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Reverse alarms on track-mounted excavators

Summary A contractor asked whether OSHA’s construction vehicle alarm rule applied to a track-mounted excavator with a rotating housing. OSHA said the cited provision did not cover it, but reversing with an obstructed view and no alarm or observer could be cited as a recognized hazard under the Act’s general duty clause.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1995-05-10
Date issued
May 10, 1995
Status
Active
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Construction Equipment Vehicle Safety
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.

May 10, 1995

Mr. John Longo
Corporate Health and Safety Manager
CH2M Hill
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Longo:

This is in response to your October 6, letter requesting an interpretation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) standards addressing reverse signal alarms on excavators.

The scope of paragraph 1926.602(a) does not include track mounted excavators with rotating housings such as the Hitachi 400 described in your letter. However, moving an excavator in a direction in which the operator's view is obstructed, without an alarm or an observer to signal the operator when it is safe to do so, is considered by OSHA to be an industry recognized hazard and citable under Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact me or Mr. Dale Cavanaugh of my staff at (202) 219-8136.

Sincerely,
Roy F. Gurnham, P.E., J.D.
Director
Office of Construction and
Maritime Assistance

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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