Abstract

To avoid the sometimes fatal accidents to which a lift truck operator is exposed in a tipover, the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety was modified in 2008. These vehicles must now be equipped with a retention device, for example a safety belt, an enclosed cabin, or mesh doors. A previous study demonstrated that the combined wearing of such a belt and a helmet constitutes the most effective protection. However, the characteristics that determine the effectiveness of this equipment and that promote its use are not known. This project will lead to the production of an inventory of the devices currently used in workplaces, the establishment of the technical and ergonomic criteria that ensure worker safety, and finally, the production of a critical review of the current devices in relation to these criteria. This knowledge will help guide companies in the choice of safety belts and helmets for operators.