Developed with the input of a working group representing various sectors of activity, a practical information pamphlet and a complementary worksheet have just been published by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) to assist preventionists, maintenance personnel, and lift truck suppliers in choosing the appropriate seat belt assembly for protecting lift truck operators. The Regulation respecting occupational health and safety requires that counterbalanced lift trucks be equipped with a retention device to prevent operators from being crushed by their truck in the event of a tipover.
In a previous exploratory study (R-765), the researchers investigated the mechanical components of seat belt assemblies in light of protection standards. They also held a series of discussions with operators and made their own observations in order to pinpoint the characteristics of seat belt assemblies that must be taken into account to meet users’ needs in their real work contexts. Apart from ensuring safety, an appropriate seat belt assembly should (1) allow good body mobility, (2) be easy to buckle and unbuckle, and (3) limit discomforts.
“Based on our work, we developed an information sheet and a worksheet to be completed in order to assist companies in choosing an appropriate seat belt assembly. The first section of the pamphlet recommends actions to be taken on the work environment to limit some of the operations likely to give rise to the inconveniences associated with seat belt use. The second describes the options available for certain components of seat belt assemblies such as webbing retractors and buckles. This information will enable you to make an informed choice, particularly if the truck operators concerned participate in the process by voicing their needs and the solutions best suited to their particular situation,” explains principal author, Sylvie Beaugrand, an ergonomist at the IRSST.
The information pamphlet entitled Lift trucks – How to choose the right safety belt can be viewed and downloaded free of charge at http://www.irsst.qc.ca/media/documents/PubIRSST/RF-839.pdf.
A video entitled Lift trucks: Wearing a safety belt can save your life is also available.
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Source
Jacques Millette
Public Affairs publiques
IRSST