California has adopted several rules for the safe operation of powered industrial trucks, including forklifts, that are stricter than federal rules. The stricter rules cover equipment safety standards, manner of operation, employee lifting, and back guards.
In the absence of specific requirements for construction, the general industry standards in California also apply to construction activities (see 8 CCR 1502, application of construction safety orders).
The CA Department of Industrial Relations/Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) administers and enforces workplace safety and health rules for private and public sector workplaces in California.
Every employer using industrial trucks or industrial tow tractors must post and enforce a set of operating rules including the appropriate rules listed in Section 3650.
Industrial Trucks--General RequirementsEquipment safety standards. All industrial trucks manufactured after March 15, 2009, must be labeled as meeting the design and construction requirements of the following consensus standards that are incorporated by reference:
State Requirements
National | Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | National | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |California Forklifts Resources
Type | Title |
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Checklists | Forklift Compliance Checklist (PDF) |
Forms | Sample Powered Industrial Truck Operator Permit, BSR/CET/0116C |
Handouts | You and Your Forklift (PDF) -- Spanish |
Policies | Industrial Truck Operations (Word) |
Posters | Operating Rules for Industrial Trucks (Cal/OSHA, PDF) |
PowerPoints | Powered Industrial Trucks (OSHA, PPT) |
White Papers | The 5 Deadly Forklift Dangers: Don’t Let These Happen to You! |