Sling Tags

Q: Do load rating tags on nylon slings need to be legible while the slings are in use?

A: Yes, the slings have to be essentially free of damage and a torn, missing or smudged data tag would constitute damage.

Fall Protection

Q: How long can a person be suspended in a fall arrest harness?
A: The following is the regulation dealing with the rescue time for someone who has fallen and is being suspended by a fall arrest harness:

1926.502(d)(20) The employer shall provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall assure that employees are able to rescue themselves.  

The word “prompt” requires rescue be performed quickly, in time to prevent serious injury to the worker. OSHA does not have a set time in which an employee would need rescued, but recent studies indicate that a person may become unconscious within 5 minutes.

Forklift

Q: Can a forklift engine be left running if the driver steps off the vehicle for a few moments?

A: Yes, but only if the following conditions apply:

1910.178(m)(5)(i) When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls shall be neutralized, power shall be shut off, and brakes set. Wheels shall be blocked if the truck is parked on an incline.

1910.178(m)(5)(ii) A powered industrial truck is unattended when the operator is 25 ft. or more away from the vehicle which remains in his view, or whenever the operator leaves the vehicle and it is not in his view.

1910.178(m)(5)(iii) When the operator of an industrial truck is dismounted and within 25 ft. of the truck still in his view, the load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls neutralized, and the brakes set to prevent movement.

Forklift

Q: How wide do the aisles for the forklift traffic have to be?

A: The aisle must be at least 3 feet wider than your widest piece of equipment.

Secondary Power Lines

Q: When using scaffolding, what safety measures need to be taken to stay safe when working by secondary electric lines running to homes or businesses?

A:  You have several options that you can use to keep yours employees safe, as well as being in compliance with OSHA:

• You can disconnect the power
• Work at least 10 feet from the lines
• Reroute the lines
• Have the power company cover the lines.

Forklift

Q: What is the OSHA regulation for covering the top of a forklift to stay dry when it rains?  Is there an OSHA approved add-on for this purpose?

A: In OSHA’s Forklift Regulation there is nothing that is specific about adding modifications to the forklift to protect the employee from rain.  What the regulation does state is that prior to adding any modification you need the manufacturer’s written approval, but this is only if these modifications are going to affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift.  See the regulation below.  I would recommend calling the company that manufactures your forklift and ask them if they have any additions that add rain protection and to check with them to ensure it will not affect the load capacity.

•29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4) Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturers prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals shall be changed accordingly.

Respiratory Protection

Q: How do you know from the MSDS if you need to wear a respirator when working with chemicals that requires a respirator but only at a certain PEL?
A: You cannot tell from just the MSDS. Our recommendation would be to conduct air monitoring to determine what the exposure for the workers would be. If you can’t have air monitoring conducted, you’ll need to assume that the workers are exposed above the permissible exposure limits and follow the MSDS’ recommendation for respiratory protection.

Emergency Evacuation Plan

Q: Does OSHA require posting emergency evacuation maps every so many feet throughout the plant?

A: There is nothing that specific in the standard but they should be in common areas such as offices and break rooms, doorways, etc.  The maps should be visible to anyone walking by.  They should have a primary and secondary route color coded and the mustering point marked.

Fall Protection

Q:  What is required by OSHA for man lifts as far as fall protection?

A:  If you’re using scissor lifts a personal fall arrest harness is not needed if all four sides of the lift are protected by guardrails since they fall under OSHA’s scaffolding regulation.  If you’re using an extendable boom aerial lift then personal fall protection is required.  It’s OSHA’s policy that an employer will be in compliance with OSHA’s fall protection requirements for aerial lifts if one of these three means of fall protection are used:

• Use of a body belt with a tether anchored to the boom or basket (fall restraint system),
• Use of a body harness with a tether (fall restraint system), or
• Use of a body harness with a lanyard (fall arrest system).

If using a fall arrest system you need to be aware of the distance it takes to actually arrest the employees fall.  For example, if a 6’ person is using a 6’ lanyard the distance that would be needed to arrest the fall safely without hitting the ground would be around 18 feet.  This length is taking into consideration the distance that the lanyard could stretch and a 3’ safety factor that OSHA requires to be added into the total distance.

Use of Headphones

Q:  Does OSHA prohibit the use of headphones while operating the forklift?

A:  OSHA does not address this specifically but the employee would need to be able to hear the back up alarms, horns, or other emergency alarm systems.