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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has categorized approved
industrial trucks and listed specifications on selecting trucks for different
operating environments. The standard classifications include 11 different
designations of industrial trucks or tractors: D, DS, DY, E, ES, EE, EX, G, GS,
LP and LPS. The employer is responsible for determining the hazards associated
with the operating environment and then selecting the truck(s) appropriate for
that environment.
The following is an abbreviated explanation of which powered industrial trucks may
be used in specific environments.
- If the environment is not classified as hazardous, any approved truck designated as Type D, E, G or LP may be used.
- Trucks should not be used in atmospheres containing hazardous concentrations of metal dust, including aluminum, magnesium and their commercial alloys, or other metals of similarly hazardous characteristics.
- Trucks designated as EX may be used in atmospheres containing acetone, acrylonitrile, alcohol, ammonia, benzine, benzol, butane, ethylene dichloride, gasoline, hexane, lacquer solvent vapors, naphtha, natural gas, propane, propylene, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride or xylenes.
- Trucks designated as EX should not be used in atmospheres containing carbon black, coal or coke dust.
- Trucks designated as EX should be used in atmospheres where combustible dust is or may be in suspension continuously, intermittently or periodically under normal operating conditions. This EX classification usually includes a variety of working areas, such as grain handling and storage plants; rooms containing grinders or pulverizers; cleaners; graders; scalpers; open conveyors or spouts; open bins or hoppers; mixers or blenders; automatic or hopper scales; and packing machinery.
- Trucks designated as DY, EE or EX may be used in locations where volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases are handled, processed or used, and only where the hazardous liquids, vapors or gases will normally be confined within closed containers or closed systems.
- Trucks designated as DS, ES, GS or LPS may be used in locations where hazardous liquids or liquefied or compressed gases are sealed in containers.
- Trucks designated as DY, EE or EX should be used in atmospheres where combustible dust will not normally be in suspension in the air or will not be likely to be thrown into suspension by the normal operation of equipment in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures, but where deposits or accumulations of such dust may be ignited by arcs or sparks originating in the truck.
- Trucks designated as DY, EE or EX should be used in locations that are hazardous because of the presence of easily ignitable fibers that are not likely to be in suspension in the air in quantities sufficient to produce ignitable mixtures.
- Trucks designated as DS, DY, ES, EE, EX, GS or LPS should be used in locations where easily ignitable fibers are stored or handled, but are not being processed or manufactured, including outside storage. Trucks designated as E, which have been previously used in these locations, may continue to be used.
- Trucks designated as D, E, G or LP may be used on piers and wharves handling general cargo.
Note - NFPA 505, Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks Including Type Designations,
Areas of Use, Conversions, Maintenance, and Operations - 2002 Edition, published by
the National Fire Protection Association, has additional information on
classifications for special circumstances.
COPYRIGHT ©2003, ISO Services Properties, Inc.
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