Special Requirements for Cranes, Derricks, Pile Drivers, Excavating Machines, Fork Lifts, and Hoists

The operator shall not operate the hoisting machinery unless the following requirements are met: (1) Special Requirements for Cranes. (a) Loading. Material moving, handling or hoisting machinery shall be loaded in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Manufacturers' load-rating plates or applicable load charts shall be kept in the cab of the crane in clear view of the operator. Rating plates or load charts for boom cranes shall clearly indicate the safe load for maximum and minimum positions of the boom and for at least two intermediate positions. The procedures applicable to the operation of the equipment, including instructions, recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, and operator's manual, must be readily available in the cab at all times for use by the operator. Where rated capacities are available in the cab only in electronic form: In the event of a failure which makes the rated capacities inaccessible, the operator must immediately cease operations or follow safe shut-down procedures until the rated capacities (in electronic or other form) are available. (b) Boom Stops. Devices to prevent the boom from falling over backward shall be provided on cranes. Cable boom stops by themselves shall not be considered as adequate for this purpose. (c) Speed Controls and Stops. Hoisting machinery operating on rails, tracks or trolleys shall be equipped with speed controls and shall have positive stops or limiting devices to prevent overrunning safe limits. (d) Equipment Modifications. Anymodification made to hoisting machineryshall maintain at least the same factor of safety as the original designed equipment. A record of the differences between the unmodified machinery and the modified machinery shall be maintained by the owner of the machinery and furnished to the Office upon request. All modifications shall be done with the manufacturer's written approval. If the manufacturer's written approval cannot be obtained, the owner shall have a professional engineer create and certify a procedure which shall be added to the permanent record of the equipment. (e) Protection of Operator. The operator of material handling and moving equipment when exposed to overhead hazards or the elements shall be protected with a cab or equivalent covering affording adequate protection but which shall not cut off his vision of the load movements. All windows in cabs shall be of safety glass, or equivalent, that introduces no visible distortion that will interfere with the safe operation of the machine. (f) Required Presence. Operators of material moving, handling or hoisting machinery shall remain at the controls while the load is suspended, except in cases where loss of power occurs in which case operators shall act pursuant to 230 CMR 6.08(13). The operator of the machine shall not leave the machine while the master clutch is engaged. (g) Erection or Dismantling. Crane erection or dismantling shall be performed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and 29 CFR 1926, under the supervision of their representative or other persons experienced in erection and/or dismantling of this type of equipment. The attachments used with cranes shall not exceed the capacity, rating or scope recommended by the manufacturer. (h) Factor of Safety. All parts of the crane and supports shall be designed, constructed and maintained to withstand all stresses resulting from intended use with a Safety Factor of not less than two. (i) Capacity Schedule/Load Charts. Each crane model shall contain a schedule of load capacities in the operator's station at all times. (j) Tower Crane Foundations. Tower crane foundations must be designed by the manufacturer or a registered professional engineer. (k) Wind Speed. Wind speed must not exceed manufacturer's recommendations for continued work operations. (l) Tower Crane Safety Devices. All required safety devices for tower cranes must be installed and properly functioning. (m) Tower Crane Operational Aids. All required operational aids for tower cranes must be installed and functioning properly or approved temporary alternative measures in place. (2) Special Requirements for Derricks. (a) Required Inspection. Guys, cable clamps and other rigging shall be visually checked by the operator at the beginning of each work day and before making any lifts that are near the capacity of the rig or as otherwise required by the manufacturer. (b) Frequent checking by a duly licensed person of lead cables and mast foot blocks shall be performed to ensure that cables are not crossed or fouled. Lead line blocks shall be checked frequently to ensure that they are properly secured. Leads shall be so arranged as to minimize tripping hazards. (3) Special Requirements for Pile Drivers. (a) Inspection. All pile driving equipment shall be inspected daily before the start of work by a licensed operator of the equipment and all unsafe conditions and defective parts shall be corrected before beginning operations. (b) Driver Not in Use. When the pile driver is not in use, the hammer shall be chocked or blocked in the leads or lowered to the ground. (c) Temporary Interruption. The operator of every pile driver shall remain at his post when the driving is interrupted until the hammer has been chocked or blocked in the leads, or has been lowered and is resting on a driven pile or on the ground. (d) Jib Attachment. Pile drivers shall not be used with a jib attached. (e) Stop Blocks. Stop blocks shall be provided for the leads to prevent the hammer from being raised against the head block. (4) Special Requirements for Fork Lifts. Only a duly licensed operator or apprentice