OSHA Guide – Cranes and Derricks in Construction

Section 1414 – Wire Rope – Selection and Installation Criteria

This section requires that wire rope be used in accord with the recommendations of the wire rope manufacturer, the equipment manufacturer, or a qualified person. It establishes a classification system for rotation resistant rope and specifies design factors for the different classes of such rope.

Rope Classification

Wire rope is classified as either “standard rope” or “rotation resistant rope.” Rotation resistant rope, in turn, can be constructed in various ways, and the standard lists three different “Types” that vary in their construction.

For all three types, rotation resistant rope’s internal design resists twisting better than standard rope. Rotation resistant rope therefore enables better control of the load because it tends to keep the load from rotating while it is being hoisted or suspended. However, the design of rotation resistant rope makes it more susceptible to internal damage than standard rope and such internal damage can be hard to detect. Because of the chance of hidden damage, this section restricts the use of rotation resistant rope for boom hoist reeving and duty cycle/repetitive lifts.

Boom Hoist Reeving

Rotation resistant rope may only be used for boom hoist reeving when load hoists are used as boom hoists for attachments such as luffing attachments or boom and mast attachment systems. When you use rotation resistant rope for such a purpose, you must comply with six conditions specified herein.

Duty cycle/repetitive lifts

You must meet certain criteria when using rotation resistant rope for duty cycle and repetitive lifts. These are defined as follows:

  • Duty Cycle: A type of crane service in which bulk material is transferred from one point to another by rapidly lifting, swinging, booming, and placing the material. Typical types of duty cycle service are dragline, clamshell, grapple, and magnet. This type of service is differentiated from standard crane “lift service” in that cycle times are very short and continuous, often less than 1 minute per load, and loads are lifted and placed in general areas rather than precise positions to permit such rapid cycles
  • Repetitive lifts: A continuous operation with loads that may vary in size and weight

The requirements for using rotation resistant rope for duty cycle and repetitive lifts vary with the type of rotation resistant rope being used and the operating design factor of the rope. If you are using rotation resistant rope for one of these purposes, check the standard for the criteria that apply to the type of rope you are using.

Section 1414 also contains the following requirements:

  • Wire rope clips used in conjunction with wedge sockets must be attached to the unloaded dead end of the rope only, except that the use of devices specifically designed for dead-ending rope in a wedge socket is permitted
  • Socketing must be done in the manner specified by the manufacturer of the wire rope or fitting
  • Prior to cutting a wire rope, seizings must be placed on each side of the point to be cut. The length and number of seizings must be in accord with the wire rope manufacturer’s instructions