Equipment & Vehicles - General Requirements Part 1
Many OSHA regulations address workplace or jobsite hazards quite specifically when it comes to the employee or worker, however there are a few basic but equally important OSHA regulations in-place that focus on your motor vehicles and mechanized equipment used in the workplace or on your jobsites. Local state or federal DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations may prevail or may be as stringent in many cases regarding your equipment, yet, the intent of this article is to inform you of these general OSHA requirements as found in the CFR Subpart O - 1926.600, 1926.601, & 1926.602. Some sections of this subpart may not be addressed in this article.
Equipment (1926.600)
Equipment that is parked or left unattended at night in an area that is adjacent to a highway in normal use, or a construction site where there will be work in progress, must be equipped as follows to identify the location of the equipment and to maintain overall safety:
- Appropriate lights or reflectors (or barricades equipped with appropriate lights/ reflectors).
- Parking brake must be set and wheels must be chocked (when parked on an incline).
When leaving your equipment overnight, not in use, or during repairs, such as a bulldozer, scraper blade, end-loader, dump bodies or other similar equipment, they shall be fully lowered or blocked, all controls set in equipment, they shall be fully lowered or blocked, all controls set in a neutral position, brakes set and motor stopped (unless the work being performed requires otherwise).
Any machinery, equipment, or parts that are held aloft or suspended by use of jacks, slings, or hoists, must be carefully blocked or cribbed to prevent the load from falling or shifting before employees or personnel are permitted to pass or work under or between the load.
Equipment cab glass must be “safety glass” type or equivalent, and must be free of any visible distortion or obstructions that may affect the safe operation.
If any work onsite or in the workplace will involve inflating, mounting, or dismounting of equipment tires installed on split rims, or rims with locking rings or similar devices; a safety tire rack, cage, or equivalent protective device must then be provided and used for personnel safety.
Motor Vehicles (1926.601)
The type of vehicles referred to in this section are those that operate within an off-highway jobsite, which is not open to public traffic.
All vehicles must be equipped with the following, and shall be maintained in operable condition:
- A service brake system
- An emergency brake system
- A parking brake system
- Two headlights (when visibility conditions require additional light)
- Two brake lights (regardless of light conditions)
- An adequate audible warning device (horn) at the operator’s station
In addition to the above listed items, all vehicles with cabs must be equipped with the following:
- Windshields and powered wipers (cracked or broken glass must be replaced)
- Operable defogging or defrosting devices (only in areas or conditions that require such)
- A cab shield or canopy to protect the operator when haulage vehicles are loaded by means of cranes, shovels, loaders, or similar equipment
- Seats firmly secured and adequate for all employees that are to be carried
- Seat belts (meeting the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Standards)
Fenders must be equipped on all rubber-tired motor vehicle/equipment manufactured on or after 5/1/72. Mud flaps may be used in lieu of fenders where the vehicle is not designed for such.
In a case where the motor vehicle/equipment has an obstructed view to the rear, a reverse signal alarm audible above the ambient noise level must be used or an observer used to signal the operator when it is safe to back up.
Trucks that are equipped with dump bodies shall have a means of support, permanently attached, that is capable of being locked in a position to prevent the accidental lowering of the body while maintenance or inspection work is performed. Also, operating levers which control hoisting or dumping devices must be equipped with a latch or other device which will prevent the accidental starting or tripping of the device.
Tailgates of dump trucks equipped with trip handles must have the device positioned so that while dumping, the operator is in the clear.
All vehicles that are in use must be checked at the beginning of each shift to assure that the items outlined above are in safe operating condition and free of any damage that may cause failure. If any defects are found, they must be corrected before the vehicle is put back in service.
This is part one of a two-part series on Equipment & Vehicles - General Requirements
Part Two: Equipment & Vehicles - General Requirements Part 2