Cargo door safety requirements

Cargo door counterweights must have physical guards to prevent workers from contacting or being struck by the weights. Guarding can include fixed shields, covers, barriers, or other means that keep people out of the counterweight travel path and prevent pinch or crushing points.

• Why this matters: Unguarded counterweights can cause crushing injuries or amputations when they move.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(a)(1).

No. Lift trucks and cranes must not be used to move mechanically operated doors except when necessary during repair on the doors and only then with ropes or other guarding to prevent entry into the area where the door may fall or slide.

• Practical point: Do not rely on a forklift or crane to prop or operate a door for routine loading or ventilation. Use manufacturer controls or designed door hardware.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(a)(2).

You must provide ropes or other guarding to prevent workers from entering the area where the door could fall or slide while the crane or lift truck is moving the door.

• Examples of protections: tag lines or ropes to control the door, barricades, exclusion zones, and warning signs. Keep people clear of the door's travel path until it is secured.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(a)(2).

Vertically operated doors that are partially opened for work or ventilation must be secured so they cannot accidentally close.

• Practical methods: Use manufacturer-supplied hold-open devices, mechanical locks, safety pins, chains, or other positive means to keep the door from dropping. Avoid relying on something unstable (like leaning a piece of wood) that could shift.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(a)(3) and consider the related requirement that devices be provided to hold overhead doors in the open position at 1917.114(b)(3).

Yes; the door must be connected to its lifting tackle with shackles or an equally secure means.

• What that means in practice: Use rated shackles, couplers, or other hardware designed and rated for the load; avoid improvised or untested connectors. Inspect connections before each use.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(1).

Lifting bridles and tackles must be designed so their breaking strength is at least five times the maximum anticipated static load.

• Practical calculation: If the heaviest expected static load is 1,000 pounds, the bridles and tackles selected should have a rated capacity of at least 5,000 pounds.
• Why: The safety factor accounts for unexpected loads, wear, and variations.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(2).

Acceptable devices include mechanical hold-open hardware, locks, pawls, positive latches, catches, or other means that reliably prevent the door from closing or opening unintentionally.

• Practical tip: Use devices designed for the door by the manufacturer or rated replacements; test them regularly to ensure they operate properly.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(3).

It means employers must inspect, repair, and replace lifting gear and hardware as needed so they remain safe for use and do not present hazards.

• Practical actions: implement regular inspection schedules, remove defective equipment from service, keep maintenance records, and use competent persons for repairs.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(4).

Lifting ropes must be kept out of the work area and off the floor to prevent trip hazards, entanglement, and damage to the rope from foot traffic or equipment.

• Practical methods: route lines overhead, coil and hang spare rope on racks, use taglines routed away from walkways.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(5).

Horizontal sliding door rollers must be built with features—such as flanged wheels, guide rollers, or retention brackets—that prevent the door from leaving the overhead tracks.

• Practical inspection checklist: check for intact flanges, properly seated wheels, no bent axles, and functioning track guides; replace worn rollers or bent tracks.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(c)(1).

Sliding doors must be secured with latches, locks, guide pins, stops, or other restraints that prevent the door from swinging on its track.

• Practical options: use floor-mounted or wall-mounted door stops, keeper plates, or locking pins as designed for the door; inspect fastenings regularly.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(c)(2).

Mechanically operated doors are driven by built-in mechanisms (springs, motors, counterweights) while tackle-operated doors are raised or lowered using external lifting tackle such as ropes, chains, or bridles; each type has specific requirements under the standard.

• How that affects compliance: Follow 1917.114(a) for mechanically operated doors (guard counterweights, restrictions on using cranes/lift trucks) and 1917.114(b) for tackle-operated doors (shackles, safety factor, holding devices, maintenance).

No; an operator must not leave a suspended load or an in-control lifting device unattended in a way that creates a hazard—operators must remain in control until the load is safely secured or placed.

• Supporting interpretation: OSHA's crane operator guidance states an operator who becomes incapacitated or leaves controls while a load is suspended may create a hazard and the employer may be cited; this reinforces the 1917.114(a)(2) rule that limits use of cranes/lift trucks to repairs and requires guarding when they are used.
• Where to find the rule and interpretation: See 1917.114(a)(2) and the crane operator interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13.

The standard requires shackles or equally secure means to connect the door to its tackle; whether a safety-latch hook is required depends on the activity and application, but using latch-equipped hooks is a recognized safe practice.

• Practical guidance: Where accidental disengagement is possible, use hooks with self-closing safety latches or other positive attachment methods; follow manufacturer's recommendations and industry consensus (see LOI discussing latch-equipped hooks).
• Where to find the rule and interpretation: See 1917.114(b)(1) and the hook latch interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2006-01-10-0.

Employers should keep inspection and maintenance records, tag or label gear that is out of service, and document repairs and dates of inspections to show lifting gear is maintained in safe condition.

• Practical items to document: inspection checklists, dates of defects found and corrective actions, proof of replacing worn wire rope or shackles, and results of load tests if performed.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(4).

Modifications that affect the vehicle's capacity or safety should be approached carefully and may require manufacturer approval or engineering review; any use must still comply with the restriction that such equipment not be used except when necessary for repairs with ropes or guarding.

• Practical steps: obtain manufacturer's written approval or a qualified registered professional engineer's written approval before making safety-related modifications and ensure operators are trained on any changes.
• Where to find the rule and supporting guidance: See 1917.114(a)(2) and OSHA guidance on equipment modification in https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2004-12-21-0.

Leaving lifting ropes on the floor creates trip hazards, can cause entanglement with moving equipment, and increases rope abrasion and damage that can reduce strength.

• Practical controls: route ropes overhead, coil and hang ropes away from traffic, and inspect ropes for chafing before use.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(b)(5).

Employers should inspect rollers, flanges, track alignment, fasteners, and guide hardware regularly and repair or replace worn or damaged parts so rollers prevent track departure and locks prevent swinging.

• Suggested inspection items: wheel flange wear, wheel bearings, track deformation, missing guide clips, loose bolts, and functioning latches or stops.
• Where to find the rule: See 1917.114(c)(1) and 1917.114(c)(2).

The employer is responsible for ensuring cargo door safety measures such as guarding counterweights, using proper shackles, maintaining lifting gear, and securing doors are in place and effective.

• Practical duties: implement procedures, provide equipment, train workers, schedule inspections, and correct hazards promptly.
• Where to find the rule: See the overall requirements in 1917.114 and specific provisions like 1917.114(b)(4).

Operators must be competent and physically able to operate the equipment safely and remain at controls while loads are suspended; employers should ensure operators are trained, evaluated, and medically capable for the task.

• Practical actions: verify operator training and evaluation, assess fitness for duty, and instruct operators on the special hazards of moving doors and the required guarding or taglines.
• Where to find the rule and interpretation: See 1917.114(a)(2) and the crane operator interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13.