went onto the internet and I had a pleasant surprise.

First, for those not familiar with materials handling entities in the US, the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) is made up of representatives from major forklift manufacturers and other interested parties and promotes materials handling and safety. The ITA was a driving force behind changes in the OSHA forklift standard of the late 1990s after many years of effort and urging. Besides the OSHA standard, most forklift trainers are familiar with the ANSI or ASME standard (different names for the same standard).

American National Standards Institute (ANSI B56.1) forklift standard has been referenced by OSHA in their standards. For example, 29 CFR 1910.6 Incorporated by Reference states” 1910.6(a)(1) The standards of agencies of the U.S. Government, and organizations which are not agencies of the U.S. Government which are incorporated by reference in this part, have the same force and effect as other standards in this part. Only the mandatory provisions of standards incorporated by reference are adopted as standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Forklifts are also referenced under OSHA 1910.6(e)(29) ANSI B56.1-69 Safety Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, IBR approved for §§1910.178(a)(2) and (3) and 1910.261(a)(3)(xv), (b)(6), (m)(2), and (m)(5)(iii). and at the following locations;

• 1910.178(a)(2) All new powered industrial trucks acquired and used by an employer shall meet the design and construction requirements for powered industrial trucks established in the “American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969,” which is incorporated by reference as specified in §
• 1910.6, except for vehicles intended primarily for earth moving or over-the-road hauling.
• 1910.178(a)(3) Approved trucks shall bear a label or some other identifying mark indicating approval by the testing laboratory. See paragraph (a)(7) of this section and paragraph 405 of “American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969”, which is incorporated by reference in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and which provides that if the powered industrial truck is accepted by a nationally recognized testing laboratory it should be so marked. If you have a gas, diesel or propane fueled forklift then you should look at the following OSHA requirements:
• 1910.178(f)(1) The storage and handling of liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel fuel shall be in accordance with NFPA Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (NFPA No. 30-1969), which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.
• 1910.178(f)(2) The storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gas fuel shall be in accordance with NFPA Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (NFPA No. 58-1969), which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.1910.178(g) OSHA can also enforce issues not contained in the forklift standard if it feels something presents a hazard. This is enforced under the “general duty clause”, under which employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.

We always paid for the standards, but never included them with our trainers’ program due to the expense involved in doing it legally. However, due to co-operative efforts from the ITA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) the B56 standards are now available free from the Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF), which is funded by the ITA. Eleven standards are free at www.ITSDF.org.

Whether you are a trainer in the US or not, these are excellent guidelines for forklift safety and contain a tremendous amount of professionally written technical and safety material. Most people will be most interested in the ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 Safety Standard for Low and High Lift Trucks, but there is far more to see.

When you receive this information, please consider incorporating the ANSIs into your forklift safety program.