House falls safety requirements

Span beams must be physically secured so they cannot accidentally become dislodged while in use. The standard is explicit: 1917.41(a) requires span beams to be secured to prevent accidental dislodgment.

• Practical ways to meet this requirement include positive locking devices (pins, bolts, or engineered blocks), mechanical fasteners, or other means designed for the beam and the load conditions.
• Employers should follow the beam manufacturer's guidance and ensure any securing method is inspected and maintained.

A safe means of access is any way of getting to and working at the house fall blocks that prevents falls and other access-related hazards. The rule states simply that 1917.41(b) a safe means of access shall be provided for employees working with house fall blocks.

• Examples of acceptable access include securely mounted ladders, fixed platforms or walkways, stairways, guarded catwalks, or gangways that are appropriately rated and installed.
• Access must be kept free of tripping hazards, properly lit, and, where necessary, equipped with handrails or fall protection.
• Employers should evaluate the specific workplace, consider the height and work task, and provide the access method that prevents slips, trips and falls.

Designated employees must inspect chains, links, shackles, swivels, blocks and other loose gear used in house fall operations before each day's use. The standard states: 1917.41(c) lists chains, links, shackles, swivels, blocks and other loose gear and requires inspection by designated employees before each day's use; defective gear shall not be used.

• Inspect for deformation, cracks, excessive wear, corrosion, stretched links, damaged threads, missing pins, seized swivels, or any condition that could cause failure.
• If any item is found defective, it must be removed from service until repaired or replaced and re‑inspected.

The employer must assign "designated employees" to perform the daily inspections called for in 1917.41(c). The standard requires that designated employees inspect the listed gear before each day's use (1917.41(c)).

• "Designated" means the employer must identify specific workers to do the inspections and ensure they are knowledgeable about what to look for.
• Employers should train those designated employees to recognize defects, document removal from service, and know when to tag out gear pending repair or replacement.

The standard requires at minimum an inspection before each day's use, meaning inspections must be done at the start of each workday; additional inspections during the day are required whenever conditions warrant. 1917.41(c) directs designated employees to inspect gear before each day's use.

• If a load, environment, or operation could damage gear (e.g., shock loads, corrosion exposure, visible damage), employers should require additional inspections during the shift.
• Remove and tag defective gear immediately and do not use it until repaired or replaced and passed on reinspection.

Defective gear must not be used until it has been properly repaired and re‑inspected and deemed safe for service. 1917.41(c) states defective gear shall not be used.

• Repairs should be performed by a qualified person and follow manufacturer's procedures or industry standards.
• After repair, the gear should be inspected by a designated or competent person before returning to service and documented as required by your workplace procedures.

Yes—hooks must be latched or otherwise secured to prevent accidental disengagement in maritime material handling operations. While 1917.41 focuses on house falls, OSHA has explained in a Letter of Interpretation that maritime crane hooks must be latched or otherwise secured to prevent load disengagement (Safety latches on sling hooks LOI).

• The LOI references comparable maritime rules (for example, 29 CFR 1917.45(e)(2)) that require crane hooks to be latched or otherwise secured.
• Employers should use latch-equipped hooks where practical or use other positive means (shackles, pins) to prevent accidental release.

Yes, temporary span beams must also be secured to prevent accidental dislodgment. The plain language of 1917.41(a) requires that span beams be secured to prevent accidental dislodgment, with no exception for temporary installations.

• For temporary installations, use appropriate temporary securing methods (pins, blocks, engineered clamps) rated for the loads involved.
• Verify temporary securing methods through inspection before each day's use and after any change in loading or configuration.

The rule specifically lists chains, links, shackles, swivels, blocks, and other loose gear as items to be inspected before each day's use. 1917.41(c) requires designated employees to inspect these items before each day's use.

• Inspect each item for visible defects such as cracks, deformation, excessive wear, corrosion, stretched links, missing or damaged pins, seized swivels, and damaged block sheaves or hooks.
• Remove and tag any defective item; do not return it to service until repaired and re‑inspected.

Not necessarily—OSHA has explained that Part 1917's specific marine terminal requirements do not apply to facilities identified as "designated waterfront facilities" used solely for bulk storage, handling, and transfer of liquids or gases. In a Letter of Interpretation, OSHA clarified that Part 1917's specific requirements do not apply to such designated waterfront facilities (Applicability to waterfront facilities LOI, May 31, 2017).

• If your facility is a designated waterfront facility as described in that LOI, Part 1917 provisions like 1917.41 may not apply; instead, other standards or site‑specific rules could govern safety.
• Always confirm your facility classification and applicable standards with OSHA or your regional office.

The employer must immediately remove the suspected defective gear from service and have it inspected and repaired or replaced before reuse. 1917.41(c) requires that defective gear shall not be used.

• Tag or otherwise mark the defective item to prevent accidental use and document the removal and corrective action per workplace procedures.
• Have repairs performed by a qualified person and re‑inspect the gear before returning it to service.

Providing appropriate fall protection can be part of meeting the safe means of access requirement, but the employer must ensure the overall access method prevents falls and is suitable for the task. 1917.41(b) requires a safe means of access for employees working with house fall blocks.

• Depending on the situation, a combination of a secure walkway/platform plus personal fall arrest systems or guardrails may be necessary.
• Evaluate the work area, height, and tasks and implement engineering controls (guardrails, platforms) first; use personal protective systems where engineering controls are not feasible.

While 1917.41(c) requires designated employees to inspect gear before each day's use and that defective gear not be used, it does not specify detailed recordkeeping requirements; employers should, however, maintain inspection records as part of good safety management. 1917.41(c) requires pre‑use inspections by designated employees.

• Recommended records include date of inspection, inspector identification, items inspected, defects found, and corrective actions taken.
• Keeping records helps demonstrate compliance and supports timely repairs, trend analysis, and audits.