Powered Industrial Trucks Safety

No. An approved personnel cage must be used according to manufacturer recommendations, or other appropriate means, such as an aerial lift or ladder, be used.

No.

Yes. You must be at least 18 years of age in order to operate a forklift (i.e. powered industrial truck) and similar equipment in nonagricultural settings. This requirement is from the Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act, Hazardous Order No. 7. In agricultural settings, you must be at least 16 years of age in order to operate a forklift or similar equipment.

If the forklift originally had a seatbelt that has been subsequently removed or is defective, the department is responsible for getting it replaced or repaired. If the forklift is so old that it did not have a seatbelt installed in the first place, you should talk with the manufacturer to see if there are retrofit kits available.

VDOT traffic flaggers and powered industrial truck (i.e. forklift) operators must be at least 18 years of age. Other job duties which are hazardous in nature would also be restricted to those at least 18 years of age. Such duties should be reviewed by the supervisor and/or Environmental Health & Safety for clarification, if necessary. Contact 540-231-2341 for assistance.

The seatbelt is designed to keep you in the "safe zone" of the forklift in the event of tip over. It cannot protect you if it is not used.