Forklifts across the state plans

The forklift standard falls inside the 1910.19 to 1910.1018 range and is adopted "as amended", so training, the three-year evaluation and the truck-type restrictions track the current federal text. What Alaska replaces underneath is the exposure table: 8 AAC 61.1100 substitutes its own Table Z-1-A for federal Table Z-1 in 1910.1000. For an internal combustion truck operating indoors, the carbon monoxide limit an Alaska inspector measures against comes from the state table, not from the federal one.

“When provided by the industrial truck manufacturer, an operator restraint system such as a seat belt shall be used.”

Two things separate California from 1910.178. First, §3650(t)(33) makes use of a manufacturer-supplied seat belt or restraint an express rule requirement; the words "seat belt" and "restraint" appear nowhere in the federal standard, which is why federal seat-belt cases run through the general duty clause. Second, §3650(a) incorporates the current ANSI/ITSDF B56 series and NFPA 505 by reference for trucks built after March 15, 2009, where 1910.178(a)(2) still points at ANSI B56.1-1969. Operator training and the three-year evaluation cycle in §3668 track the federal requirements closely.

“The use of intoxicants or harmful drugs while on duty is prohibited. No person shall be permitted to work under the influence of liquor or drugs and shall be removed from the work premises if found under the influence of liquor or drugs.”

The forklift standard is incorporated federal text at the July 1, 2017 edition: training, the three-year evaluation and the truck-type restrictions unchanged. Hawaii adds a rule federal law leaves to employer policy: intoxicants and harmful drugs are prohibited on duty, and anyone found under the influence must be removed from the premises, not merely reassigned. For an employer whose operators are certified under 1910.178(l), that is a state duty attached to the same person and the same shift.

Kentucky adopts 1910.176 through 1910.184 at the July 1, 2016 edition of the CFR, plus the revisions published in the Federal Register of November 18, 2016, so the forklift standard here is a named edition, not whatever appears on osha.gov today. Around it sits 803 KAR 2:325, a set of Kentucky general industry rules with no federal counterpart: for changing or charging storage batteries, flushing facilities for eyes and skin and a water supply within twenty-five feet of the work area, and charging only in the open, in a mechanically ventilated space, or in a space giving at least twenty cubic feet per ampere of charging capacity.

“An employer shall provide the employee with a permit to operate a powered industrial truck only after meeting the requirements prescribed in R 408.12151, R 408.12152, and R 408.12153.”

Michigan wrote its own forklift standard rather than adopting 1910.178, and it ends somewhere the federal rule does not: with a permit. Training under R 408.12152 and a separate testing rule at R 408.12153 (operating ability, knowledge of the equipment, knowledge of the daily checks) both have to be satisfied before the employer issues the operator a permit. A trainee is exempt for no more than thirty days under supervision. The rule also recognizes the trade's mobility: an employee holding a valid permit from another employer may be tested without repeating the training. Federal law requires certification of training; it does not require a document the operator carries.

“When a fork truck operator is positioning a load in an area that is not fully visible to the fork truck operator, the operator shall be assisted by a designated person who shall direct the safe placing of the load by using predetermined signals.”

Minnesota adds an operating rule 1910.178 does not contain: a designated signaller, working to predetermined signals, whenever the operator cannot see where the load is going. Two further subparts restrict trucks built for solid hard level surfaces to those surfaces, and require the surface itself to be free of cracks, holes and irregularities that could upset the truck. Separately, Minn. R. 5207.1100 requires personal fall arrest or a positioning device system for anyone on a personnel platform supported by a rough-terrain forklift.

The powered industrial truck standard applies as incorporated federal text with the February 13, 2026 cut-off: operator training, the three-year evaluation and the truck-type restrictions unchanged. Where North Carolina departs from federal practice around trucks is the fuel-leak response level it added at .0103: a leaking hydrocarbon fuel tank on an industrial or construction vehicle now has a named training level attached to it, and the employer has to certify competency before someone responds.

“Except in an emergency, at least 15 working days before a tower crane is erected or dismantled, the prime contractor for the project which requires the use of a crane to erect or dismantle a tower crane shall submit to the Enforcement Section for its review a plan for the erection or dismantling of the tower crane.”

