Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor § 1926.1419

641

lifting the load a few inches and apply-

ing the brakes. In duty cycle and repet-

itive lifts where each lift is 90% or

more of the maximum line pull, this

requirement applies to the first lift but

not to successive lifts.

(t) Neither the load nor the boom

must be lowered below the point where

less than two full wraps of rope remain

on their respective drums.

(u) Traveling with a load.

(1) Traveling with a load is prohib-

ited if the practice is prohibited by the

manufacturer.

(2) Where traveling with a load, the

employer must ensure that:

(i) A competent person supervises the

operation, determines if it is necessary

to reduce rated capacity, and makes

determinations regarding load posi-

tion, boom location, ground support,

travel route, overhead obstructions,

and speed of movement necessary to

ensure safety.

(ii) The determinations of the com-

petent person required in paragraph

(u)(2)(i) of this section are imple-

mented.

(iii) For equipment with tires, tire

pressure specified by the manufacturer

is maintained.

(v) Rotational speed of the equipment

must be such that the load does not

swing out beyond the radius at which it

can be controlled.

(w) A tag or restraint line must be

used if necessary to prevent rotation of

the load that would be hazardous.

(x) The brakes must be adjusted in

accordance with manufacturer proce-

dures to prevent unintended move-

ment.

(y) The operator must obey a stop (or

emergency stop) signal, irrespective of

who gives it.

(z) Swinging locomotive cranes. A loco-

motive crane must not be swung into a

position where railway cars on an adja-

cent track could strike it, until it is

determined that cars are not being

moved on the adjacent track and that

proper flag protection has been estab-

lished.

(aa) Counterweight/ballast.

(1) The following applies to equip-

ment other than tower cranes:

(i) Equipment must not be operated

without the counterweight or ballast

in place as specified by the manufac-

turer.

(ii) The maximum counterweight or

ballast specified by the manufacturer

for the equipment must not be exceed-

ed.

(2) Counterweight/ballast require-

ments for tower cranes are specified in

§ 1926.1435(b)(8).

§ 1926.1418 Authority to stop oper-

ation.

Whenever there is a concern as to

safety, the operator must have the au-

thority to stop and refuse to handle

loads until a qualified person has deter-

mined that safety has been assured.

§ 1926.1419 Signals—general require-

ments.

(a) A signal person must be provided

in each of the following situations:

(1) The point of operation, meaning

the load travel or the area near or at

load placement, is not in full view of

the operator.

(2) When the equipment is traveling,

the view in the direction of travel is

obstructed.

(3) Due to site specific safety con-

cerns, either the operator or the person

handling the load determines that it is

necessary.

(b) Types of signals. Signals to opera-

tors must be by hand, voice, audible, or

new signals.

(1) When using hand signals, the

Standard Method must be used (see ap-

pendix A of this subpart). Exception:

Where use of the Standard Method for

hand signals is infeasible, or where an

operation or use of an attachment is

not covered in the Standard Method,

non-standard hand signals may be used

in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of

this section.

(2) Non-standard hand signals. When

using non-standard hand signals, the

signal person, operator, and lift direc-

tor (where there is one) must contact

each other prior to the operation and

agree on the non-standard hand signals

that will be used.

(d) New signals. Signals other than

hand, voice, or audible signals may be

used where the employer demonstrates

that:

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642

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–12 Edition) § 1926.1420

(1) The new signals provide at least

equally effective communication as

voice, audible, or Standard Method

hand signals, or

(2) The new signals comply with a na-

tional consensus standard that pro-

vides at least equally effective commu-

nication as voice, audible, or Standard

Method hand signals.

(e) Suitability. The signals used (hand,

voice, audible, or new), and means of

transmitting the signals to the oper-

ator (such as direct line of sight, video,

radio, etc.), must be appropriate for the

site conditions.

(f) During operations requiring sig-

nals, the ability to transmit signals be-

tween the operator and signal person

must be maintained. If that ability is

interrupted at any time, the operator

must safely stop operations requiring

signals until it is reestablished and a

proper signal is given and understood.

(g) If the operator becomes aware of

a safety problem and needs to commu-

nicate with the signal person, the oper-

ator must safely stop operations. Oper-

ations must not resume until the oper-

ator and signal person agree that the

problem has been resolved.

(h) Only one person may give signals

to a crane/derrick at a time, except in

circumstances covered by paragraph (j)

of this section.

(i) [Reserved.]

(j) Anyone who becomes aware of a

safety problem must alert the operator

or signal person by giving the stop or

emergency stop signal. (N

OTE

§ 1926.1417(y) requires the operator to

obey a stop or emergency stop signal).

(k) All directions given to the oper-

ator by the signal person must be given

from the operator’s direction perspec-

tive.

(l) [Reserved.]

(m) Communication with multiple

cranes/derricks. Where a signal person(s)

is in communication with more than

one crane/derrick, a system must be

used for identifying the crane/derrick

each signal is for, as follows:

(1) for each signal, prior to giving the

function/direction, the signal person

must identify the crane/derrick the sig-

nal is for, or

(2) must use an equally effective

method of identifying which crane/der-

rick the signal is for.

§ 1926.1420 Signals—radio, telephone

or other electronic transmission of

signals.

(a) The device(s) used to transmit

signals must be tested on site before

beginning operations to ensure that

the signal transmission is effective,

clear, and reliable.

(b) Signal transmission must be

through a dedicated channel, except:

(1) Multiple cranes/derricks and one

or more signal persons may share a

dedicated channel for the purpose of

coordinating operations.

(2) Where a crane is being operated

on or adjacent to railroad tracks, and

the actions of the crane operator need

to be coordinated with the movement

of other equipment or trains on the

same or adjacent tracks.

nals must be by a hands-free system.

§ 1926.1421 Signals—voice signals—ad-

ditional requirements.

(a) Prior to beginning operations, the

operator, signal person and lift director

(if there is one), must contact each

other and agree on the voice signals

that will be used. Once the voice sig-

nals are agreed upon, these workers

need not meet again to discuss voice

signals unless another worker is added

or substituted, there is confusion about

the voice signals, or a voice signal is to

be changed.

(b) Each voice signal must contain

the following three elements, given in

the following order: function (such as

hoist, boom, etc.), direction; distance

and/or speed; function, stop command.

lift director (if there is one), must be

able to effectively communicate in the

language used.

§ 1926.1422 Signals—hand signal chart.

Hand signal charts must be either

posted on the equipment or conspicu-

ously posted in the vicinity of the

hoisting operations.

§ 1926.1423 Fall protection.

(a) Application.

(1) Paragraphs (b), (c)(3), (e) and (f) of

this section apply to all equipment

covered by this subpart except tower

cranes.

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