Driver's Overhead Guards
All rider forklift trucks are manufactured with driver's overhead guards in compliance with the OSHA Standard 1910.178 (e)(1). These guards shall not be altered, modified, or repaired without the prior written authorization of the truck manufacturer. There are some operating conditions which may permit the operation of a truck with the driver's overhead guard removed, but these are specially defined and restricted conditions as detailed herein.
The driver's overhead guard is intended to provide two types of protection for the operator:
A) Overhead protection from falling objects (FOPS), and
B) Protection from objects which may enter the operator's compartment when the truck is in motion, such as horizontal pallet rack shelf beams which may enter the operator's compartment when backing up the truck.
In operating conditions where overhead clearances do not permit the truck to be used with the driver's overhead guard, the user may remove the driver's overhead guard provided all of the conditions listed below are met. Several of these conditions are taken from ANSI B56.1 and one has been added by us to cover the "pinned operator" hazard.
You should not consider removing a driver's overhead guard unless all of the following conditions are met, and in addition, you must verify that removal of the driver's overhead guard will not cause any controls or safety features of the truck to become inoperable or to malfunction.
- The vertical travel of the forks or other lifting device attached to the fork carriage must be restricted to a maximum of 72-inches or less above the ground.
- The truck will operate only in an area where the bottom of the highest stacked or stored load is not higher than 72" above the ground.
- The truck will operate only in an area where the top of the highest stacked or stored load is not higher than 120" above the ground.
- Only stable loads are handled and stacked or stored such that there is no possibility of any portion of a load becoming loose and falling off of a stacked or stored load.
- The operating area must be free of any obstructions so that the operator is not endangered. There should not be obstructions or protrusions in the operating area that would pose a hazard to the operator of being struck, crushed, or pinned by any object entering the operator's compartment while operating the truck.
- Any high stack or storage areas that are adjacent to the low clearance area and any other areas in or through which the forklift truck must be driven for any reason, must be equipped with rack guards to protect against the possibility of objects falling off loads into the travel aisle where the truck may travel or operate.
If a driver's overhead guard becomes damaged, repairs can be made only with the prior written authorization of the manufacturer of the truck.
Therefore, in most cases, it will not be permissible to perform repairs such as:
- Straightening a bent overhead guard leg.
- Replacing a damaged or missing overhead guard leg.
- Replacing a damaged roof panel or roof bars.
- Repairing cracked welds.
In most cases, you will be required to purchase a new driver's overhead guard for the truck, unless the truck manufacturer authorizes and approves a specific repair.
All modifications or alterations to a driver's overhead guard require the prior written authorization of the truck manufacturer, including:
- Drilling holes for mounting lights and other accessories.
- Welding on tabs or brackets for mounting lights or other accessories.