1915 Subpart G
Paragraph (a) and paragraph (d) of 1915.117 apply only to ship repairing and shipbuilding, while paragraphs (b) and (c) apply to ship repairing, shipbuilding, and shipbreaking. See 1915.117 for the full scope language.
A competent person must determine that ship's gear is properly rigged, in safe condition, and not overloaded by the size and weight of the lift. This requirement is stated in 1915.117(a). See also OSHA's interpretation explaining the role and employer responsibility for competent persons in shipyard operations at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
The competent person must verify that the rigging is arranged correctly, that all gear is in safe working condition, and that the gear will not be overloaded by the weight and size of the lift. Those duties are specified in 1915.117(a). Employers should rely on a competent person able to recognize hazards and specify protections as explained in OSHA’s competent person guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
Only employees who understand the signs, notices, and operating instructions and who are familiar with the signal code in use are permitted to operate a crane, winch, or other power-operated hoisting apparatus. This is required by 1915.117(b).
No—1915.117(b) requires that operators understand signs, notices, operating instructions, and be familiar with the signal code in use, but it does not itself mandate a specific formal certification program. Employers must ensure operators meet the standard’s competency requirements in 1915.117(b), and the employer’s competent person obligations are discussed in OSHA’s guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
Employees known to have defective uncorrected eyesight or hearing, or who are suffering from heart disease, epilepsy, or similar ailments that may suddenly incapacitate them, must not be permitted to operate hoisting apparatus. This prohibition is set out in 1915.117(c). OSHA’s crane-operator guidance on operators becoming incapacitated during lifts is at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13.
"Known" means the employer is aware—through medical information, observation, disclosure by the employee, or other reliable evidence—that the employee has an uncorrected vision or hearing defect that could impair safe operation. The rule bars permitting such an employee to operate hoisting apparatus as described in 1915.117(c), and OSHA’s letter about crane operator incapacity reinforces the employer’s duty to ensure operators can perform tasks without sudden interruption (see https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13).
If the employer knows the employee has a condition that may suddenly incapacitate them, they must not permit that employee to operate hoisting equipment—control of the condition does not remove the standard’s restriction if there is a risk of sudden incapacitation. This restriction is in 1915.117(c), and OSHA’s guidance on operators who become incapacitated during a lift emphasizes that operators must be physically able to complete operations without unscheduled interruption (see https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13).
No, minors under eighteen years of age may not be employed to operate or to assist in the operation of any power-driven hoisting apparatus, including tasks such as hooking on, loading slings, and rigging gear. That prohibition is stated in 1915.117(d).
Tasks listed explicitly include hooking on, loading slings, and rigging gear; the wording "etc." means similar rigging and direct assistance activities are also covered. These prohibitions appear in 1915.117(d).
The competent person must assess the size and weight of the lift against the rated capacity and safe condition of the gear—using available weight information, load charts, and gear capacity markings—to ensure the gear will not be overloaded. This duty is required by 1915.117(a), and OSHA’s competent person guidance explains employer responsibility for that assessment at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
Being familiar with the signal code in use means the operator must know and be able to follow the hand, audible, or other signals adopted for lifts at that site so they can respond safely when those signals are used. The standard requires this familiarity in 1915.117(b).
Yes—before hoisting materials aboard the competent person must determine the gear is properly rigged and in safe condition for that lift, which effectively requires a pre-lift check for each use. That requirement comes from 1915.117(a), and OSHA’s competent person guidance provides context on these responsibilities at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
The employer is responsible for ensuring the competent person duties are performed; OSHA’s shipyard competent person guidance explains that the responsibilities placed upon the competent person are deemed responsibilities of the employer. See 1915.117(a) and OSHA’s interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
No—1915.117(b) requires both understanding of signs, notices, and operating instructions and familiarity with the signal code in use, so knowing only the written notices without the signal code is not sufficient to operate. See 1915.117(b).
No—paragraphs (a) and (d) apply only to ship repairing and shipbuilding; paragraph (a) does not apply to shipbreaking. The scope statement at the start of 1915.117 clarifies which paragraphs apply to which shipyard activities.
No—OSHA guidance states that an operator who becomes incapacitated and cannot complete the load-handling operation must not walk away from or abandon the suspended load at the controls, because operators must be physically able to perform assigned tasks without unscheduled interruption. See 1915.117(c) and OSHA’s letter addressing crane operator incapacity at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13.
Yes—1915.117(c) bars employees who are known to have defective uncorrected eyesight or hearing; if the employee’s vision or hearing is corrected (for example with glasses or a hearing aid) and the employer has no reason to believe the correction is inadequate, the employee may be permitted to operate. See 1915.117(c).
The standard does not prescribe specific documentation; it requires the employer to permit only those employees who understand the signs, notices, operating instructions, and are familiar with the signal code to operate. Employers should maintain training records or other evidence that demonstrate comprehension as part of their due diligence under 1915.117(b) and the broader competent person responsibilities described at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2016-04-18.
If the employer becomes aware that an operator has a disqualifying condition (for example heart disease or epilepsy that may suddenly incapacitate), the employer must not permit that employee to operate hoisting apparatus until the issue is resolved. This requirement is set out in 1915.117(c); OSHA’s guidance on operators leaving the controls for health reasons is at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13.