In Vermont, Forklifts is enforced for private construction employers by Vermont OSHA (VOSHA). Vermont sets its own penalty maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210, adjusted each year; this page does not reproduce the current state table. For reference, the federal maximums are $16,550 for a serious violation and $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation.
29 CFR 1910.178 · Vermont
Forklifts Requirements in Vermont
Forklifts in Vermont: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1910.178 as adopted by VOSHA, with Vermont's Table Z-1-A, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
VermontGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)State Plan: Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)
In Vermont, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) enforces 29 CFR 1910.178. The federal maximum for a serious violation is $16,550.
$16,550
federal maximum for a serious violation
$165,514
federal maximum for a willful or repeat violation
2.2
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Vermont, 2024 (BLS)
Vermont 29 CFR 1910.178 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-082
citations of 29 CFR 1910.178 (FY2025)
$2,903
penalties for this standard
2.2%
of the state's 91 construction citations
In FY2025, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.178 (Forklifts) 2 times on Vermont construction jobsites with $2,903 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 2.2% of every construction citation the state issued that year.
What Vermont's own rule says
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.
29 CFR 1910.178 as adopted by VOSHA, with Vermont's Table Z-1-AThe duty itself differs from the federal text.
Read in Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-09
Contact incidents and work deaths in Vermont, 2024
Vermont recorded 8 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 16 in 2023. Contact incidents caused 1 of them (13%). Construction accounted for 1.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Vermont, 2024
How Vermont Enforces 29 CFR 1910.178
Vermont runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Vermont OSHA (VOSHA), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Vermont's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is 29 CFR 1910.178 as adopted by VOSHA, with Vermont's Table Z-1-A, which differs from the federal text (see the state rule above). Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.178 2 times in Vermont construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Vermont sets its own civil-penalty maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210.
29 CFR 1910.178 is a general-industry standard. Whether this general-industry standard reaches construction work has not been verified for this page. Check the standard's own scope paragraph and the corresponding 29 CFR 1926 subpart before relying on it for construction.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Vermont State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Vermont
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Vermont, the program is Project WorkSAFE (Vermont Department of Labor). OSHA describes it as “Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs.” It is separate from OSHA enforcement; the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Federal Penalty Amounts, for Reference (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Willful | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6) |
Vermont sets its own maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210. The amounts written into the statute are the federal 2017 base (willful or repeat not more than $126,749 and not less than $5,000; serious and other-than-serious up to $12,675; failure to abate up to $12,675 for each day it continues; posting up to $12,675), and §210(a)(9) has the Commissioner adjust them on the CPI-U and publish the result on or before January 1 each year. The latest table on VOSHA's penalty page (read October 2, 2026) is its 2024 adjustment, effective February 1, 2024: serious up to $16,131 and willful up to $161,323. The page shows no 2025 or 2026 table, so the federal maximums shown here are the upper bound a Vermont employer should plan against. Whatever the year's figure, §210(a)(4) sets failure to abate at the serious rate per day, not at the willful ceiling. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Forklifts Requirements 29 CFR 1910.178
- Train and evaluate all forklift operators
- Conduct operator evaluations every 3 years
- Inspect forklifts before each shift
- Maintain forklifts per manufacturer specifications
- Follow safe operating practices (speed, loads, pedestrians)
- Designate approved truck types for hazardous locations
Who enforces it in Vermont: Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) can add requirements beyond the federal standard above, so check its own rules as well.
The compliance checklist, the paragraphs OSHA cites nationally and what an inspector checks under 29 CFR 1910.178 are on the 29 CFR 1910.178 page.
What a Forklifts Violation Looks Like
Each item below breaches a specific paragraph of 29 CFR 1910.178. It is a list of requirements, not a ranking. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- Operators not trained, evaluated, or certified before operating (1910.178(l)(1)).
- No re-evaluation of operator performance within the last 3 years (1910.178(l)(4)(iii)).
- No pre-shift examination of the truck, or unsafe trucks left in service (1910.178(p)(1)/(q)).
- Unsafe operating practices (speeding, riders, raised-load travel, blocked visibility) (1910.178(m)/(n)).
