Earlier battery-restraint interpretation revised in 2003

OSHA archive notice: "This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only."

September 11, 2000

Kenneth D. Green

Material Handling of Tennessee, Inc.

[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. Green:

Thank you for your January 6, 2000 letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Directorate of Compliance Programs. You have questions regarding OSHA's requirements for vertical battery restraints in electric powered industrial trucks. Your several questions can be answered as follows:

In General Industry, safety requirements for reinstalling batteries in electric powered industrial trucks are found at 29 CFR §1910.178(g)(5). This paragraph requires that "reinstalled batteries shall be properly positioned and secured in the truck [emphasis added]." Accordingly, batteries in all electric powered industrial trucks covered by the standard must be secured in place both horizontally and vertically when the truck is in use.

Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. We hope you find this information helpful. Please be aware that OSHA's enforcement guidance is subject to periodic review and clarification, amplification, and correction. Such guidance could also be affected by subsequent rulemaking. In the future, should you wish to verify that the guidance herein remains current, you may consult OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of General Industry Compliance Assistance at 202-693-1850.

Sincerely yours,

Richard E. Fairfax, Director

Directorate of Compliance Programs