PART XIV - Materials Handling

Scope

This part of the directive enhances and/or supplements Part XIV (Materials Handling) [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/SOR-86-304/32125.html] of the COHSR and should be read in that context.

14.1 General Responsibilities of Employees

14.1.1 Materials-handling equipment from which a safety device has been removed or rendered ineffective, except in accordance with Part XIII (Tools and Machinery) [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/SOR-86-304/31919.html#rid-32085] of the COHSR, shall not be used or operated.

14.1.2 Except with the express approval of the person in charge, employees shall not remove or render ineffective a safety device with which any materials-handling equipment is fitted.

14.1.3 Employees shall not start the power unit of any materials-handling equipment until all drive clutches have been disengaged, all brakes set and the operator is assured that no one will be endangered by the starting of the power unit.

14.2 General Design and Construction

14.2.1 To the extent reasonably practicable, the operator's compartment shall be designed and constructed to minimize the risk of muscular skeletal injury.

14.2.2 To the extent reasonably practicable, seats provided for the operator and any passenger for which the motorized materials-handling equipment was designed, shall be comfortable, well designed and constructed, equipped with adequate lateral restraints, safely located and securely mounted.

14.3 Protection from Elements

14.3.1 To reduce the total heat burden affecting the operators of the motorized materials-handling equipment, the operator's compartment or position shall be protected, to the extent possible, from the heat produced by the equipment, by an insulated barrier or some other suitable means.

14.4 Lighting

14.4.1 Adequate lighting of the operator's compartment and its instruments shall be available at all times.

14.5 Slow Moving Vehicles

14.5.1 Mobile equipment operated at a rate of speed that is more than 30 km below the posted speed for a road or area shall be equipped with a slow- moving vehicle warning device as prescribed by the laws of the province or territory in which the equipment is operated.

14.5.2 Where the laws of the province or territory in which the mobile equipment is operated do not prescribe a slow-moving vehicle warning device, such mobile equipment shall be equipped with a warning device in accordance with the requirements of the laws of an adjacent province or territory.

14.6 Control Systems

14.6.1 Where practicable, any materials-handling equipment that has a moving part with a limit as to safe operating speed or safe travelling distance shall be equipped with an automatic control to prevent its speed or distance of travel from exceeding that limit.

14.6.2 All motorized materials-handling equipment powered by an internal combustion engine shall be fitted with a power-operated starting device.

14.7 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

14.7.1 Before materials-handling equipment is used for the first time, a qualified person shall set out written instructions for its inspection, testing and maintenance, which also comply with the operating and maintenance manuals of that equipment, if any.

14.7.2 Reports of inspection, testing and maintenance performed on motorized materials-handling equipment shall be kept for as long as the equipment is in use.

14.8 Radio-transmitting Equipment

14.8.1 Radio-transmitting equipment shall not be used as part of operation of the materials-handling equipment before the person in charge ensures that other transmitting devices will not interfere with the reliable transmission of signals.

14.9 Positioning and Securing the Load

14.9.1 Any motorized or manual materials-handling equipment shall be loaded and operated safely to prevent the load from shifting or falling.

14.10 Parking

14.10.1 Where reasonably practicable, all motorized material-handling equipment that is operated by any employee is to be shut down during any period that it is unattended.

14.10.2 Cranes, hoists or similar materials-handling equipment shall not be left unattended, other than in a condition of maximum stability, unless safe measures approved by the person in charge are taken to prevent the equipment from tilting or accidentally moving.

14.11 Hazard Areas

14.11.1 Except for the work carried out under the provisions of Part VIII of this directive, every part of the materials-handling equipment shall be kept at least the minimum distance from the live power line set out in the table below.

MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM LIVE POWER LINE

14.12 Manual Handling

14.12.1 Employees whose primary tasks do not include manual lifting or carrying shall not be required to manually lift or carry materials, goods or things in excess of 20 kg.

14.12.2 Where an employee working in a health care environment is required to lift or carry persons, the employee shall be instructed and trained:

1. in a safe method of lifting and carrying the persons that will minimize the stress on the body;
2. in a work procedure appropriate to the employee's physical condition and the working conditions; and
3. in the use of alternative means or methods of lifting and carrying persons.

14.12.3 Where an employee is required to lift or carry loads in excess of 45 kg manually or where the employee is required to lift or carry persons, the instructions given to the employee in accordance with 14.12.1 and 14.12.2 shall be reviewed annually with the employee.

14.12.4 Where an employee is required to lift or carry loads in excess of 45 kg manually or to lift or carry persons, the instructions shall be reviewed annually with the employee.

14.13 Storage of Materials

14.13.1 No materials, goods or things shall be stored or placed in a manner that may conceal any warning signs or symbols.

14.14 Instruction and Training

14.14.1 The operator of any materials-handling equipment shall have ready access to such operating manuals and departmental safety standards as may be necessary for the safe and proper operation and maintenance of the materials-handling equipment.

14.15 Signals

14.15.1 Subject to 14.15.2, departments that use or propose to use signals to direct the safe movement of motorized materials-handling equipment shall establish a single code of signals to be used by signallers throughout departments.

14.15.2 The single code of signals referred to in 14.15.1 shall be filed, readily available and provided to each signaller, operator and to other persons who are required to understand such signals and such employees are to be instructed, trained and tested in the use of the code.