WHAT IS THE STANDARD BY WHICH INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS MUST BE MAINTAINED?

INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

The Industrial Trucks Standards Development Foundation or ITSDF was incorporated in late 2004 to assume management of standards affecting products used in the material handling market earlier developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

As a first step in this process, procedures governing the approval process were established and the American National Standards Institute approved ITSDF as a standards developing organization (SDO). Secondly, each of the members of the ASME B 56 Main Committee was asked to join the ITSDF B56 Main Committee effective on the transferal date of the management from ASME to ITSDF. Thirdly, the ASME B56 standards were drafted as ITSDF B56 standards and sent to the ITSDF Main Committee for affirmation as ITSDF standards. There were no substantive changes in the standards…."ASME" was merely changed to "ITSDF" as appropriate. Simultaneously, ANSI was informed of the process and notified the public in "Standards Action". The B56 standards were all approved by ANSI as reaffirmed and redesignated American National Standards on or before September 19th 2005.

Purpose
The purpose of the standard is to promote safety through the design, construction, application, operation and maintenance of powered industrial trucks. The standard may be used by governmental authorities desiring to formulate safety rules and regulations.

Maintenance
The standard for the maintenance and inspection of powered industrial trucks can be found in Section 6.2 Maintenance and Inspection

Paragraph 6.2 Maintenance and Inspection
Maintenance and inspection of all powered industrial trucks shall be performed in conformance with the following practices:

(a) A scheduled planned maintenance, lubrication, and inspection system shall be followed; consult the manufacturer's recommendations.

(b) Only trained and authorized personnel shall be permitted to maintain, repair, adjust, and inspect industrial trucks, and in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.

Paragraph 6.2.7
Brakes, steering mechanisms, control mechanisms, warning devices, lights, governors, lift overload devices, guards and safety devices, lift and tilt mechanisms, articulating axle stops, and frame members shall be carefully and regularly inspected and maintained in safe operating condition.

Interpretation: 1-73
Subject: ASME B56.1-2000
Paragraph 6.2(b), Maintenance and Inspection
Date Issued: September 17, 2002

Question: In the ASME B56.1-2000, Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks, paragraph 6.2(b), it states that only trained and authorized personnel shall be permitted to maintain, repair, adjust and inspect industrial trucks. What is ASME definition of "trained and authorized personnel"? In the Glossary of Commonly Used Words and Phrases it list nothing for "trained", but it does cover "authorized personnel" as persons designated by the user to operate or maintain the equipment. Can shop trained mechanics repair forklifts if they are not trained by the Forklift Manufacturer?

Reply: Training by the OEM is recommended, but not required. Especially in the case where the OEM is no longer in business. As there are specific safety considerations that are unique to forklift trucks, the training, no matter from what source, should be from someone with training and experience on the brands/models being serviced.

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