1910.178(m)(2): No One Under Raised Forks
Employers must not allow anyone to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any powered industrial truck, whether it is loaded or empty.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(m)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 82 times in the last 3 years, in 82 inspections, with $421,386 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (16), NJ (8), OH (6).
- Related part: 1910.178(m) Truck operations (476 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.178(m)(2) is one requirement inside 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) No person shall be allowed to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any truck, whether loaded or empty. 82 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.178(m)(2).
At 2:44 p.m. on March 18, 2024, Employee #1 was performing routine maintenance underneath an eXmark LZS749AKC72400 zero-turn lawn mower, raised approximately two feet above the ground, using a Budgit 1/2-ton chain hoist that was hooked directly to the roll-over bar. The hoist chain slipped,…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 33 |
| 2026 | 17 |
Top states: TX (16), NJ (8), OH (6), IL (5), KS (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TEXAS PRIDE TRAILERS, LLC | MADISONVILLE, TX | $16,550 |
| RAYMOND OF NEW JERSEY LLC | MONROE, NJ | $16,550 |
| TINDALL CORPORATION | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $16,550 |
| PCS NITROGEN FERTILIZER, L.P. | GEISMAR, LA | $14,895 |
| STAINLESS STRUCTURALS, LLC | CONROE, TX | $13,902 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(m)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- No person is allowed to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any powered industrial truck. (2004-04-14)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.178(m) Truck operations 476 citations
- 1910.178(m)(5) 211 citations
- 1910.178(m)(5)(i) 102 citations
- 1910.178(m)(5)(iii) 84 citations
- 1910.178(m)(3) 58 citations
- 1910.178(m)(7) 42 citations
- 1910.178(m)(1) 28 citations
- 1910.178(m)(5)(ii) 25 citations
- 1910.178(m)(4) 23 citations
- 1910.178(m)(6) 15 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone walk under raised forks if the truck is empty?
No. No person may stand or pass under the elevated portion of any truck, loaded or empty.
Does this apply to all powered industrial trucks?
Yes. It applies to the elevated portion of any truck.
Who must enforce this?
The rule says no person shall be allowed under the elevated portion, so the workplace must keep people out.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.178 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.