U.S. OSHA has issued new rules regarding personal protective equipment and employee training. Forklift trainers should be aware of these new rules as they have serious implications for employers, specifically the compliance duties owed to each employee. Separate citations and penalties can now be issued for each employee in violation of personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements as well as violations for any required OSHA training.

Forklift seat belt provision and use as well as all forklift operator training requirements fall under the new regulation.

The following section has been added to all U.S. OSHA Standards:

"Compliance duties owed to each employee.

(1) Personal protective equipment. Standards in this part requiring the employer to
provide personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators and
other types of PPE, because of hazards to employees impose a separate
compliance duty with respect to each employee covered by the
requirement. The employer must provide PPE to each employee required to
use the PPE, and each failure to provide PPE to an employee may be
considered a separate violation.

(2) Training. Standards in this part requiring training on hazards
and related matters, such as standards requiring that employees receive
training or that the employer train employees, provide training to
employees, or institute or implement a training program, impose a
separate compliance duty with respect to each employee covered by the
requirement. The employer must train each affected employee in the
manner required by the standard, and each failure to train an employee
may be considered a separate violation."

DATES: This final rule becomes effective on January 12, 2009."... U.S. OSHA

Clarification of Employer Duty To Provide Personal Protective Equipment and Train Each Employee - 73:75568-75589

* Publication Date: 12/12/2008
* Publication Type: Final Rules
* Fed Register #: 73:75568-75589
* Standard Number: 1910; 1915; 1917; 1918; 1926
* Title: Clarification of Employer Duty To Provide Personal Protective Equipment and Train Each Employee