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Meaning of obstructed rear view for backup alarms

Summary An OSHA regional office asked how to tell whether earthmoving equipment had an obstructed rear view under the construction backup alarm rule. OSHA said anything that interfered with the operator's ground-level view behind the vehicle could count. It gave examples including vehicle structure or loads, damaged mirrors and limited visibility from fog or darkness.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1987-01-21
Date issued
January 21, 1987
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Back Up Alarms
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 21, 1987

MEMORANDUM FOR: ROGER CLARK, Regional Administrator

FROM: JOHN B. MILES, JR., Director, Directorate of Field Operations

SUBJECT: Interpretation of 29 CFR 1926.602(a)(9)(ii)

This is in reply to your memorandum (ARA/TS STD 3-13) requesting a written interpretation of the term "obstructed view to the rear" relative to use of back-up alarms of earthmoving and compacting equipment.

A simple interpretation would be "anything" that would "blockout" (interfere) with the overall view of the operator of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle, at ground level.

"Obstructed view to the rear" could include such obstacles as any part of the vehicle such as structural members, its load (gravel, dirt, rip-rap), its height relative to ground level viewing, damage to windows or side mirrors, etc. used for rearview movement of the vehicle; in addition, it could include restricted visibility due to weather conditions such as heavy fog; or work being done after dark, without proper lighting.

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