R 408.12143 Overhead guard on high-lift truck.

Rule 2143. (1) Except as provided in subrule (2) of this rule, a high-lift truck shall be fitted with an overhead guard. The overhead guard shall be capable of supporting a uniformly distributed static load in accordance with the following table. The overhead guard is not intended to withstand the impact of a falling capacity load. (2) Table 2 “Overhead Guard Test” reads as follows: TABLE 2 OVERHEAD GUARD TEST Truck Capacity Rating (in pounds) Static Test Load as a% of Truck capacity Rating Through 5,000 200% of truck rating Over 5,000 through 10, 000 10,000 pounds plus 100% of increment rating over 5,000 pounds Over 10,000 through 20,000 15,000 pounds plus 50% increment rating over 10,000 pounds (3) An overhead guard may be omitted from a high-lift truck if the truck is never used to lift or raise material or objects more than 72 inches measured from the floor to the forks and if all of the following are complied with: (a) The load is limited to a single rack or pallet. (b) The truck is not operated in an area where material or objects are stacked above the operator's head. (c) A sign with lettering not less than 1/2-inch high is securely attached in the area of the operator's controls stating, "This truck shall not be used to lift materials above the operator's head or in an area where materials are stacked above the operator's head." (4) A low-lift rider truck which is used to lift material stacked higher than the head of the operator, and which would likely vibrate and fall back onto the operator, shall be provided with an overhead guard. (5) The overhead guard shall be capable of withstanding the impact of a 100-pound solid hardwood cube, or equivalent, dropped a distance of 5 feet 10 times, without failure or without permanent deflection exceeding 3/4 inch. (6) The overhead guard shall be constructed in a manner that does not interfere with visibility. Openings in the top shall not exceed 6 inches in 1 of the 2 dimensions, width or length. The guard shall be large enough to extend over the operator under all normal circumstances of truck operation, including forward tilt. (7) A fork truck equipped with a single-tilt cylinder shall be made to avoid injury to the operator by the overhead guard resulting from failure of this cylinder or associated parts. (8) On a truck where the operator is seated, a vertical clearance of not less than 39 inches should be maintained from the point of maximum depression of the seat under the operator to the underside of the section of the overhead guard under which the operator's head moves during normal operation. (9) On a powered industrial truck where the operator stands on a platform, a vertical clearance of not less than 74 inches should be maintained from the platform to the underside of the section of the overhead guard under which the operator's head moves during normal operation. (10) Where head room conditions limit the overall lowered height of the truck, a normal overhead guard height may be reduced. (11) An overhead guard is intended to offer protection from the impact of small packages, boxes, and bagged material representative of the job application, but not to withstand the impact of a falling capacity load. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES