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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Definitions applicable to this section.

A crawler crane consists of a rotating superstructure with power plant, operating machinery, and boom, mounted on a base, equipped with crawler treads for travel. Its function is to hoist and swing loads at various radii.

A locomotive crane consists of a rotating superstructure with power-plant, operating machinery and boom, mounted on a base or car equipped for travel on railroad track. It may be self-propelled or propelled by an outside source. Its function is to hoist and swing loads at various radii.

A truck crane consists of a rotating superstructure with powerplant, operating machinery and boom, mounted on an automotive truck equipped with a powerplant for travel. Its function is to hoist and swing loads at various radii.

A wheel mounted crane (wagon crane) consists of a rotating superstructure with powerplant, operating machinery and boom, mounted on a base or platform equipped with axles and rubber-tired wheels for travel. The base is usually propelled by the engine in the superstructure, but it may be equipped with a separate engine controlled from the superstructure. Its function is to hoist and swing loads at various radii.

An accessory is a secondary part or assembly of parts which contributes to the overall function and usefulness of a machine.

Appointed means assigned specific responsibilities by the employer or the employer's representative.

ANSI means the American National Standards Institute.

An angle indicator (boom) is an accessory which measures the angle of the boom to the horizontal.

The axis of rotation is the vertical axis around which the crane superstructure rotates.

Axle means the shaft or spindle with which or about which a wheel rotates. On truck- and wheel-mounted cranes it refers to an automotive type of axle assembly including housings, gearing, differential, bearings, and mounting appurtenances.

Axle (bogie) means two or more automotive-type axles mounted in tandem in a frame so as to divide the load between the axles and permit vertical oscillation of the wheels.

The base (mounting) is the traveling base or carrier on which the rotating superstructure is mounted such as a car, truck, crawlers, or wheel platform.

The boom (crane) is a member hinged to the front of the rotating superstructure with the outer end supported by ropes leading to a gantry or A-frame and used for supporting the hoisting tackle.

The boom angle is the angle between the longitudinal centerline of the boom and the horizontal. The boom longitudinal centerline is a straight line between the boom foot pin (heel pin) centerline and boom point sheave pin centerline.

The boom hoist is a hoist drum and rope reeving system used to raise and lower the boom. The rope system may be all live reeving or a combination of live reeving and pendants.

The boom stop is a device used to limit the angle of the boom at the highest position.

A brake is a device used for retarding or stopping motion by friction or power means.

A cab is a housing which covers the rotating superstructure machinery and/or operator's station. On truck-crane trucks a separate cab covers the driver's station.

The clutch is a friction, electromagnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, or positive mechanical device for engagement or disengagement of power.

The counterweight is a weight used to supplement the weight of the machine in providing stability for lifting working loads.

Designated means selected or assigned by the employer or the employer's representative as being qualified to perform specific duties.

The drum is the cylindrical members around which ropes are wound for raising and lowering the load or boom.

Dynamic (loading) means loads introduced into the machine or its components by forces in motion.

The gantry (A-frame) is a structural frame, extending above the superstructure, to which the boom support ropes are reeved.

A jib is an extension attached to the boom point to provide added boom length for lifting specified loads. The jib may be in line with the boom or offset to various angles.

Load (working) means the external load, in pounds, applied to the crane, including the weight of load-attaching equipment such as load blocks, shackles, and slings.

Load block (upper) means the assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended from the boom point.

Load block (lower) means the assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended by the hoisting ropes.

A load hoist is a hoist drum and rope reeving system used for hoisting and lowering loads.

Load ratings are crane ratings in pounds established by the manufacturer in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

Outriggers are extendable or fixed metal arms, attached to the mounting base, which rest on supports at the outer ends.

Rail clamp means a tong-like metal device, mounted on a locomotive crane car, which can be connected to the track.

Reeving means a rope system in which the rope travels around drums and sheaves.

Rope refers to a wire rope unless otherwise specified.

Side loading means a load applied at an angle to the vertical plane of the boom.

A standby crane is a crane which is not in regular service but which is used occasionally or intermittently as required.

A standing (guy) rope is a supporting rope which maintains a constant distance between the points of attachment to the two components connected by the rope.

Structural competence means the ability of the machine and its components to withstand the stresses imposed by applied loads.

Superstructure means the rotating upper frame structure of the machine and the operating machinery mounted thereon.

Swing means the rotation of the superstructure for movement of loads in a horizontal direction about the axis of rotation.

Swing mechanism means the machinery involved in providing rotation of the superstructure.

Tackle is an assembly of ropes and sheaves arranged for hoisting and pulling.

Transit means the moving or transporting of a crane from one jobsite to another.

Travel means the function of the machine moving from one location to another, on a jobsite.

The travel mechanism is the machinery involved in providing travel.

Wheelbase means the distance between centers of front and rear axles. For a multiple axle assembly the axle center for wheelbase measurement is taken as the midpoint of the assembly.

The whipline (auxiliary hoist) is a separate hoist rope system of lighter load capacity and higher speed than provided by the main hoist.

A winch head is a power driven spool for handling of loads by means of friction between fiber or wire rope and spool.

