L

ast Oc t o b e r, the U.S. Oc c u p a-

tional Safety and Health Ad-
m i n i s t ration (OSHA) issued a
new standard to regulate the
use of crane-suspended personnel
w o rk platform s. Hi s t o ri c a l l y, these
p l a t f o rms have not been well con-
t rolled and about 63 serious acci-
dents and 15 deaths have re s u l t e d
a n n u a l l y. OSHA says that comply-
ing with the new standard ,
29CFR1926.550(g), should prevent
future accidents.
The standards preamble states
t h a t :
The use of a crane or derrick to
hoist employees on a personnel
p l a t f o rm is prohibited, except when
the erection, use, and dismantling
by conventional means of re a c h i n g
the work s i t e, such as a personnel
hoist, ladder, stairw a y, aerial lift, el-
e vating work platform or scaffold,
would be more hazard o u s, or is not
possible because of stru c t u ral de-
sign or worksite conditions.
These platforms have been called
m a n - c a g e s, man-baskets, work
p l a t f o rm s, and other labels that
may not match the OSHA title of
personnel platform s. But the ru l e
applies to all like devices that are
lifted and suspended by cra n e s. The
design, construction, testing, and
maintenance of these platforms are
n ow closely regulated. Load lin e
safety capacities, rigging, handling,
and other factors re c e i ve attention
in OSHAs new ru l e. The rule also
dictates the operating setup of the
lifting crane and the working envi-
ronment surrounding it.
St andard cl ears up confusi on
Pre v i o u s l y, employers and OSHA
d i s a g reed about how to interpre t
regulations for personnel platform s.
Em p l oyers complained that OSHA
regulations we re ambiguous but al-
l owed the use of personnel plat-
f o rm s. OSHA maintained that the
s t a n d a rds we re not ambiguous and
that 29CFR1926.550(b)(2), which
banned riding the hook, pro h i b i t-
ed platforms altogether.
Now theres no arg u m e n t s u s-
pended platforms are legally per-
mitted. Howe ve r, this final ru l e
29CFR1926.550(g)does not
change the original, and still exist-
ing, re s t riction of subsection
.550(b)(2): workers may not ride a
b a re hook or ride a load of materi a l .
That action is still pro h i b i t e d .
Using personnel platforms is
sometimes the fastest way to re a c h
a work site. Howe ve r, the pre a m b l e
to the new standard clearly says that
hoisting workers in man-cages, al-
though allowed, should only be
done as a last re s o rt. And only after
the employer has placed safety be-
f o re saving time or money.
Load l i ne safet y fact or
i s doubl ed
Load lines must be able to sup-
p o rt seven times the maximum in-
tended load, twice the existing safe-
ty factor of 3.5. Doubling the safety
factor is ve ry simple. Just use the
load chart of the crane and cut the
lift capacity in half. Using the stan-
d a rd safety factor of 3.5 times the
intended load for load lines and
d ow n g rading the crane capacity to
half its rated capacity (for the plat-
f o rm and its total intended load),
doubles the safety factor. The safety
factor increases without modifying
the crane or load line.
No n rotational rope is often used
with cra n e s. It reduces the tendency
of the load line to twist, which it
sometimes does while lifting de-
spite a swivel in the hook or block
a s s e m b l y. OSHA now re q u i res that
n o n rotational ropes have a safety
factor of 10 as compared with 7 for
other ro p e s.
Crane must use ant i -t wo
bl ocki ng equi pment
Reliable anti-two blocking equip-
ment is available now, and such a
device must be installed on all
b o o m s. Se ve ral fatalities have been
caused by the lack of anti-two block
OSHAs new r ules for cr ane-
suspended per sonnel platfor ms
BY CHARLES A. ROBERTS
SAFETY DIRECTOR
SMC CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
ANNANDALE, VIRGINIA
e q u i p m e n t .
Op e rate the crane in a slow, con-
t rolled, cautious manner. It must be
set up uniformly level to within 1%,
located on firm footing, with outri g-
gers fully extended. These re s t ri c-
tions are simply good crane safety
p ra c t i c e s. When platforms are sta-
t i o n a ry, dog or lock the load and
boom hoist drum and swing bra k e s.
L i ve booms of the free fall type are
p rohibited because they are so dan-
g e ro u s. En s u re that the operator of
va riable-angle boom rigs can see a
boom angle indicator from the cab.
Be f o re any lifting, extension booms
must show the boom length or the
load radius must be measure d .
Personnel pl at form desi gn
i s speci fi ed
The platform may be designed by
a qualified engineer or by a
nonengineer with stru c t u ral design
e x p e ri e n c e. Welding must be per-
f o rmed by a welder who need not be
c e rtified, but must be familiar with
weld gra d e s, types, and materi a l s
s p e c i f i e d .
