Tow Motor Safety at VUMC

Powered Industrial Trucks

The safe use of Powered Industrial Trucks is regulated by OSHA under 29 CFR 1910.178 Powered Industrial Trucks.  Tow Motors are one example of a Powered Industrial Truck, and are included under this regulation.  The OSHA web site provides additional information about Tow Motor Safety on their Powered Industrial Truck Safety and Health Topics web page.

VUMC policies and procedures for the safe use of Tow Motors are described in Motorized Equipment Transport, SA 50-10.03.  This policy covers all tow motors, electric tugs and pallet jacks used at VUMC. 

Tow Motor Safety Training

All VUMC employees whose job requires operation of motorized equipment must be properly trained in safe maintenance and operation of this equipment prior to first use and annually.  Tow motor safety training is provided to VUMC staff by Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety (VEHS) through VandySafe; staff who do not have readily available access to computers will be provided with alternate training.  Please send Tow Motor Safety training requests to mandy.hayes@vanderbilt.edu.

After competition of the training, employees are provided with operator permits.  Tow Motor operators are required to wear their operator permits when operating electric tow motors.  These permits are valid for one year.  Operators must complete annual training in order receive a new permit each year.

Questions

If you have safety questions about tow motors, electric tugs, pallet jacks or other Powered Industrial trucks at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, please contact mandy.hayes@vanderbilt.edu. 

If you have questions about Powered Industrial Truck safety at Vanderbilt University, please contact mark.j.bogard@vanderbilt.edu.