1910.178(m)(4): Arms and Legs Inside the Truck
Employers must prohibit workers from placing arms or legs between the uprights of a powered industrial truck's mast or outside the truck's running lines.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(m)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 23 times in the last 3 years, in 23 inspections, with $175,666 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NJ (5), IA (3), PA (2).
- 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)(4) 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
(4) The employer shall prohibit arms or legs from being placed between the uprights of the mast or outside the running lines of the truck. 23 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.178(m)(4).
At 4:00 p.m. on August 13, 2024, Employee #1 was emptying a three-yard hopper into a 30-yard dumpster using a V-mast (low-mast) forklift. While reaching through the front opening of the forklift's overhead guard frame and mast to access the chain release for dumping the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: NJ (5), IA (3), PA (2), KY (2), MO (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| OCEAN STATE JOBBERS, INC. | NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI | $17,025 |
| MARTIN BROTHERS DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC. | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $14,063 |
| COUGLE'S RECYCLING, INC. | AUBURN, PA | $14,000 |
| TRUMBULL INDUSTRIES INC | WARREN, OH | $12,000 |
| CROCS INC. | VANDALIA, OH | $11,823 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(m)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.178(m)(4).
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)(2) 82 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)(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
Where must arms and legs be kept on a forklift?
Not between the uprights of the mast and not outside the running lines of the truck.
Who must enforce this?
The employer must prohibit the practice.
Why is reaching through the mast dangerous?
The mast parts move, and the rule prohibits placing arms or legs between the uprights.
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.