OSHA Driving Regulations

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was created to oversee and protect the rights and safety of employees. It has a broad mandate to create and enforce the rules and regulations governing workplace safety conditions and training procedures. In addition, OSHA, in cooperation with other federal agencies, regularly distributes guidelines and suggestions for improving workplace safety, including the use of automotive vehicles.

What OSHA Does and Doesn't Cover

• Despite the fact that OSHA has a broad range of authority, Section 4(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act allows other federal regulations to supersede OSHA's basic requirements. In the realm of automotive vehicles, this means that OSHA has a relatively limited jurisdiction. For example, the Department of Transportation regulations cover all employees and vehicles on highways.

  OSHA does cover the use of automotive vehicles in off-highway and on-site activities as well as agricultural and marine terminal use.

Agriculture

• OSHA requires that tractors have rollover protective structures that meet OSHA and federal testing guidelines. Operators are required to wear seat belts; avoid operating near ditches, embankments and holes; slow down when turning, crossing slopes and moving on slick or muddy surfaces; not drive on slopes steeper than permitted by the vehicle's safety parameters; be alert; not allow passengers; avoid jerky turns and start-and-stop driving; use only the manufacturer recommended hitching points; and set the brakes and park lock, where applicable, when the tractor is stopped.

Marine Terminals, Powered Trucks

• Modifications to trucks require the prior, written approval of manufacturers or a professional engineer who has consulted with the manufacturer. Any and all modifications must be reflected in the equipment decals.

  Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to ride on trucks, and anyone other than the driver must be provided with a safe riding area. Drivers will ascend and descend grades slowly; slow down and sound the horn at cross-aisles and other areas of limited visibility, and only carry loads within the rated capacity of the trucks. Loads may not be transported in a way that obstructs the driver's forward view.

  Unattended trucks will be left with their controls in neutral and their brakes on. In addition, the trucks are to be shut off, and blocked on an incline, if the driver is more than 25 feet from the truck.

Construction, Motor Vehicles

• Motor vehicles must be checked at the beginning of each shift to ensure that all of the parts and equipment are in safe condition, including the hand brake, brakes, tires, horn, steering mechanism, coupling devices and seat belts.

  Drivers may not operate vehicles with an obstructed rear view unless the vehicle has a reverse signal alarm audible over any surrounding noise or is backed up only when an observer can verify that it is safe to do so.