Product Description
Forklift Seat Belt Interlocking Orange SAFE BELT
The Most Comfortable and Ergonomic Forklift Seat belt Interlocking Orange Version. The most comfortable forklift seat belt your operators will ever wear! Arc style design improves operator comfort, flexibility and maneuverability. When forklift seat belts are comfortable and convenient they are more likely to be worn and less likely to be defeated by the operator.
• The yellow, spring action arm, shows everyone around the seatbelt is not in use until it is buckled, helping ensure operators wear their seatbelts. The optional ignition isolation switch can prevent the forklift from being used unless the seatbelt is fastened.
• Durable and cost effective, about the same price as a standard OEM forklift seatbelt, but with many more features.
• Easy to install with basic tools. The bright orange belt color can be seen from long distances to ensure compliance.
• Complies with OSHA regulations.
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See what OSHA says about forklift seat belts
Are seat belts required to be installed on forklift trucks? If so, under what standard and section is this addressed?
Response: OSHA does not have a specific standard that requires the use or installation of seat belts, however, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to protect employees from serious and recognized hazards. Recognition of the hazard of powered industrial truck tip over and the need for the use of an operator restraint system is evidenced by certain requirements for powered industrial trucks at ASME B56.1-1993 – Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks. National consensus standard ASME B56.1-1993 requires that powered industrial trucks manufactured after 1992 must have a restraint device, system, or enclosure that is intended to assist the operator in reducing the risk of entrapment of the operator’s head and/or torso between the truck and ground in the event of a tip over. Therefore, OSHA would enforce this standard under Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act.
Is it required for new forklift trucks to have seat belts. If so, under what standard and section is this addressed?
Response: See response to question #1.
Is it required for forklift trucks already in use (that do not have seat belts) to be retrofitted for seat belts? If so, under what standard and section is this addressed?
Response: Please be advised that when an employer has been notified by a powered industrial truck manufacturer or association of the hazard of lift truck overturn and made aware of an operator restraint system retrofit program, then OSHA may cite Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act if the employer has not taken advantage of the program. Other employers who have powered industrial trucks that are not equipped with operator restraint systems should strongly consider contacting the appropriate powered industrial truck manufacturer for advice on obtaining and installing such devices for the prevention of an accident or injury from a lift truck overturn hazard.
If seat belts are installed on forklift trucks, is it required for the seat belts to be worn? If so, under what standard and section is this addressed?
Response: National consensus standard ASME B56.1-1993 requires that use of an operator restraint system when equipped on a powered industrial truck. Therefore, OSHA would enforce the use of such a device under Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act.
Why forklift operators should wear their seat belt.
Wearing a seat belt when operating a forklift is maybe the most important act a forklift operator can take to protect themselves from injury and death. Seat belts save lives and protect against injury every day. While it can be easy to forget to wear your seatbelt, unless its interlocked, the extra second to buckle up definitely saves lives.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that an average of 85 annual deaths are reported as the result of forklift accidents in the United States, of those, about 25 are deaths from tip overs, its the #1 cause of forklift operator death. Wearing a seat belt significantly lessens the chance of injury or death should an accident occur. That’s why OSHA can fine employers when seatbelts are not worn. It is the duty of the employer to ensure safe working environments for their employees, and ensuring the use of proper safety equipment is part of that requirement. Forklift Seat Belt Interlocking models can help ensure 100% seat belt compliance.
Even when wearing a seatbelt, operators should be aware of some best practices that can keep them safe should accident occur.
- Operators must ignore their initial reaction to jump during a tip over, which can result in their being crushed by the forklift. When operating a sit down rider forklift with a seat belt, the operator must do everything possible to stay inside the confines of the overheard guard.
- The operator should brace their upper body and lean away from the direction of the impact, while keeping both hands in place on the forklift’s steering wheel. Simultaneously, they should stabilize their lower body by placing both feet flat on the floor and pressing downward. Note: Some forklift types, such as stand-up counterbalance and stand up reach trucks, do not have seatbelts and have different rules for safe operation during tip overs.