lgnoring OSHA safety standards can be hazardous to your health

R'HfJiif, ilff nl understand the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and how it can affect their operation. with the design and construction specifications.

For most applications, OSHA requires a load backrest and overhead guard on lift trucks. In particular, converted to a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) system, OSHA requires that all conversion parts comply with Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual Research Corp. (FM) standards. The complete conversion must result in a truck equipped with features specified in the approved agency standards for LPG designated trucks.

OSHA requires that users examine all trucks daily before each work shift. If any adverse conditions that could affect the safety of the vehicle appear, such as inadequate tire pressure or malfunctioning brakes, OSHA strictly prohibits operation until the problem has been corrected.

When truck maintenance requires replacement parts, OSHA states that only those equivalent to the originals, in terms of safety, may be used.

OSHA, coupled with the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSH), requires that employers meet the minimum safety standards relating to lift trucks established by them back in 1970, Ifthere is an accident, or even a complaint, the yard or store may be investigated. Operations will be carefully reviewed to ensure complete compliance with all of the safety provisions of the Act.

Ignorance is not a defense for non-compliance. Therefore, it is extremely important that management know and understand the regulations detailed in OSHA. OSHA places design and construction restrictions on all powered industrial trucks acquired by a company after Feb. 15, 1972. Trucks manufactured before this date need not necessarily comply trucks must be equipped with a load backrest if the load being handled presents ahazard of falling. Furthermore, the Act requires that high-lift rider trucks be equipped with an overhead guard unless operating conditions prevent its use. For example, an enclosed area which the truck could not enter with an overhead guard could be an exception. Standards state "modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the owner or user (of the lift truck) without prior written approval." Concurrently, all capacity, operation and maintenance instruction plates, tags or decals must be changed to reflect any modifications. When a lift truck equipped with an approved gasoline fuel system is

Just as truck design, construction and maintenance are important to safety, so is proper operation. Therefore, OSHA requires that all lift truck operators be trained on the proper operation of powered industrial trucks. OSHA regulations vary from one application to another. It is important for managers to gain a full understanding of the requirements for their specific application. Equipped with this information, managers can tailor their safety programs to meet their specific needs according to OSHA, providing safety to both their employees and customers exposed to lift trucks.

Story at a Glance

Ways to avoid lift truck violations and OSHA investigations managers responsible for safety of employees and customers exposed to equipment ... daily inspections required.

The .lrizona Lumber & Builders Strpply .,lssociation board of directors has voted to liquidate the 67 year oid group (see page 2l for story) llaywarcl Lumber Co., Claremont, Ca.. has a tentative agreement with an unnamed buyer to sell its 7 yards from the former Hontesread chain: Yucca Valley, Big Bear, Twenty Nine Palms, Joshua Tree, Apple Valley, Victorville and Needles, Ca.; Hayward is currently working with the Credit Managers Association of California to pay its creditors .

Lyle llendren, president of Blueher Lurnber, Albuquerque, N.M., has acquired the A.C. Houston Lunber store in Rio Rancho, N.M.. and will move his company from the Seven Bar Flying Hanger to the Houston Lumberfacility...

HomeClub, Inc. will open a 103,909 sq. ft store with a 9,880 sq. ft. nursery in Lancaster, Ca.. on June 30, their lTth warehouse in Southern California

Mead Clark Home Center, Santa Rosar, Ca., has a new 21.348 sq. ft. retail center

Healdsburg Lumber and Wagner Bros. Cabiriets, Healdsburg, Ca., have formed Healdsburs ()abinet and Millw,ork Co. with a 5,000 sq. ft. shop located at Healdsburg Lumber, Dan Kettman, mgr. . .

Payless Cashways lrc. has approved a warrant dividend program designed to prevent a hostile takeover . Lumber City, Van Nuys, Ca., is celebrating its 40thanniversary...

Ace Hardware, St. Helena, Or., is doubling its size, utilizing property next door ... Lumbermen's, Palm Springs. Ca., has opened a second store in Home Improvemenl Park, a one-stop home improvement shopping area being developed in Indio, Ca., by Lumbermen's president, RobertSlettedahl ...

Acquisition of Anrcrican Forest Products Co., Portland, Or., by Georgia-Paci/ic Corp.. Atlanta, Cia., has been completed for approximately $228 million

Wit'kes Cos., Santa Monica. Ca,, has completed the sale of its Iilickes Lumber unit to Wickes Lumber Co., a company formed by the unit's managers, for $306.8 million Arcata Corp, will receive $518.8 million for redwood timberlands taken by thegovt....

Lew MacDonald has sold his interest in Golden State Moulding, White City. Or., to partners Phil Shugart and Doug Seeley and is now at River City Moulding, Sacramento, Ca., joining Dave Seeger and Rich Sabbagh as a partner

Setzer Forest Products, Sacramento, Ca., is adding a 12.000 sq. ft. lumber storage building plus a 6000 sq. [t. addition to its mill bldg. . . . Lane Stantan Vance Lumber Co., City of Industry, Ca., is adding a partially enclosed 50'x110' lumber storage bldg. for finishedproducts...

Weslern Trading Co. is a new company started by Western For' est Products, a div. of The Hofl' Companies. all in Boise, Id.; Bob Anno manages the trading co. .

.Straigltt Edge .Stevedore Service, Pomona, Ca., has changed its name to Straight Edge Lumber ,Service Lumber Inventory Service.s, a tallying and inventory business, has been opened in Eugene, Or., by Lish Wilson

The Merchant Magazine

Potlatch Corp. is adding a fourth turbine generator to its Lewiston, Id., mfg. complex in a $21.4 million project ... Gregory Forest Producrs has added new equipment at its Klamath Falls, Or., veneer plant and expanded the off rce space .

Pope & Talbot. Portland, Or., has been selected by Fortune magazine as a star contender to make its prestigious "Fortune 500" fist next year DMK-Pacific Corp., Fremont, Ca., celebrated its 1Oth birthday recently . .

Medlord Corp. purchased 58,800 acres of Jackson County (Oregon) timberland {rom Tim' ber Products (b., Medford, Or.. fbr $10.5 million to become the largest timberland owner in the area. .

Beade.r Manu.lacturing Co. has opened a new 8,800 sq. ft. distribution warehouse in Tualatin (Portland), Or., to serve Or., so. Wa.. western Id. and no. Ca. . . . Carev-McFall Corp. has opened new mfg. and assembly facilities at Sparks, Nv. . .

Despite USG Corp., Chicago, Il., winning its proxy battle with Desert Partners LP, the investor group vows to continue pursuing its $2.2 billion hostile buyout

Prices for Koppers Co. stock fell as the attempted $l;7 billion hostile takeover by BNS Inc. (Beazer P/r', Cireat Britain) faced a May 3i hearing to determine violation of federal financing rules by the suitor

Zircon International /rc. is now in production at its new highvolume, just-in-time production facility in Campbell, Ca.; a warehouse no longer needed under the new system is being converted to mfg. . .

Housing starts in April (latest figs.) climbcd 0.5% to an annual rate of 1,561,000; single family starts dropp ed 6.90/a; multifamily starts leaped 23.30/0... building permits were down 4.1% ... {Please runl to Page 66}