Federal law certifies the operator; Nevada also certifies the machine and reviews the lift. A crane used to erect or dismantle a tower crane needs a valid certificate of operation from a certifying authority before it runs and again after any repair or modification affecting structural integrity. The erection or dismantling plan goes to the Enforcement Section fifteen working days ahead, setting out the manufacturer's recommendations, the weight of each component to be lifted and a rigging diagram with attachment points. Trainees work under provisional certificates their employer must keep for three years after employment ends.

“Rule 1910.178(e)(1) was not adopted in Oregon. Instead, OAR 437-002-0227(1)(a) through (c) applies in order to maintain Oregon's higher level of protection.”

Oregon adopts the federal forklift standard as published 11/18/16, with one carve-out it states its reason for. Paragraph (e)(1), on overhead guards, was not adopted; OAR 437-002-0227(1)(a) through (c) applies instead, and Oregon says in terms that this is to maintain its higher level of protection. So this is the rare combination: the federal citation is still correct for almost the whole standard, and wrong for exactly one paragraph.

The powered industrial truck standard applies as federal text in South Carolina: training, the three-year evaluation and the truck-type restrictions unchanged. The state modification that touches trucks indirectly is the rewritten definition of a nationally recognized testing laboratory at 1910.7, which is the mechanism behind the approval label a truck must carry for its designated type. The other one to know is the spray area rule at modification C: an internal combustion truck operating in the direct path of spraying operations is inside a spraying area under South Carolina's broader definition.

The forklift standard applies as adopted federal text: operator training, the three-year evaluation and the truck-type restrictions are unchanged. Where Tennessee adds something is on the chemical side of truck work: an employer changing or charging batteries, or running an internal combustion truck indoors, is working with hazardous chemicals inside the Right to Know chapter, which requires the substance on the Workplace Chemical List with its CAS number and work area, and an SDS to every other party on a contract five working days before it arrives on site.

“Tools, equipment, materials or other evidence that might pertain to the cause of such accident shall not be removed or destroyed until so authorized by UOSH or one of its CSHOs.”

The forklift standard applies as incorporated federal text. Utah's additions land hardest after something goes wrong. A work-related fatality, and also any disabling, serious or significant injury or occupational disease incident, must be reported to UOSH within eight hours. The federal rule gives eight hours only for a fatality and twenty-four for a hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. The machine and the scene then stay untouched until UOSH authorises otherwise, and the employer must investigate. Separately, R614-1-5.D.1 forbids removing, bypassing or carrying away any safety device, the rule behind a disabled seat switch or a defeated interlock.

“No employer shall operate any covered vehicle in reverse unless: 1. The covered vehicle has a reverse signal alarm audible above the surrounding noise level; and 2. a. The covered vehicle is operated in reverse only when a designated observer or ground guide signals that it is safe to do so; or b. Before operating the covered vehicle in reverse, the driver visually determines that no employee is in the path of the covered vehicle.”

Virginia has a standard for backing that federal law does not: 16VAC25-97 applies to any general industry or construction vehicle, machine or equipment that can travel in reverse with an obstructed view behind it, powered industrial trucks included. A working reverse alarm plus either a ground guide or a positive visual check is the baseline. A camera giving a full view behind the vehicle substitutes for the guide. If the alarm fails and cannot be fixed immediately, the machine either gets a ground guide or comes out of service. Training is required before the work, with refresher training after a violation, an accident or a near miss.

The powered industrial truck standard applies as adopted federal text: training, the three-year evaluation and the truck-type restrictions unchanged. Where Vermont differs is the air: an internal combustion truck run indoors is measured against the state's Table Z-1-A limits rather than the federal Table Z, and that table follows the 1989 structure with transitional and final-rule columns. For a fleet operating inside a building, the exposure number, not the operating rule, is where Vermont departs.

“You must make sure operators use restraint devices, such as seatbelts or lap-bars, when they are provided on the PIT.”

Washington replaced 1910.178 with chapter 296-863. The training and evaluation cycle is the familiar one, evaluation at least once every three years under 296-863-60015, but 296-863-40005(1) makes wearing a provided seat belt or lap bar an express rule requirement. The words "seat belt" and "restraint" do not appear anywhere in 29 CFR 1910.178, which is why a federal seat-belt case has to be built on the general duty clause. In Washington it is a straight citation.