Cranes, Hoists, Derricks, Booms, and Winches
A crane, boom, derrick, hoist, or winch shall not be loaded beyond the rated capacity or safe working load, whichever is smaller. These shall be operated only by qualified and authorized persons.
When mobile hoists, cranes, booms, or other similar lifting devices are used near energized lines or equipment, employees operating this equipment shall not stand on a grounded surface, other than the equipment itself. All other persons shall remain in the clear until the equipment is in a safe position. The person in charge shall check and determine that all persons remain in the clear while the vehicle is being moved or the boom is being repositioned.
Employees shall not ride on loads.
Operators shall not move loads over the heads of employees or others, including those in vehicles, unless authorized by the supervisor. Operators shall not leave cranes, hoists, or derricks unattended while load is suspended, unless suspended over a barricaded area, blocked, or otherwise supported from below during repair or emergency. Employees shall not stand or pass under a suspended load.
Employees shall not ride on the steps.
Crane, hoist, or derrick operators shall take signals from only one person during operations. Only qualified and authorized employees shall give signals.
Standard signals shall be used to signal derrick, crane, and overhead traveling crane operators. The appropriate chart shall be conspicuously posted in the vicinity of hoisting operations (cage or cab if so equipped) depicting and explaining the system of signals to be used.
A warning bell shall be sounded when overhead traveling and gantry cranes (controlled from a cage) are in motion or loads are being moved overhead.
A suitable warning device shall be sounded before moving a crane.
Safety switches shall be opened before changing the power cable on a gantry crane.
Rigging equipment shall be carefully inspected before and after use. Defective equipment shall be repaired or discarded immediately.
All crane controls, including limit switches, shall be tested before the equipment is first operated after the start of each shift.
Portable cranes, hoists, and derricks shall be positioned, equipped, protected, and/or operated so that no part comes closer to energized power lines than indicated in this table:
These clearances do not apply to such equipment when used for authorized work on overhead and underground conductors, structures, or apparatus by qualified persons.
No employee shall be elevated in a boom type aerial bucket or work platform without first being secured with a lanyard and a full body harness.
Insulated booms and bucket liners, used for high voltage (above 7,500 Volts) rubber glove work, shall be dielectrically tested at least once every twelve months. This equipment shall be labeled with the date the dielectric test was conducted. This equipment shall be visually inspected prior to being used for rubber glove work on conductors and equipment above 7500 Volts.
Employees shall not transfer from aerial buckets or baskets to a pole or structure. Transfer from an open platform to poles or structures are permitted.
Neither the bucket nor boom shall be allowed to contact unprotected energized conductors. This does not preclude the use of attachments to the boom specifically designed to support energized conductors.
Vehicle Booms, Ladders, and Lifts
Drivers of vehicles equipped with booms used for setting or removing poles, truck mounted ladders, mechanical or hydraulic lifts, hole diggers, or similar equipment, shall not drive with such equipment in an elevated or partially elevated position. Provided, however, this shall not preclude the movement of vehicles so equipped at the same job location with the boom in an elevated or partially elevated position.
Riding in the basket, bucket or pin on platform of an aerial lift truck which is traveling between work locations is not permitted. Employees may ride for short moves at the work location to reposition the truck for a better boom angle, but only with the boom in the cradled position.