D o nt allow access gates, includ-
ing sliding and folding types, to
swing out during hoisting. Eq u i p
them with a re s t raining device to
p re vent accidental opening. All sur-
faces must be smooth so they dont
h a rm work e r s.
The platform must have a stan-
d a rd guard rail system (typically 42
inches high) with a toe board. The
sides must be closed off from the toe
b o a rd to the mid-rail with
1
2-inch (or
less) wire mesh and a grab rail encir-
cling the inside. Although not spec-
ified, the grab rail should be 30 to 34
inches high like a stair handra i l .
T h e re must be room to stand up-
right in the platform. Ove rhead pro-
tection is only re q u i red if theres a
danger from falling objects. Keep in
mind, though, that theres almost al-
ways something above a platform .
Of course, workers also must we a r
h a rd h a t s.
Pl at form must hol d i t s
own wei ght and 5 t i mes
i nt ended l oad
The platform must be capable of
St ep 1. Apply first clip one base
widt h from dead end of wire t op.
Place t he U-bolt over t he dead
end, rest ing t he live end in t he
clip saddle. Tight en nut s evenly t o
recommended t orque.
St ep 2. Apply t he second clip
nearest t he loop as possible.
Again, place t he U-bolt over t he
dead end. Turn t he nut s firmly,
but do not t ight en.
St ep 3. Apply all ot her clips
spaced evenly bet ween t he first
t wo. Apply t ension and t ight en all
nut s t o recommended t orque.
Aft er each lift , recheck nut
t orque.
Do not st agger clips.
Don t place U-bolt of clips on live
end of rope.
The clip will t ransfer t he load t o
t he dead end of t he rope.
s u p p o rting its own weight and five
times the intended load. A plate or
p e rmanent marking must show t
he weight of the platform and its
rated load capacity or maximum in-
tended load. Dont exceed this load.
Tools can be hoisted on the plat-
f o rm with work e r s, but they must be
s e c u red and evenly distributed dur-
ing lifts. The platform shouldnt be
used to lift tools, equipment, or ma-
t e rials when not hoisting personnel.
Ri ggi ng hardware must suppor t
5 t i mes t he i nt ended l oad
The suspension system must be
designed to reduce the risk of the
p l a t f o rm tipping while occupied.
When a wire rope bridle is used,
each leg must be connected to a
master line (D-ring) or shackle with
the load evenly distributed. Dont
use the bridle for any other purpose.
All rigging hard w a re must be able to
s u p p o rt five times the maximum in-
tended load. If nonrotational rope is
used, increase the safety factor to
10. Hooks must be able to close and
lock, and wire rope eyes must have a
thimble in the end.
Load-t est l i ft s ensure safet y
Test load all platforms before
each use with the full anticipated lift
weight. Sandbags make good hu-
m a n - weight substitutes. Tools or
equipmentbut not peoplecan
be hoisted during the load test. The
full weight must be hoisted fro m
w h e re workers enter the platform
and lifted to each work area. The
lift-position load test must be done
each time the crane is moved, or
when its re t u rned to the same loca-
tion, or when the route is differe n t .
If the operator determines that
changes in the lift route wont affect
the lift, then no further testing is
n e c e s s a ry. Be f o re the actual lift, with
w o rkers aboard, hoist the platform
s e ve ral inches and inspect it.
After re p a i ring and modifying de-
f e c t s, test load the rig to 125% ca-
pacity for 5 minutes. A competent
person must inspect it, perh a p s
d u ring the lift-position load-test
p ro c e d u re. Also, dont make the lift
i f :
PRE-LIFT MEETING
I This lift is the only way to do the job.
I Rules and checklist handed out
to the following people at this meeting:
I Operator
I Signal person
I Workers to be lifted
I Supervisor
BEFORE THE LIFT
Workbasket design
I Designed by qualified engineer or
experienced, qualified person.
I Basket can support its own weight
and 5 times its intended load.
I Access gate is equipped so that
door wont swing out.
I All surfaces are smooth.
I Standard guardrail inside, with toe
board.
I Hand rail/ grab rail inside to hold onto.
I Sides closed off, floor to guardrail,
with
1
2-inch or less wire mesh.
I Room to stand up in basket.
I Overhead protection from falling
objects.
I Label on basket of baskets weight.
Ri ggi ng
I Rigged so it wont tip when lifted.
I Legs of wire rope bridle connected
to master link (D-ring).
I All hardware can support 5 times
intended weight (except when non
rotational rope is used, then its
10 times).
I Hooks capable of opening and closing.
I Wire rope eyes have thimbles.
Crane
I Load line can support 7 times
intended load.
I Load chart examined for maximum
pick. Cut chart numbers in half.
I No live booms.
I Boom angle indicator.
I Extension boom marked for length.
I Anti-two blocking device installed
on boom.
