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Reverse Signal Operations Safety Requirements

General information and guidelines for reverse signal operations are provided below.

Backing Up

No employer shall operate any covered vehicle in reverse unless:

  • The covered vehicle has a reverse signal (i.e. back up) alarm that is audible above the surrounding noise level; and
  • The covered vehicle is operated in reverse only when a designated observer or ground guide signals that it is safe to do so; or
  • Before operating the covered vehicle in reverse, the driver visually determines that no employee/pedestrian is in the path of the covered vehicle.

Note: If the back up alarm stops working properly and an immediate fix is not possible that day, the vehicle shall be backed up using ground guide signals or the vehicle be taken out of service until the alarm is repaired.

Exemptions

The requirements of this regulation do NOT apply to the following:

  • Covered vehicles with operable video equipment, or similar technological capability providing the driver with a full view behind the vehicle, are exempt from the requirement to use a ground guide.
  • To the extent that any federal Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation applying to covered vehicles conflicts with this chapter, the DOT regulation shall take precedence.
  • Covered vehicles that did not have a back up alarm when manufactured, or were not later retrofitted with an alarm, are exempt from the requirement to have a back up alarm. 
    • Note: If the manufacturer offered the employer a back up alarm retrofit package at a reasonable and economically feasible cost and the employer did not have the retrofit package installed, this exemption does not apply.

Designated Ground Guides SHALL:

  • Be trained in the requirements of the regulation.
  • Always stay in the line of sight of the vehicle driver while it is backing up. Maintain visual contact with the driver at all times while the vehicle is operating in reverse.
  • Maintain a safe working distance from the vehicle.
  • Be provided with and wear during daylight hours, a safety vest/jacket in orange, yellow, strong yellow-green, or fluorescent versions of these colors.
  • Be provided with and wear at nighttime, a safety vest/jacket with retroreflective material in orange, yellow, white, silver, strong yellow-green, or a fluorescent version of these colors (visible at a minimum distance of 1,000 feet).

Designated Ground Guides SHALL NOT:

  • Perform any activities other than those related to the vehicle being signaled.
  • Use personal cell phones/headphones, etc. that could cause a distraction.
  • Walk close behind a vehicle that is backing up or cross behind in close proximity to a covered vehicle while it is operating in reverse.

Drivers/Operators

Drivers/operators of covered vehicles SHALL:

  • Be trained in the safety rules of this regulation.
  • NOT back up a vehicle unless they keep a constant line of sight of the ground guide. If the driver loses sight of the ground guide, he/she shall immediately stop the vehicle until the sight of the ground guide is regained and a signal is received from the ground guide to restart backup operations.