OSHA rules-the waiting, interpreting games

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 8/1/1998

Safer forklift operation. Industrial truck manufacturers along with users of lift trucks in the U.S. are in their 12th year or so of looking to OSHA for greater guidance on training the operators for safer performance of these vehicles. And still looking.

A tentative date of mid-June for OSHA to issue its final, revised regulations on operator training passed without any action. And as we go to press with this issue, it's rumored that new rules finally will emerge in mid-August. Stay tuned!

Whenever OSHA finally acts, and whatever emerges, it's likely to be much better than what exists now under federal law. "Go train," in effect, is what the law now admonishes without giving any specifics.

Interpreting rules. One challenge for plant managers and warehouse supervisors is knowing what to do and keeping up with new workplace safety laws, regulations, and court rulings along with better methods of worker protection. When there's no highly trained safety director or professional on staff to turn to for advice on best practices, what's your smartest move?

In some instances you may find help from safety software providers.

3M, for example, has developed a CD-ROM library that covers hearing compliance, along with other topics such as selecting and using respirators. How noisy are your conveyors? Not all are that loud, but some may exceed the dB limits set by OSHA, and require ear protection. 3M's software is designed to simplify managing a worker hearing compliance program meeting OSHA regulations. Call 800-328-1667 for details and pricing, or go to www.3m. com/ohesdemo to view a software demonstration.

Similarly, Scientific Technologies now offers Visual OSHA, interactive software on machine safeguard training. A single CD-ROM has 8 hours of audio, several hours of high resolution live action scenes and 3-D animated models in this safety program. Contact the company for a free CD-ROM demo via 888-510-4357 or visit the web site www.sti.com.