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Seat-belt requirements for trenching equipment

Summary An OSHA region asked about a trenching machine with a plowing attachment. OSHA said the cited seat-belt rule applied while the equipment traveled to or from trenching, but not during the described sideways plowing operation. Its seat-belt rule applied in the normal seated operating position, not while operating attachments.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1982-01-29
Date issued
January 29, 1982
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Mobile Equipment
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

January 29, 1982

MEMORANDUM FOR: JAMES W. LAKE
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

ATTENTION: JOHN A. GRANCHI

THRU: JOHN MILES
FIELD COORDINATOR

FROM: PATRICK R. TYSON
DIRECTOR, FEDERAL COMPLIANCE
AND STATE PROGRAMS

SUBJECT: Case Davis-Maxi Sneaker

REFERENCE: Memorandum from your office to Patrick Tyson dated December 17, 1981

29 CFR 1926.602(a)(2) shall be enforced when the equipment is moving to or from a trenching operation as mentioned in your memorandum. However, when the operator is using the plowing attachment and facing 90 degrees from the direction of travel, then 29 CFR 1926.602(a)(2) should not be enforced for this type of operation. 29 CFR 1926.602(b)(1) requires seat belts for operators when seated in the normal seating arrangement, but does not require seat belts for operation of attachments.

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