licensee under the direct supervision of a duly licensed operator shall operate a fork lift. No fork lift shall be loaded beyond its capacity rating. (a) Brakes. Every power operated fork lift shall be equipped with adequate wheel brakes. (b) Operation. No fork lift shall be operated at unsafe speeds. No person except a duly licensed operator or apprentice licensee under the direct supervision of a duly licensed operator shall be permitted on a fork lift while it is in operation. (5) Special Requirements for Excavating Machines, Including Backhoes and Frontend Loaders. (a) Prior to any excavation, the operator shall meet all “Dig Safe” obligations in accordance with M.G.L. c. 82, §§ 40 through 40E and 220 CMR 99.00: Procedures for the Determination and Enforcement of Violations of M.G.L. c. 82, §§ 40 through 40E ("Dig Safe"). Additionally, an operator must notify any other utility not covered by M.G.L. c. 82, §§ 40 Through 40E and 220 CMR 99.00. The operator shall obtain a Dig Safe permit number, start date, and time. (b) Protection of Operator. Where the operator of an excavating machine may be exposed to the elements or overhead hazards, a suitable equipped cab for protection against such conditions shall be provided. (c) Operation. Excavating machines shall be operated by a licensee, temporary permit holder, or an apprentice licensee under the direct supervision of a duly licensed operator. SAE hand signals shall be used with excavating machinery. No person except the operating crew or apprentice licensee operating under the direct supervision of a duly licensed operator who is not an apprentice shall be permitted on an excavating machine while it is in operation. No person other than the pitman and excavating crew shall be permitted to stand within the full working radius of an excavator or backhoe while the shovel or backhoe is in operation. Excavating machinery shall not be allowed to straddle an open trench. (6) Special Requirements for Crane or Derrick Suspended Personnel Platforms. The hoisting, lowering, swinging, or traveling while anyone is on the load or hook is prohibited except when the use of a conventional means of access to any elevated worksite would be impossible or more hazardous. Operations must comply with the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.550(g)(3) through (8). (a) Crane and Derrick Operations. Where conventional means (e.g., scaffolds, ladders) access would not be considered safe, personnel hoisting operations which comply with the terms of 230 CMR 6.00 would be authorized. Cranes and derricks used to hoist personnel must be placed on a firm foundation and the crane or derrick must be uniformly level within one percent of level grade. The crane operator must always be at the controls when the crane engine is running and the personnel platform is occupied. The crane operator also must have full control over the movement of the personnel platform. Any movement of the personnel platform must be performed slowly and cautiously without any sudden jerking of the crane, derrick, or the platform. Wire rope used for personnel lifting must have a minimum Safety Factor of seven. Rotation resistant rope must have a minimum Safety Factor of ten. When the occupied personnel platform is in a stationary position, all brakes and locking devices on the crane or derrick must be set. The combined weight of the loaded personnel platform and its rigging must not exceed 50% of the rated capacity of the crane or derrick for the radius and configuration of the crane or derrick. (b) Instruments and Components. Cranes and derricks with variable angle booms must have a boom angle indicator that is visible to the operator. Cranes with telescoping booms must be equipped with a device to clearly indicate the boom's extended length, or an accurate determination of the load radius to be used during the lift must be made prior to hoisting personnel. Cranes and derricks also must be equipped with: 1. an anti-two-blocking device that prevents contact between the load block and overhaul ball and the boom tip; or 2. a two-block damage-prevention feature that deactivates the hoisting action before damage occurs. (c) Personnel Platforms. Platforms used for lifting personnel must be designed with a minimum Safety Factor of five and designed by a professional engineer or a qualified person competent in structural design. The suspension system must be designed to minimize tipping due to personnel movement on the platform. Each personnel platform must be provided with a standard guardrail system that is enclosed from the toeboard to the mid-rail to keep tools, materials, and equipment from falling on employees below. The platform also must have an inside grab rail, adequate headroom for employees, and a plate or other permanent marking that clearly indicates the platform's weight and rated load capacity or maximum intended load. When personnel are exposed to falling objects, overhead protection on the platform and the use of hard hats are required. An access gate, if provided, must not swing outward during hoisting and must have a restraining device to prevent accidental opening. All rough edges on the platform must be ground smooth to prevent injuries to employees. All welding on the personnel platform and its components must be performed by a qualified welder who is familiar with weld grades, types, and materials specified in the platform design. (d) Loading. The personnel platform must not be loaded in excess of its rated load capacity or its minimum intended load. Only personnel instructed in the requirements of the regulation and the task to be performed-along with their tools, equipment, and materials needed for the job, are allowed on the platform. Materials