Postal Bulletin 22144 - December 23, 2004 - USPS.com

POSTAL BULLETIN 22144 (12-23-04)
65
Employees (Continued)
Handbook EL-803, Maintenance Employee’s
Guide to Safety
SECTION XI
* * * * *
In-Plant Powered Industrial Trucks
[Revise Section XI to read as follows:]
This section applies to all types of materials-handling
equipment commonly known as powered industrial trucks
(PITs), as described in OSHA Standard 1910.178 — such
as tow motors, fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized
hand trucks and other specialized industrial trucks
powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines.
Fuel-powered industrial trucks are generally prohibited indoors.
Consult with your local safety professional before
using a fuel-powered industrial truck.
You must be trained and authorized to operate in-plant
powered industrial trucks. PIT operators are responsible for
ensuring vehicle safety and following all safety requirements.
Immediately report to your supervisor all PIT-related
accidents and near misses, including property damage;
they must be investigated and reported on a Form 1769.
A. Vehicle Regulations
Inspect brakes, steering apparatus, horn, etc., each
day prior to using in-plant powered industrial trucks.
Tag all defective powered industrial trucks using
Form 4707, remove them from service, and report all
defects to your supervisor immediately.
Be sure that all in-plant powered industrial trucks are
equipped with horns and a flashing warning light that
works.
Do not operate industrial lift trucks with the overhead
guard or load backrest removed.
B. Driving Regulations
1. Do not operate powered industrial trucks in a reckless
manner; this is strictly prohibited.
2. Use a hard hat under these situations:
When working above floor level.
When working from mechanical lifts and
platforms.
When operating powered mechanical equipment
and where an overhead hazard exists.
When local safety rules are based upon a hazard
assessment requiring hard hat protection.
3. Do not ride with any part of the body protruding from
the powered industrial truck.
4. Use only the designated truck traffic aisles.
5. Make sure there is adequate clearance before proceeding
under all overhead obstructions.
6. Face the direction toward which you are moving and
be careful of rear-end swing when turning corners.
7. Speed
Drive in-plant powered industrial trucks below 5
mph (that is, about the speed of a fast walk).
Approach all intersecting aisles and towveyor
crossings slowly and cautiously. Sound the horn
to inform pedestrians of your approach.
Keep the powered industrial truck at least three
vehicle lengths behind other vehicles when
traveling.
8. Backing Up
Check to be certain there is a clear path to the rear
before backing.
Do not back powered industrial trucks through
doorways, unless your field of vision is clear.
9. Passengers
Never exceed powered industrial truck seating
capacity.
Provide securely attached seating for passengers.
Never allow a passenger to ride on an in-plant
powered industrial truck without securely attached
seating.
10. Industrial Lift Trucks
Use industrial lift trucks only for lifting and hauling
loads. Do not use them as a means of personal
transportation or for raising personnel to elevated
locations, unless properly equipped and installed
personnel platforms are used.
Lift, lower, and carry loads with industrial lift trucks
with the lifting mechanism vertical or tilted back,
but never tilted forward.
Keep forks on a moving lift truck low (just high
enough to clear all floors and low enough to clear
all overhead obstructions). Under normal conditions,
3 inches above floor level should be
sufficient.
When approaching or leaving a building where the
ramp incline is greater than 10 degrees, turn the