Forklift operation has its own occupational-health limits: hearing protection above 80/85 dB(A), whole-body vibration above 0.5 m/s² must be disclosed, a heated cab in freezer rooms, and the seat belt must always be worn. Indoors the speed is normally no more than 10 km/h.
Introduction
Even though the forklift does the physical lifting, there are working-environment factors the driver must be aware of: noise, vibration, cold and safe movement around the site. The limit values below come from BFA Industri's guidance.
Noise and vibration
- 01Hearing protection must be provided for daily noise exposure above 80 dB(A) and must always be used above 85 dB(A); without protection the peak value must not exceed 137 dB(C).
- 02Whole-body vibration: the vibration level must be stated in the operating instructions; a level above 0.5 m/s² must always be specified.
Cold, harness and speed
- 01Forklifts in rooms below 0 °C must have a heated operator cab (at least 18 °C).
- 02The seat belt must always be worn (together with ROPS/FOPS operator protection).
- 03Speed indoors: normally no more than 10 km/h.
- 04Falling goods: particular risk when working with goods at height — cordoning off the area and warning/indicator lights that draw attention to the truck and the raised load.
The legal basis behind the limits
The limits are not only in BFA's guidance — they have legal basis in two orders that implement their respective EU directives. These are what the employer is bound by, and what an occupational health assessment must be held against:
- 01Regulation on protection against exposure to noise in connection with work (implements EU Directive 2003/10/EF).
- 02The regulation on protection against exposure to mechanical vibrations at work (implementing EU Directive 2002/44/EF).
Noise: action and limit values
The noise regulation operates with a lower and an upper action value and a limit value. The values are given both as daily noise exposure (L_EX,8h) and as peak value (impulse, dB(C)):
| Level | Daily noise L_EX,8h | Peak value | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower action value | 80 dB(A) | 135 dB(C) | Hearing protection must be provided; access to hearing checks. |
| Upper action value | 85 dB(A) | 137 dB(C) | Hearing protection MUST be used; noise should be reduced; access to occupational health examination. |
| Limit value (with protection included) | 87 dB(A) | 140 dB(C) | Must not be exceeded — measured with the damping hearing protection provides. |
In Denmark, there is also a national special rule: no one may without protection be exposed to a noise load exceeding 85 dB(A) or peak values exceeding 137 dB(C). On a truck, this means in practice that hearing protection must be used where measurement shows the level is reached.
Whole-body vibration: A(8)
The truck driver is typically exposed to WHOLE-BODY vibration through the seat (shock from uneven ground), while hand-arm vibration is less pronounced. The Mechanical Vibrations Directive sets for the daily vibration exposure A(8) — normalised to 8 hours:
| Whole-body vibration A(8) | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Action value | 0,5 m/s² | Above this, causes must be mapped and the load must be reduced. |
| Limit value | 1,15 m/s² | Must not be exceeded. |
The vibration level must be stated in the truck's instruction manual, and a level above 0.5 m/s² must always be specified. Assessment and measurement take place according to the methods in the regulation's annex (based on ISO 2631 for whole-body vibration). For comparison, for hand-arm vibration an action value of 2.5 m/s² and a limit value of 5.0 m/s² apply.
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