and tools must be secured and evenly distributed to balance the load while the platform is in motion. (e) Rigging. When a wire rope bridle is used to connect the platform to the load line, the bridle legs must be connected to a master link or shackle so that the load is evenly positioned among the bridle legs. Bridles and associated rigging for attaching the personnel platform to the hoist line must not be used for any other purpose. Attachment assemblies such as hooks must be closed and locked to eliminate the hook throat opening; an alloy anchor-type shackle with a bolt, nut, and retaining pin may be used as an alternative. "Mousing" (wrapping wire around a hook to cover the hook opening) is not permitted. (f) Inspecting and Testing. A trial lift of the unoccupied personnel platform must be made before any employees are allowed to be hoisted. During the trial lift, the personnel platform must be loaded at least to its anticipated lift weight. The lift must start at ground level or at the location where employees will enter the platform and proceed to each location where the personnel platform is to be hoisted and positioned. The trial lift must be performed immediately prior to placing personnel on the platform. The crane or derrick operator must check all systems, controls, and safety devices to ensure the following: 1. They are functioning properly. 2. There are no interferences. 3. All boom or hoisting configurations necessary to reach work locations will allow the operator to remain within the 50% load limit of the hoist's rated capacity. If a crane or derrick is moved to a new location or returned to a previously used one, the trial lift must be repeated before hoisting personnel. After the trial lift, the personnel platform must be hoisted a few inches and inspected to ensure that it remains secured and is properly balanced. Before employees are hoisted, a check must be made to ensure the following: 4. Hoist ropes are free of kinks. 5. Multiple part lines are not twisted around each other. 6. The primary attachment is centered over the platform. 7. There is no slack in the wire rope. 8. All ropes are properly seated on drums and in sheaves. Immediately after the trial lift, a thorough visual inspection of the crane or derrick, the personnel platform, and the crane or derrick base support or ground must be conducted by a competent person to determine if the lift test exposed any defects or produced any adverse effects on any component or structure. Any defects found during inspections must be corrected before hoisting personnel. When initially brought to the job site and after any repair or modification, and prior to hoisting personnel, the platform and rigging must be proof tested to 125% of the platform's rated capacity. This is achieved by holding the loaded platform-with the load evenly distributed-in a suspended position for five minutes. A competent person must inspect the platform and rigging for defects. If any problems are detected, they must be corrected and another proof test must be conducted. Personnel hoisting must not be conducted until the proof testing requirements are satisfied. (g) Pre-lift Meeting. The employer must hold a meeting with all employees involved in personnel hoisting operations (crane or derrick operator, signal person(s), employees to be lifted, and the person responsible for the hoisting operation) to review the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.550(g)(3) through (8), 230 CMR 6.09, and the procedures to be followed before any lift operations are performed. This meeting must be held before the trial lift at each new work site and must be repeated for any employees newly assigned to the operation. (h) Safe Work Practices. Employees must follow these safe work practices: 1. Use tag lines unless their use creates an unsafe condition. 2. Keep all body parts inside the platform during raising, lowering, and positioning. 3. Make sure a platform is secured to the structure where work is to be performed before entering or exiting it, unless such securing would create an unsafe condition. 4. Wear a body belt or body harness system with a lanyard. The lanyard must be attached to the lower load block or overhaul ball or to a structural member within the personnel platform. If the hoisting operation is performed over water, the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.1060: Working Over or Near Water shall apply. 5. Stay in view of, or in direct communication with, the operator or signal person. Crane and derrick operators must follow these safe work practices: a. Never leave crane or derrick controls when the engine is running or when the platform is occupied. b. Stop all hoisting operations if there are indications of any dangerous weather conditions or other impending danger. c. Do not make any lifts on another load line of a crane or derrick that is being used to hoist personnel. (i) Movement of Cranes. Personnel hoisting is prohibited while the crane is traveling except when the employer demonstrates that this is the least hazardous way to accomplish the task or when portal, tower, or locomotive cranes are used. When cranes are moving while hoisting personnel, the following rules apply: 1. Travel must be restricted to a fixed track or runway. 2. Travel also must be limited to the radius of the boom during the lift. 3. The boom must be parallel to the direction of travel. 4. There must be a complete trial run before employees occupy the platform. 5. If the crane has rubber tires, the condition and air pressure of the tires must be checked and the chart capacity for lifts must be applied to remain under the 50% limit of the hoist's rated capacity. Outriggers may be partially retracted as necessary for travel.