I Outriggers fully extended, cribbed up.
I Crane off the ground. If on the
wheels, then de-rate.
I Site layout
I Site ready for crane.
I Distances from crane to loads
measured.
TEST LIFT
I Inspected by competent person.
I Lift to actual site with total load
(no people).
I Hoist rope has no kinks.
I Multiple part lines not wrapped
around one another.
I Primary attachment is centered.
I Load line taut and lines reeved properly.
DURING THE PERSONNEL LIFT
I Body parts inside cage (except
signal person as required).
I Tie off to load block/ ball.
I Platformmust be tied off when in the air.
I Workers in direct sight of crane
operator (radios can substitute).
I Crane operator in cab at all times.
I Other lifts or picks not made while
platform in the air.
I Stop the operation in bad weather
or adverse conditions.
I No travel with people, except with
portal, locomotive, or tower cranes, and:
I No other safer way to do the job.
I Restricted to track or runway.
I Boom at lift radius.
I Boom parallel to travel.
I Test lift made.
I Tire pressure checked.
I Crane de-rated.
SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR
CRANE-SUSPENDED PERSONNEL PLATFORMS
The hoist rope has kinks in it.
Multiple part lines are twisted
a round one another.
The pri m a ry attachment is not
c e n t e red over the load.
The load line is slack and not
p roperly seated on dru m s
and sheave s.
These flaws must be corrected. A
competent person must then again
inspect the platform to ensure no
other problems exist with the com-
ponents or stru c t u re. Then the lift
can pro c e e d .
Workers and pl at form shoul d
be t i ed of f
If the platform is not landed, then
it must be securely tied off unless ty-
ing off creates a safety hazard. Us e
tag lines unless they, too, create a
h a z a rd .
Wo rkers can be tied off to the low-
er load block, ove rhaul ball, or to a
s t ru c t u ral member of the platform
with a lanyard and safety belt. Ty i n g
off is not re q u i red over water but
we a ring a flotation jacket is. OSHA
a l ready re q u i res jackets for con-
s t ruction work over water.
Since lightning, heavy rain, and
high winds adversely affect work e r
safety and crane stability, hoisting
must be stopped during such
we a t h e r.
Wo rk e r s, except the signal person,
must keep all body parts inside the
p l a t f o rm while being hoisted, land-
ed, or moved. They must remain in
the direct sight of and in communi-
cation with the crane operator or
signal person. A radio can be used if
a signal person is placed in danger
or might create a danger. The cra n e
o p e rator must remain in the cab at
all times while the platform is occu-
pied and the engine is ru n n i n g .
D o nt make lifts with other load
lines while the platform is suspend-
ed or occupied.
Travel i ng wi t h a suspended
pl at form i s l i mi t ed
Hoisting personnel and tra ve l i n g
with a crane are prohibited exc e p t
for portal, towe r, or locomotive
c ra n e s, or where the employer is
able to show that theres no safer
way to work .
Tra vel is only permitted to the
w o rk site if the crane is re s t ricted to
a fixed track or ru n w a y. Tra vel is lim-
ited to the load radius of the boom
used during the lift, and the boom
must be parallel to the direction of
t ra vel. Make a complete trial ru n ,
without workers to test the tra ve l
ro u t e. The full-lift test can be made
at this time too, but, again, not with
w o rkers suspended. In other word s,
the crane is not to walk all over the
job with workers on the platform .
Check tire pre s s u res on ru b b e r-
t i red mounts. A 50% lift capacity re-
duction is made for on the ru b b e r,
if tra veling. Ou t riggers may be par-
tially re t racted if this is done.
Hol d pre-l i ft meet i ngs
Be f o re making lifts, the opera t o r,
signal person, workers to be lifted,
and the person responsible for the
lift should meet. This group should
meet again at each job or new loca-
tion and when new workers are as-
signed to the work. At the pre - l i f t
meeting, discuss the following: em-
p l oyee ru l e s, the work e rs role in the
safety success of the lift, and the line
of authority in case the lift must be
called off.
Safet y comes fi rst
OSHA standard 29CFR1926.550(g)
re q u i res a lot of time and paper-
w o rk. Its not feasible to try to re-
member all the pro c e d u res without
checklists of some sort. The check-
list also should be on file to prove
t h o roughness if a problem ari s e s.
These tasks are trivial, though,
when you consider that the ye a r l y
number of injuries and deaths will
be reduced by the new re g u l a t i o n s.
The present fatality count is statisti-
cally high considering the small
number of workers who are hoisted
in personnel platform s. Also, many
p l a t f o rm / c rane accidents are not re-
p o rted. The real number of acci-
dents may well be higher than those
noted by OSHA.
P U B L I C AT I O N# C 8 9 0 5 6 0
Copyright 1989, The Aberdeen Gro u p
All rights re s e r v e d