Propane forklifts that are operated indoors are subject to occupational health and safety air emissions standards established by federal and state regulatory agencies.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
The maximum OSHA carbon monoxide emissions limit is an average of 50 parts per million measured over an average 8-hour period.
Time-weighted averages for eight-hour workday; refer to ambient air and not tailpipe emissions. Ambient levels, observed after exhaust gases leave the tailpipe and mixed with air, depend heavily on building ventilation rate. OSHA does not directly regulate tailpipe emissions.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency has worked with the state of California to create more stringent nationwide emission standards for engines.
- In September 2001, the EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (www.epa.gov/otaq) to seek public comment on the agency's proposed national program to control emissions from non-road sources including industrial spark-ignition engines rated above 19 kW (25 hp). This would cover certain forklifts and generators.
- EPA has established standards of 4 g/kW-hr (3 g/bhp-hr) for oxides of nitrogen and 50 g/kW-hr (37g/bhp-hr) for carbon monoxide, to take effect in 2004. Additional provisions for the long term (year 2007 and later) are available from the EPA website cited above.
California Air Resources Board (CARB)New emission standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), applicable to forklifts, went into effect, in part, on January 1, 2001 and will take full effect in 2004. CARB mandates that forklifts delivered by manufacturers into California must be equipped with commerce-certified, clean-air engines that comply with the following schedule:
- In 2001, 25 percent of all propane and gasoline engine powered forklifts sold must comply
- In 2002, 50 percent must comply
- In 2003, 75 percent must comply
- In 2004, 100 percent must comply
Mandated Training
Effective April 1, 1999, OSHA issued new requirements for powered industrial truck operator training (http://www.osha.gov/FedReg_osha_data/FED19981201.html). These apply to all industries (except agriculture) in which the trucks (including forklifts) are being used, and they mandate training programs for each operator, based upon four criteria:
- The operator's prior knowledge and skill
- The types of powered industrial trucks the operator will operate in the workplace
- The hazards present in the workplace
- The operator's demonstrated ability to operate a powered industrial truck safely
All employees hired after December 1, 1999, must complete the mandated training and evaluation before operating a powered industrial truck. Evaluations of each operator's performance are required at least once every three years as part of the initial and refresher training.