Does OSHA have any prohibitions against suicide knobs on the steering wheel of forklifts?

Federal OSHA’s Powered Industrial Truck regulation does not address the use of steering knobs. However, the industry consensus standard ASME B56.1 includes a section on steering requirements that covers steering knobs.

Section 7.13.3: Where steering must be accomplished with one hand and a steering handwheel is used, a steering knob(s) or equivalent shall be used to promote safe and effective operation. The steering handwheel and knob configuration shall be a design that will minimize the hazard from a spinning handwheel due to a road reaction feedback, or the steering mechanism shall be of a type that prevents road reactions from causing the steering handwheel to spin. A steering knob(s) shall be within the periphery of the steering handwheel.

Section 7.13.4: Where steering can be accomplished with either hand, and the steering mechanism is of a type that prevents road reactions from causing the handwheel to spin (power steering or equivalent), steering knobs may be used. When used, a steering knob shall be of a type that is engaged by the operator’s hand from the top, and shall be within the periphery of the steering handwheel.

The Powered Industrial Truck standard at 1910.178(a)(2) states that powered industrial trucks must meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI/ASME B56.1. 1910.178(a)(4) further states that modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturer’s prior written approval.

In this case, according to B56.1, a manufacturer may incorporate a steering knob on the handwheel of a forklift. If the handwheel configuration is such that a steering knob can be safely incorporated, then the regulation does not disallow its use. Check with the vehicle manufacturer for further recommendations on the use and safe placement of a steering knob.