The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has abandoned a proposal that would have limited safety inspectors' authority to issue citations to forklift drivers not wearing seatbelts.

The OSHA decided not to pursue changes to Compliance Directive CPL 2-1.28A, despite a campaign by automobile manufacturers and unions. The decision retains OSHA compliance officers' authority to cite employers when employees fail to use seatbelts while operating forklifts.

In "a major victory for safety in the workplace", Industrial Truck Association (ITA) president Jim Moran welcomed OSHA's move.

"We were confident (that), once OSHA conducted a thorough review of the pros and cons associated with its proposed action, they'd realise they had acted precipitously," he said.

ITA executive director Bill Montwieler said the proposal had almost been passed as OSHA had not taken the time to consult all parties affected.

"To its credit, OSHA eventually did come to several of us and got the input needed to fully evaluate the proposal. I think common sense prevailed here," he said.

"(The ITA has) worked with OSHA in the past, and we expect to do so in the future so we can avoid problems like this."

Mr Montwieler said the ITA board had voted unanimously to participate in a new OSHA initiative, beginning next month, which called for an alliance between industrial organisations to develop safer workplaces.