Forkliftaction.com

DISCUSSION FORUMS : Forkliftaction.communicate

My forum profile

Printable version

Discussion Forums Home

Forum:

Safety, training & legislation

Discussion:

Pregnant forklift operators

Number of messages: 4

START MESSAGE:

cownd
Arizona, United States

I'm looking advice, documentation, rulings , laws etc.... concerning pregnant forklift operators. Is it safe for a pregnant person to operate forklifts? Is it discriminatory to not allow them to operate forklifts? At what point if ever is it unsafe to allow a pregnant person to operate a forklift? Any help/advice will be appreciated.

Posted 10 Apr 2009 05:06 AM

Report this message

REPLIES:

Sort replies by

johnr_j
Georgia, United States

This could be a touchy subject. Have not heard of this issue coming up but I haven't heard it all yet. But I might suggest that a monthly or more often letter from her OBGYN doctor (s) saying it is OK would be a starting point.

-------------------------
Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 10 Apr 2009 07:22 PM

Report this message

JohnW
California, United States

According to OSHA 1910.178(l) - Questions and Answers (Appendix A)...
___________________________________________________________
#2)
Can an employee with poor vision in one eye or a hearing impairment be allowed to operate a powered industrial truck?

The employer has the responsibility under this training standard to ensure that each operator is capable of performing the duties that are required of the job.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addresses the issue of whether employers may impose physical qualifications upon employees or applicants for employment. The ADA permits employers to adopt medical qualification requirements necessary to ensure that an individual does not pose a "direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace," provided all reasonable efforts are made to accommodate otherwise qualified individuals. The employer should consult with appropriate medical personnel to assist in determining operator physical qualifications.
____________________________________________________________

In addition, the General Duty Clause suggests that if there is physical harm to the pregnant operator (or baby), then you would have support to remove the operator from the forklift:
__________________________________________________________
"Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires an employer to furnish to its employees:
employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees . . . ."

Posted 17 Apr 2009 04:09 AM

Report this message

TradeShowDave
California, United States

The effects of body vibration are talked about in this page.
H TeeTeePee://homepages.cambrianc.on.ca/johs/pages/BodyVib1.htm

Posted 23 Apr 2009 08:45 AM

Report this message

Forkliftaction.com accepts no responsibility for forum content and requires forum participants to adhere to the rules. Click here for more information.

FORUM GLOSSARY

Click for description.

FORUM

DISCUSSION

MESSAGES

NICKNAME

SIGNATURE

FORUMS

Discuss: Industry News & Whispers

Discuss: Conferences, trade shows & other events

Discuss: Mechanical Troubleshooting

Discuss: Technical arena. Did you know? Who knows?

Discuss: Machines. Forklifts, stackers, telehandlers, container handlers and reach stackers

Discuss: Business issues

Discuss: Safety, training & legislation

Discuss: Fun at work