1910.178(m): Safe Forklift Operation
Employers must make sure forklifts are not driven toward people standing in front of fixed objects, no one stands or walks under raised forks, and only authorized riders ride where a safe place is provided. When a forklift is left unattended, forks must be lowered, controls neutralized, power off and brakes set. Trucks, trailers and railcars must be braked and blocked during loading, and an overhead guard used.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(m) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 476 times in the last 3 years, in 445 inspections, with $2,228,176 in current penalties.
- 19 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NJ (45), TX (38), OH (35).
- Related part: 1910.178(m)(5) (211 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.178(m) ("Truck operations") is one requirement inside 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). It includes 16 sub-paragraphs. 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
(m) Truck operations. 476 citations
(1) Trucks shall not be driven up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object. Open (m)(1) 28 citations
(2) No person shall be allowed to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any truck, whether loaded or empty. Open (m)(2) 82 citations
(3) Unauthorized personnel shall not be permitted to ride on powered industrial trucks. A safe place to ride shall be provided where riding of trucks is authorized. Open (m)(3) 58 citations
(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. Open (m)(4) 23 citations
(5) Open (m)(5) 211 citations
(i) When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls shall be neutralized, power shall be shut off, and brakes set. Wheels shall be blocked if the truck is parked on an incline. Open (m)(5)(i) 102 citations
(ii) A powered industrial truck is unattended when the operator is 25 ft. or more away from the vehicle which remains in his view, or whenever the operator leaves the vehicle and it is not in his view. Open (m)(5)(ii) 25 citations
(iii) When the operator of an industrial truck is dismounted and within 25 ft. of the truck still in his view, the load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls neutralized, and the brakes set to prevent movement. Open (m)(5)(iii) 84 citations
(6) A safe distance shall be maintained from the edge of ramps or platforms while on any elevated dock, or platform or freight car. Trucks shall not be used for opening or closing freight doors. Open (m)(6) 15 citations
(7) Brakes shall be set and wheel blocks shall be in place to prevent movement of trucks, trailers, or railroad cars while loading or unloading. Fixed jacks may be necessary to support a semitrailer during loading or unloading when the trailer is not coupled to a tractor. The flooring of trucks, trailers, and railroad cars shall be checked for breaks and weakness before they are driven onto. Open (m)(7) 42 citations
(8) There shall be sufficient headroom under overhead installations, lights, pipes, sprinkler system, etc. 3 citations
(9) An overhead guard shall be used as protection against falling objects. It should be noted that an overhead guard is intended to offer protection from the impact of small packages, boxes, bagged material, etc., representative of the job application, but not to withstand the impact of a falling capacity load.
(10) A load backrest extension shall be used whenever necessary to minimize the possibility of the load or part of it from falling rearward. 8 citations
(11) Only approved industrial trucks shall be used in hazardous locations. 1 citations
(12)-(13) [Reserved] 4 citations
(14) Fire aisles, access to stairways, and fire equipment shall be kept clear. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Injuries linked to this rule
19 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.178(m).
An employee was fabricating a part for an agricultural wagon using a drill presswhen it fell onto his head, causing multiple fatal injuries to the employee.
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 | 22 |
| 2024 | 166 |
| 2025 | 166 |
| 2026 | 122 |
Top states: NJ (45), TX (38), OH (35), TN (27), VA (26)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| RV RETAILER EAST, LLC | ALACHUA, FL | $165,514 |
| PCS NITROGEN FERTILIZER, L.P. | GEISMAR, LA | $25,536 |
| COUGLE'S RECYCLING, INC. | AUBURN, PA | $24,000 |
| PRODRIVEN GLOBAL BRANDS | SOCORRO, TX | $24,000 |
| OCEAN STATE JOBBERS, INC. | NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI | $17,025 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(m), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- A powered industrial truck is not unattended if still in view by the nearby operator (2018-09-11)
- Clarification of OSHA's authority to enforce wheel chocking of commercial motor vehicles and related safety hazards at loading facilities. (2011-03-07)
- Chocking requirements for trailers docked to buildings with downward approaches. (2005-11-08)
- Chocking of trailers at United States Postal Service facilities. (2005-09-14)
- Requirements for leaving construction equipment and powder-actuated tools unattended on a construction building site; impalement protection from reinforcing steel for masonry workers on a scaffold. (2005-05-11)
- No person is allowed to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any powered industrial truck. (2004-04-14)
- Clarification of OSHA's CPL 2-1.30 regarding tractor trailer chocking. (1999-11-09)
- Trailer trucks must be restrained/chocked during forklift dock operations. (1998-03-04)
- The use of fork trucks in plants. (1991-01-29)
Related parts of this rule
- 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)(4) 23 citations
- 1910.178(m)(6) 15 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is a forklift considered unattended?
When the operator is 25 feet or more away even if it is in view, or whenever the operator leaves it and it is out of view.
Can someone stand under raised forks?
No. No person may stand or pass under the elevated part of any truck, loaded or empty.
Can passengers ride on a forklift?
Only authorized people, and only where a safe place to ride is provided.
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.