OSHA Forklift Compliance: What Inspectors Actually Check

By Vince Lawrence — GigLine Safety & Compliance

The powered industrial truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178) is one of OSHA's most-cited every year. Two subsections generate most citations: operator training (l) and inspection logs (q).

Operator certification (1910.178(l))

Formal instruction + practical training + evaluation of performance. Evaluation must be re-performed every three years — 1910.178(l)(4)(iii).

Daily inspection logs (1910.178(q)(7))

Pre-shift inspection before every use. Written log — truck ID, date, operator, defects noted. Defects that make the truck unsafe remove it from service.

Traffic controls

Painted pedestrian lanes, convex mirrors at blind intersections, defined loading zones, and signage. Not prescribed by rule name, but cited under the general duty clause when struck-by hazards exist.