- Failure to provide refresher training after an accident or observed unsafe operation (1910.178(l)(4)).
Vermont Safety & Enforcement Profile
91
FY2025 construction citations
Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Vermont, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (13), Roofing Contractors (7) and Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (5), out of 57 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Fatal injury rate in Vermont, 2024: 2.2 per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries. BLS did not publish a 2024 construction rate here.
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) opened from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, federal OSHA and State Plan combined, grouped by the inspected employer's 2022 NAICS industry. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free Forklifts Compliance Tools
Forklifts FAQ for Vermont
What are the penalties for 29 CFR 1910.178 violations in Vermont in 2026?
Vermont sets its own maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210. The amounts written into the statute are the federal 2017 base (willful or repeat not more than $126,749 and not less than $5,000; serious and other-than-serious up to $12,675; failure to abate up to $12,675 for each day it continues; posting up to $12,675), and §210(a)(9) has the Commissioner adjust them on the CPI-U and publish the result on or before January 1 each year. The latest table on VOSHA's penalty page (read October 2, 2026) is its 2024 adjustment, effective February 1, 2024: serious up to $16,131 and willful up to $161,323. The page shows no 2025 or 2026 table, so the federal maximums shown here are the upper bound a Vermont employer should plan against. Whatever the year's figure, §210(a)(4) sets failure to abate at the serious rate per day, not at the willful ceiling. For reference, the federal maximums are $16,550 for a serious violation and $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: 21 V.S.A. §210; 29 CFR 1903.15(d); verified 2026-10-05.)
Which Vermont industries most often face a Forklifts inspection?
Forklifts inspections reach employers in Vermont covered by this standard, not the construction trades. Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard.
How often is Forklifts cited in Vermont?
29 CFR 1910.178 is enforced against employers in Vermont covered by this standard, so the construction citation totals published for Vermont (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23) do not measure it. Whether this general-industry standard reaches construction work has not been verified for this page. Check the standard's own scope paragraph and the corresponding 29 CFR 1926 subpart before relying on it for construction.
Does VOSHA require forklift operator training?
Yes. 29 CFR 1910.178(l) requires every powered-industrial-truck operator to be trained, evaluated on the specific truck and workplace, and re-evaluated at least every three years. In Vermont, VOSHA, the state's own program, cites untrained operators directly.
Who enforces forklift rules (1910.178) in Vermont?
VOSHA, the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration, run jointly by the Departments of Labor and Health. Vermont runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 1910.178 on private jobsites, including operator training under paragraph (l) and the examination of each truck before it is placed in service under paragraph (q)(7).
Can I get free OSHA help in Vermont without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Vermont is Project WorkSAFE (Vermont Department of Labor). OSHA describes it this way: "Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs." Consultations are separate from OSHA enforcement, and the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
How often does Vermont cite 29 CFR 1910.178 in construction?
In FY2025, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.178 (Forklifts) 2 times on Vermont construction jobsites, with $2,903 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 2.2% of the 91 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
Forklifts Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Forklifts in Other States
14 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1910.178 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska29 CFR 1910.178 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(b), with the air contaminant table at 8 AAC 61.1100California8 CCR §3650 (operation) and §3668 (operator training)own maxHawaii29 CFR 1910.178 as incorporated by HAR §12-60-50(a), with §12-60-5Kentucky803 KAR 2:313 (Subpart N), with 803 KAR 2:325 for battery workown maxMichiganMIOSHA General Industry Part 21, R 408.12101 to R 408.12193 (permit at R 408.12154)own maxMinnesotaMinn. R. 5207.0900, with Minn. R. 5207.1100 for platformsNevadaNAC 618.342 to 618.410 (cranes), with NAC 618.394 for tower crane plansNorth Carolina29 CFR 1910.178 as incorporated by 13 NCAC 07F .0101
Other OSHA Standards in Vermont
Sources & verification
Penalty amounts and plan-type data were checked on 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. This page is informational and not legal advice; consult the enforcing agency or counsel for your specific situation.
Get the Binder in Order Before the Inspector Arrives. Are You Ready?
OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.
Serious violation, federal maximum
$16,550
per violation (max)
VS
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