OSHA Guide – Cranes and Derricks in Construction
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- Introduction
- Employer Responsibilities
- Section 1400 – Scope
- Section 1401 – Definitions
- Section 1402 – Ground Conditions
- Sections 1403-1406 – Assembly and Disassembly
- Sections 1407-1411 – Power Lines
- Section 1412 – Inspections (with Section 1435(f)-Tower Crane Inspections) and Section 1436(p)-Derricks Inspections)
- Section 1413 – Wire Rope Inspection
- Section 1414 – Wire Rope – Selection and Installation Criteria
- Sections 1415 Safety Devices & 1416 Operational Aids
- Section 1417 – Operation
- Section 1418 – Authority to Stop Operation
- Section 1419-1422 – Signals
- Section 1423 – Fall Protection
- Section 1424 – Work Area Control
- Section 1425 – Keeping Clear of the Load
- Section 1426 – Free Fall and Controlled Load Lowering
- Section 1427 – Operator Qualification and Certification
- Section 1428 – Signal Person Qualifications
- Section 1429 – Qualifications of Maintenance & Repair Employees
- Section 1430 – Training
- Section 1431 – Hoisting Personnel
- Section 1432 – Multiple-Crane/Derrick Lifts
- Section 1433 – Design, Construction and Testing
- Section 1434 – Equipment Modifications
- Section 1435 – Tower Cranes
- Section 1436 – Derricks
- Section 1437 – Floating Cranes/Derricks and Land Cranes/Derricks on Barges
- Section 1438 – Overhead & Gantry Cranes
- Section 1439 – Dedicated Pile Drivers
- Section 1440 – Sideboom Cranes
- Section 1441 – Equipment with a Rated Hoisting/Lifting Capacity of 2,000 Pounds or Less
- Directory of States with Approved Occupational Safety and Health Programs
- Workers’ Rights
- OSHA Assistance, Services and Programs
- OSHA Regional Offices
- NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program
Section 1434 – Equipment Modifications
This section applies to modifications that affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment. Its provisions safeguard against unsafe equipment modifications and provide that the modifications are reflected in the equipment’s instructions and specifications so that the modified equipment can be used safely.
Manufacturer Review and Approval
The equipment’s manufacturer is uniquely qualified to evaluate any proposed modifications to the equipment. If the manufacturer is available and is willing to evaluate the proposed modifications, any modifications or additions that affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment are only permitted where:
- The manufacturer approves the modifications/additions in writing, and
- The load charts, procedures, instruction manuals, and instruction plates/tags/decals are modified as necessary to accord with the modification/addition
Manufacturer Review Unavailable
In the event the manufacturer is unavailable, is unwilling to review the proposed modification/addition or to reject it in writing, fails to initiate the review or acknowledge the request within 30 days, or fails to complete the review within 120 days, the modification/addition may be made if a registered professional engineer who is a qualified person with respect to the equipment involved:
- Approves the modification/addition and specifies the equipment configurations to which that approval applies, and
- Modifies load charts, procedures, instruction manuals, and instruction plates/tags/decals as necessary to accord with the modification/addition
Under this option as well as that involving manufacturer approval, the original safety factor of the equipment may not be reduced.
