1918 Subpart F
You must not exceed the safe working load marked on the booms or shown in the cargo gear certification papers. Employers must also follow any limitations set by the certificating authority. See 1918.51(a).
Components of cargo handling gear must be inspected before each use and at appropriate intervals during use by the employer or a designated person, and any gear found unsafe must be removed from service until repaired. See 1918.51(b).
The employer must determine and observe the load ratings shown on the vessel's wire rope certificates for all wire rope and wire rope slings that are part of the ship's gear. See 1918.51(c).
Eye splices in wire ropes must have at least three tucks with a whole strand of the rope and two tucks with one-half of the wire cut from each strand, unless the employer can demonstrate another splice or connection provides the same level of safety. See 1918.51(d)(1).
Except for required eye splices at the ends, each wire rope used for hoisting, lowering, guying derricks, topping lifts, preventers, or pendants must be one continuous piece without knots or splices. See 1918.51(d)(2). Additionally, OSHA has long held that tying knots in wire rope creates a recognized hazard; see the interpretation Wire rope knot prohibition for further guidance.
Wire rope and wire rope slings exhibiting any of the defects listed in 1918.62(b)(3)(i) through (vi) must not be used and should be removed from service. Common examples include broken wires, severe corrosion, kinks, birdcaging, or other damaging conditions described in that section. See 1918.51(d)(3).
Natural and synthetic fiber rope slings that show any of the defects or conditions listed in 1918.62(e)(1) through (7) must not be used and must be removed from service. Examples include severe abrasion, heat or chemical damage, broken fibers, excessive wear, or other conditions described in that subsection. See 1918.51(e).
Synthetic web slings displaying any of the defects or conditions specified in 1918.62(g)(2)(i) through (vi) must not be used and should be taken out of service. These include cuts, tears, heat damage, pulled stitches, chemical damage, or other listed defects. See 1918.51(f).
Chains and chain slings showing any defects or conditions listed in 1918.62(h)(3)(iii), (iv), or (h)(6) must not be used and must be removed from service. These include gouges, nicks, cracks, excessive wear, stretch, or other dangerous deformations described in those paragraphs. See 1918.51(g).
If an inspection finds gear unsafe, the employer must immediately stop its use and make it safe before returning it to service. Employers should tag or mark the damaged gear, remove it from the work area, document the defect and corrective action, and maintain records as part of their safety program. See 1918.51(b).
The inspections must be performed by the employer or a designated person trained to do the inspections; this individual is responsible for identifying unsafe gear and removing it from service until made safe. See 1918.51(b).
Temporary or makeshift repairs that do not restore the rope or sling to safe condition are not acceptable; any gear exhibiting defects listed in 1918.62(b)(3), 1918.62(e), 1918.62(g)(2), or 1918.62(h) must be removed from service until properly repaired or replaced. See 1918.51(d)(3).
Yes, an employer may use other forms of splices or connections if they can demonstrate that the alternative provides the same level of safety as the specified eye splice, but the employer bears the responsibility to show equivalence. See 1918.51(d)(1).
OSHA recognizes that latch-equipped hooks are generally preferred to prevent accidental disengagement; where the use requires latches, employers must use them or other positive means to prevent disengagement. For discussion relevant to longshoring and sling hooks, see the interpretation Safety latches on sling hooks and 1918.66(e)(2) referenced there. Also see 1918.81(b) for related cargo handling bridle requirements.
An operator who becomes incapacitated and cannot complete the operation must not leave the controls while a load is suspended; employers must ensure operators are physically capable of completing lifts without unscheduled interruption and have procedures to prevent abandonment of suspended loads. See OSHA's interpretation Crane operator medical condition scenario and the cargo gear inspection requirements in 1918.51(b).
Wire rope must be removed from service if it exhibits any conditions in 1918.62(b)(3)(i)–(vi), such as—
See 1918.51(d)(3).
Natural and synthetic fiber rope slings must be removed if they have any of the defects listed in 1918.62(e)(1)–(7), which include items such as—
Consult 1918.62(e) for the full list and removal criteria.
Synthetic web slings must be removed from service for any defects listed in 1918.62(g)(2)(i)–(vi), including—
See 1918.62(g)(2) and 1918.51(f).
Chains must be removed when they meet the removal criteria in 1918.62(h)(3)(iii), (h)(3)(iv), or (h)(6), for example—
See 1918.51(g) for the chain removal cross-reference.
Yes—employers must follow the safe working load marked on the gear or specified in the cargo gear certification papers and also comply with any limitations set by the certificating authority; both sources must be observed. See 1918.51(a).
No—wire rope used for hoisting, guying derricks, topping lifts, or similar applications must be continuous without knots or improper splices, except for properly formed eye splices; knots in wire rope are not acceptable and are a recognized hazard as reflected in OSHA's interpretation Wire rope knot prohibition. See 1918.51(d)(2).
Employers must ensure modifications or repairs affecting capacity or safety are approved by the manufacturer or a qualified professional engineer; if manufacturer's approval is unavailable, obtain written approval from a qualified engineer after appropriate evaluation, and ensure safe operation. See related enforcement guidance in OSHA interpretations such as Strobe lights on industrial trucks and the requirements in 1918.51(b).
An employer may use alternative splices or connections only if they can demonstrate the alternative provides the same level of safety as the specified eye splice; the employer should document the basis for equivalence and ensure the alternative meets load-rating and inspection criteria. See 1918.51(d)(1).