New Hampshire Forklifts: What you need to know

New Hampshire does not have a federally approved occupational safety and health regulatory program for the state; therefore, private sector workplaces must comply with federal occupational safety and health standards.

The state has adopted its own powered industrial truck (e.g., forklifts) rules for public sector employers (state and local government agencies) in general industry workplaces that are substantially less comprehensive than the federal rule.

The U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) administers and enforces federal workplace safety and health requirements in private sector workplaces. The New Hampshire Department of Labor/Safety and Training Division administers safety and health rules for public sector workplaces.

If at any time a powered industrial truck is in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck must be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.

Forklifts with extended lifts must be equipped with an overhead guard unless operating conditions do not permit.

Forklifts must be equipped with a vertical load backrest extension when the type of load presents a hazard to the operator.

The brakes of highway trucks and trailers must be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to prevent the truck from rolling while forklifts are entering or leaving.

Employers must verify that all powered industrial trucks, including forklifts, must be operated by competent persons.

"Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, ...