BMSA's April Safety First!

BMSA's Safety First!

April 2018

OSHA Citation Data for Forklift Standard

"What Not To Do"

Photo Credit: World_of_Forklift

OSHA Standard 1910.178 sets out the requirements for forklift compliance. As a part of the National Lumber And Building Material Dealers Association's annual review of the most recent OSHA citation data, here are some key takeaways to help focus you on compliance and safety. The data below are for lumber yards unless specifically stated otherwise, for example, for home centers or hardware stores. The assessment for each citation as well as the final penalty can vary for violations of the same standard depending on circumstances such as if it is a repeat violation or if it is associated with violations of other standards.

1. Nameplates and markings must be placed and maintained in a legible condition. Cost of violation : An initial citation of $2,000 was negotiated to $1,500.

2. Truck brakes must be set and rear wheels chocked while truck is boarded with powered industrial truck. Cost of violation : An initial citation of $1,000 was negotiated to $650.

3. Driver must slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and where vision is obstructed. Driver must travel with the load trailing if the load being carried obstructs the driver's forward view. Cost of violation : An initial citation at a hardware store was $12,675 with the final penalty negotiated to $3,800.

Get the complete document Key Takeaways from OSHA Citations for Forklift Standard at NLBMDA.org's EHS Resource Center .

(Source: NLBMDA Workplace Safety & Risk Management Newsletter , April 2018 & Dealer.org , April 2018)

Annual Roadcheck Inspection Spree Slated for Early June, Focus on Hours Violations

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) annual International Roadcheck, a three-day ramp up of truck and bus enforcement across North America, is scheduled for June 5-7 . The year's focus will be on hours-of-service compliance, says CVSA, due in part to the implementation of the U.S. Department of Transportation's electronic logging device (ELD) mandate. CVSA President Capt. Christopher Turner of the Kansas Highway Patrol says, "The top reason drivers were placed out of service during 2017 International Roadcheck was for hours-of-service violations. Although the ELD rule that went into effect on Dec. 18 does not change any of the underlying hours-of-service rules or exceptions, the ELD mandate placed a spotlight on hours-of-service compliance. We thought this year would be a perfect opportunity to focus on the importance of the hours-of-service regulations." Inspectors will perform full Level I inspections on most rigs checked during the inspection blitz. CVSA has said in years past that an average of 15 trucks and buses are inspected every minute across North America during the 72-hour event. In last year's Roadcheck, 15,000 out-of-service orders were issued. Of those, 12,000 were for vehicle-related violations, and 3,000 were for driver-related violations. Violations related to hours of service and brakes topped the out-of-service infractions. Enforcers in 2017 conducted more than 63,000 inspections during the 72-hour event.

(Source: NLBMDA Workplace Safety & Risk Management Newsletter, April 2018)

Industry Reps Call For OSHA Compliance Assistance During House Hearing

Photo: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats / Flickr

OSHA needs to improve its "attitude and relationship" with stakeholders, an attorney representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce told members of the House, while former agency administrator David Michaels said the assertion that OSHA doesn't partner with industry is "really discrediting the agency and is not based in fact."