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821 Cranes and Derricks Safety II
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Hoisting Personnel

Hoisting Prohibition

Cranes and derricks may not be used to hoist employees, except where the employer demonstrates that the erection, use, and dismantling of conventional means of reaching the work area (such as a personnel hoist, ladder, stairway, aerial lift, elevating work platform, or scaffold) would be more hazardous, or is not possible because of the project's structural design or worksite conditions.

Personnel Transfer

OSHA 1926.1431 contains stringent criteria to assure the safety of personnel who must be hoisted by a crane or derrick.

Use of Personnel Platform

A personnel platform must be used when hoisting employees except when hoisting them:

  • into and out of drill shafts that are 8 feet in diameter or smaller;
  • in pile driving operations;
  • solely for transfer to or from a marine worksite in a marine-hoisted personnel transfer device; or
  • in storage tank (steel or concrete), shaft, and chimney operations.

Where these exceptions apply, the employee may be hoisted in either a personnel platform or a boatswain's chair. See the standard for rules applicable to these special types of lifts.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

5-1. Cranes and derricks may not be used to hoist employees, except where erection, use, and dismantling of conventional means of reaching the work _____.