General requirements -

Application. This section applies to crawler cranes, locomotive cranes, wheel mounted cranes of both truck and self-propelled wheel type, and any variations thereof which retain the same fundamental characteristics. This section includes only cranes of the above types, which are basically powered by internal combustion engines or electric motors and which utilize drums and ropes. Cranes designed for railway and automobile wreck clearances are excepted. The requirements of this section are applicable only to machines when used as lifting cranes.

New and existing equipment. All new crawler, locomotive, and truck cranes constructed and utilized on or after August 31, 1971, shall meet the design specifications of the American National Standard Safety Code for Crawler, Locomotive, and Truck Cranes, ANSI B30.5-1968, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6. Crawler, locomotive, and truck cranes constructed prior to August 31, 1971, should be modified to conform to those design specifications by February 15, 1972, unless it can be shown that the crane cannot feasibly or economically be altered and that the crane substantially complies with the requirements of this section.

Designated personnel. Only designated personnel shall be permitted to operate a crane covered by this section.

Load ratings -

Load ratings - where stability governs lifting performance.

The margin of stability for determination of load ratings, with booms of stipulated lengths at stipulated working radii for the various types of crane mountings, is established by taking a percentage of the loads which will produce a condition of tipping or balance with the boom in the least stable direction, relative to the mounting. The load ratings shall not exceed the following percentages for cranes, with the indicated types of mounting under conditions stipulated in paragraphs (c)(1) (ii) and (iii) of this section.

¹ Unless this results in less than 30,000 pound-feet net stabilizing moment about the rail, which shall be minimum with such booms.

Stipulations governing the application of the values in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section for crawler, truck, and wheel-mounted cranes shall be in accordance with Crane Load-Stability Test Code, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J765, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6.

Load rating chart. A substantial and durable rating chart with clearly legible letters and figures shall be provided with each crane and securely fixed to the crane cab in a location easily visible to the operator while seated at his control station.

Inspection classification -

Initial inspection. Prior to initial use all new and altered cranes shall be inspected to insure compliance with provisions of this section.

Regular inspection. Inspection procedure for cranes in regular service is divided into two general classifications based upon the intervals at which inspection should be performed. The intervals in turn are dependent upon the nature of the critical components of the crane and the degree of their exposure to wear, deterioration, or malfunction. The two general classifications are herein designated as "frequent" and "periodic", with respective intervals between inspections as defined below:

Periodic inspection: 1- to 12-month intervals, or as specifically recommended by the manufacturer.

Frequent inspection. Items such as the following shall be inspected for defects at intervals as defined in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section or as specifically indicated including observation during operation for any defects which might appear between regular inspections. Any deficiencies such as listed shall be carefully examined and determination made as to whether they constitute a safety hazard:

Crane hooks with deformations or cracks. For hooks with cracks or having more than 15 percent in excess of normal throat opening or more than 10° twist from the plane of the unbent hook.

Periodic inspection. Complete inspections of the crane shall be performed at intervals as generally defined in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section depending upon its activity, severity of service, and environment, or as specifically indicated below. These inspections shall include the requirements of paragraph (d)(3) of this section and in addition, items such as the following. Any deficiencies such as listed shall be carefully examined and determination made as to whether they constitute a safety hazard:

Cranes not in regular use.

Inspection records. Certification records which include the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the crane which was inspected shall be made monthly on critical items in use such as brakes, crane hooks, and ropes. This certification record shall be kept readily available.

Testing -

Operational tests.

Rated load test.

Maintenance procedure - General. After adjustments and repairs have been made the crane shall not be operated until all guards have been reinstalled, safety devices reactivated, and maintenance equipment removed.

Rope inspection. -

Running ropes. A thorough inspection of all ropes in use shall be made at least once a month and a certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and an identifier for the ropes shall be prepared and kept on file where readily available. All inspections shall be performed by an appointed or authorized person. Any deterioration, resulting in appreciable loss of original strength shall be carefully observed and detemination made as to whether further use of the rope would constitute a safety hazard. Some of the conditions that could result in an appreciable loss of strength are the following:

Other ropes.

Handling the load -

Size of load.

Attaching the load.

Moving the load.

Holding the load.

Other requirements -

Rail clamps. Rail clamps shall not be used as a means of restraining tipping of a locomotive crane.

Ballast or counterweight. Cranes shall not be operated without the full amount of any ballast or counterweight in place as specified by the maker, but truck cranes that have dropped the ballast or counterweight may be operated temporarily with special care and only for light loads without full ballast or counterweight in place. The ballast or counterweight in place specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded.

Cabs.

Refueling.

Refueling with small portable containers shall be done with an approved safety type can equipped with an automatic closing cap and flame arrester. Refer to § 1910.155(c)(3) for definition of approved.

Fire extinguishers.

Swinging locomotive cranes. A locomotive crane shall not be swung into a position where railway cars on an adjacent track might strike it, until it has been ascertained that cars are not being moved on the adjacent track and proper flag protection has been established.

Operations near overhead lines. For operations near overhead electric lines, see § 1910.333(c)(3).