Ministry of Labor Strengthens Occupational Risk Prevention, Forklift Forks Prohibited from Carrying People
Taiwan's Ministry of Labor announced amendments to occupational safety and health facility regulations, emphasizing pre-accident risk prevention. Key changes include mandatory prior declaration for high-risk operations, hazard prevention plans for machinery maintenance, new risk assessment reports for chemical handling, and a complete ban on carrying people on forklift forks. Violators face fines up to NT$3 million.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 14:44
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 15:01 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 20:56 (5h 54m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsiung-feng, Taipei, 8th) The Ministry of Labor today announced proposed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Facilities Regulations, strengthening risk prevention. High-risk operations must be declared in advance, machinery and equipment inspections must have a plan, new chemical operation risk assessment reports are required, and carrying people on parts other than the forklift's designated seating area (such as forks) is prohibited.
Lin Yu-tang, Director-General of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the Ministry of Labor, stated at a press conference today that the proposed amendments aim to shift from post-accident response to pre-accident risk prevention, "leaving no gray areas for high-risk behaviors."
Lin Yu-tang pointed out that for high-risk operations, businesses should conduct risk assessments before operations and take specific preventive measures based on the assessment results, making records. High-risk operations include falling, collapse, drowning, oxygen deficiency, fire, falling objects, and other risks.
In addition, Lin Yu-tang mentioned that the draft amends the safety procedures for machinery and equipment inspection. For machinery shutdown, repair, maintenance, and inspection processes, employers are required to formulate a "Hazard Prevention Plan" in advance, making equipment inspection a planned and procedural safety management, rather than temporary work.
Lin Yu-tang stated that this amendment also strictly prohibits workers from riding on forklift forks, pallets, and other parts outside the designated seating area. Previously, some exceptions were listed (such as when the forklift was stopped), but this amendment makes it a complete prohibition; he emphasized that the original design of forklifts did not consider dynamic shifts in personnel's center of gravity, which can easily lead to breakage or falls and injuries.
Lin Yu-tang pointed out that this amendment adds management regulations for silane (silane gas), ammonium nitrate, organic peroxides, and hot fuel oil, requiring prior risk assessment and preventive measures to strengthen the prevention of hazardous substance accidents. It is initially estimated to affect over a thousand businesses.
The Ministry of Labor stated that regulations such as machinery and equipment hazard prevention and the prohibition of carrying people on forklifts will be implemented in conjunction with the effective date of this law; a buffer period will be given to businesses for high-risk operation prior risk assessment and notification mechanisms, and chemical prior risk assessment and preventive measures, which are expected to officially take effect on January 1 next year.
The Ministry of Labor explained that the draft clearly stipulates the legal obligations of employers and businesses. Violations of relevant regulations leading to major occupational disasters may result in fines of up to NT$3 million, and may be increased by up to one-half of the maximum statutory fine depending on the scale, nature, or severity of the violation. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150508
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(Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsiung-feng, Taipei, 8th) The Ministry of Labor today announced proposed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Facilities Regulations, strengthening risk prevention. High-risk operations must be declared in advance, machinery and equipment inspections must have a plan, new chemical operation risk assessment reports are required, and carrying people on parts other than the forklift's designated seating area (such as forks) is prohibited.
Lin Yu-tang, Director-General of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the Ministry of Labor, stated at a press conference today that the proposed amendments aim to shift from post-accident response to pre-accident risk prevention, "leaving no gray areas for high-risk behaviors."
Lin Yu-tang pointed out that for high-risk operations, businesses should conduct risk assessments before operations and take specific preventive measures based on the assessment results, making records. High-risk operations include falling, collapse, drowning, oxygen deficiency, fire, falling objects, and other risks.
In addition, Lin Yu-tang mentioned that the draft amends the safety procedures for machinery and equipment inspection. For machinery shutdown, repair, maintenance, and inspection processes, employers are required to formulate a "Hazard Prevention Plan" in advance, making equipment inspection a planned and procedural safety management, rather than temporary work.
Lin Yu-tang stated that this amendment also strictly prohibits workers from riding on forklift forks, pallets, and other parts outside the designated seating area. Previously, some exceptions were listed (such as when the forklift was stopped), but this amendment makes it a complete prohibition; he emphasized that the original design of forklifts did not consider dynamic shifts in personnel's center of gravity, which can easily lead to breakage or falls and injuries.
Lin Yu-tang pointed out that this amendment adds management regulations for silane (silane gas), ammonium nitrate, organic peroxides, and hot fuel oil, requiring prior risk assessment and preventive measures to strengthen the prevention of hazardous substance accidents. It is initially estimated to affect over a thousand businesses.
The Ministry of Labor stated that regulations such as machinery and equipment hazard prevention and the prohibition of carrying people on forklifts will be implemented in conjunction with the effective date of this law; a buffer period will be given to businesses for high-risk operation prior risk assessment and notification mechanisms, and chemical prior risk assessment and preventive measures, which are expected to officially take effect on January 1 next year.
The Ministry of Labor explained that the draft clearly stipulates the legal obligations of employers and businesses. Violations of relevant regulations leading to major occupational disasters may result in fines of up to NT$3 million, and may be increased by up to one-half of the maximum statutory fine depending on the scale, nature, or severity of the violation. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150508
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.