OSHA Guidelines for Driving Forklifts on Ramps and Grades

Loading ramps can be dangerous places, so it's no surprise that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has a lot to say about them. Much of OSHA’s advice is common sense, but it never hurts to have a refresher on how to drive a forklift on a ramp — plus a checklist of safety requirements for dock ramps themselves.

Some of OSHA’s general requirements help to ensure a slow, controlled ascent or descent on the ramp. Here are a few specific OSHA standards related to driving forklifts on a grade:

• 29 CFR 1926.451(e)(5)(ii) - "No ramp or walkway shall be inclined more than a slope of one vertical to three horizontal (20 degrees above the horizontal)."

• 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(7) - "Grades shall be ascended or descended slowly."

• 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(6) - "A safe distance shall be maintained from the edge of ramps..."

In addition to these standards, OSHA offers plenty of advice to keep operators safe when they drive a forklift on a ramp or grade.

Here are some of OSHA’s specific instructions for driving forklifts on a grade:

• Do not turn on an incline.

• Keep away from the edge of the ramp.

• Do not use ramps with slopes that exceed the recommended maximum.

• Always look in the direction you are driving.

Drivers should always carry a load pointed up the incline, even when they are driving down an incline. That means that operators should drive in reverse with their heads turned down the ramp when they are descending with a load.

OSHA also recommends that you drive forklifts up ramps in reverse when you do not have a load. Again, the operator must turn their head to face the direction of travel for maximum safety.

Loading Ramps have inherent dangers, but Dock and Yard Ramps from BHS were designed with safety in mind. In addition to choosing the right equipment, there are many steps a warehouse manager can take to make loading and unloading safer and more OSHA-compliant. Ensuring that forklift operators are well-trained and attentive is a good first step.

Of course, these best practices are only half of the safety equation. You also need forklift ramps that meet OSHA’s requirements and, in turn, keep forklift operators safe and in-control of their heavy loads.

Choosing Dock Ramps That Comply With OSHA Requirements

Whether you need a portable loading ramp that can provide access to trucks in the yard, or a semi-permanent auxiliary ramp for your loading dock, OSHA-compliance begins with picking the right product.

BHS Dock Ramps are 84 inches wide by 30 feet long from dock to ground. The ample width allows lift truck drivers to stay firmly in the middle of the ramp. The 8-inch steel curbs keep forklifts from veering off the ramp even when poor steering takes the lift truck too far to one side.

The 30-foot length allows for a steady grade that makes controlled forklift loading or unloading simple. A heavy-duty solid-steel approach plate makes the transition from ground to ramp steady and stable. The open-steel grating on the rest of the ramp increases traction and draining.

Yard Ramps from BHS have a similar build but allow for extra versatility. These portable ramps can be used to unload trucks, replace a broken dock lift, or add an extra dock ramp during peak seasons to avoid bottlenecks.

Yard Ramps are 36 feet long to accommodate an even gentler grade when loading or unloading trucks. Safety chains hold the ramp in place and the same 8-inch steel curbs guard the sides of the ramp.

No matter what loads you carry, you’ll be safer on a heavy-duty ramp with gentle grades and steel curbs. Even when you know how to drive a forklift on a ramp safely, well-designed equipment can help prevent or even eliminate dangerous accidents at the loading dock. That’s well worth the investment.

References:
"29 CFR 1910.178 - Powered industrial trucks." OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2017.
"Understanding the Workplace: Loading Docks." OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2017.
"Understanding the Workplace: Ramps and Grades." OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 11 Oct 2017.