Guy, preventer, and boom placement

Under 1918.54(a), each guy or preventer must be positioned so it cannot touch any other guy, preventer, or stay.

• Keep individual guys and preventers physically separated so lines and fittings cannot cross or rub each other.
• Routinely inspect placements before operations begin and after any load movement that might have shifted rigging.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(a).

Under 1918.54(b), when alternate positions for securing guys are available, place the guys to produce the minimum stress and to prevent the boom from jackknifing.

• Choose the securing position that gives the best line angle (least bending/tension) and stability for the boom.
• Avoid arrangements where loading or movement could cause the boom to fold back (jackknife).

See the Requirement in 1918.54(b).

Under 1918.54(c), spot the head of the midship boom no farther outboard of the coaming than is necessary to control the load.

• Only move the boom outboard as much as needed for safe handling and positioning of the cargo—do not overreach.
• Limiting how far the boom extends reduces instability, excessive leverage on rigging, and the chance of contact with the ship structure.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(c).

Under 1918.54(d)(1), preventers must be secured to suitable fittings that are different from those used for guys, and they should be as nearly parallel to the guys as the fittings allow.

• Do not attach a preventer to the same fitting that a guy uses; use separate eyes, padeyes, or fittings.
• Align preventers so their pull direction closely matches the guys to share load and control movement.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(1).

Under 1918.54(d)(2), unless the cleat also serves as a chock and the hauling part is led through the chock opening, route preventer leads so the direction of pull is as parallel as possible to the plane of the surface on which the cleat is mounted.

• If the cleat is not a chock, lead the preventer so its pull is nearly parallel to the deck or bulkhead plane to reduce side-loading on the cleat.
• Exception: If the cleat also functions as a chock and the line passes through the chock opening, the parallel requirement does not apply in that specific arrangement.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(2).

Under 1918.54(d)(3), when cargo operations use burtoning, adjust guys and preventers so they share the load as equally as possible.

• Balance tensions so no single line carries a disproportionate share—this reduces wear and risk of failure.
• Use tensioning devices and measure tensions during setup to achieve near-equal load distribution.
• Exception: If guys are intended only for trimming and the preventer is intended to act as the guy, the guy may be left slack.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(3).

Under 1918.54(e), cargo falls under load must not be allowed to chafe on any standing or other running rigging.

• Prevent contact and rubbing between falls and other rigging to avoid abrasion, cutting, or failure.
• Note the exception: this prohibition does not apply to hatch coamings or similar structural parts; those are not considered "rigging."

See the Requirement in 1918.54(e).

Under 1918.54(f)(1), when a bull wire is taken to a winch head for lowering or topping a boom, it must be secured to the winch head by a shackle or an equally strong method; fiber rope fastening is not acceptable.

• Use metal shackles, mechanical clamps, or manufacturer-approved fittings designed for wire rope to secure the bull wire.
• Do not rely on knots, turns with fiber rope, or temporary lashings to fasten the bull wire to the winch head.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(f)(1).

Under 1918.54(f)(2), if you cannot secure the bull wire to the winch head, or when the topping lift itself is taken to the winch head, you must use at least five turns of wire on the winch drum.

• Ensure the turns are neat, tighten up the wire, and maintain control—five wraps provides friction to hold the load.
• Even with five turns, monitor wire condition and winch capacity; this is a fallback method when a shackle or similar fastening cannot be used.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(f)(2).

Under 1918.54(g), when deck loads extend above the rail and there is less than 12 inches horizontal clearance between the load edge and the inside of the bulwark or rail, provide a pendant or another alternate device to allow trimming of the gear and to prevent employees from going over the side.

• Use a pendant or trimming device so workers can adjust rigging from a safe position without reaching over the rail.
• This protects employees from falling overboard or into narrow gaps while trimming gear.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(g).

Under 1918.54(d)(1), a preventer must be secured to suitable fittings other than those to which the guys are secured, so you should not attach a preventer to the same fitting even if multiple eyes are present on a single fitting.

• Use a distinct, separate fitting or a clearly separate attachment point to comply—do not rely on multiple eyes on the same structural fitting as separate fittings.
• Keeping preventer and guy fittings distinct helps prevent load transfer and entanglement during operations.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(1).

Under 1918.54(d)(3), crews should tension guys and preventers so each carries approximately the same load during burtoning operations.

• Before lifting, visually check angles and use tensioning devices (windlasses, turnbuckles, load cells, or tension gauges) to equalize pull.
• Make incremental adjustments under light load and re-check as loads change; redistribute tension if a line takes a disproportionate share.
• Remember the exception: if guys are only for trimming and preventers take the main load, the guys may be left slack.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(3).

Under 1918.54(d)(3), it is acceptable to leave a guy slack only when the guy is designed and intended for trimming purposes and the preventer is intended to perform the guy's function.

• Do not leave guys slack if they are expected to share load; slack is only allowed when the preventer provides the primary load control and the guy is for fine trimming.
• Make sure design intention (trimming-only) is clear and workers are trained on the specific rigging setup.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(3).

Under 1918.54(d)(2), a cleat is typically a surface-mounted fitting where the line lies against the plane of the surface, while a chock provides an opening through which the hauling part can be led; this matters because preventer leads to cleats must be as parallel as possible to the surface plane unless the cleat is also a chock and the line goes through the chock opening.

• If you lead through a chock opening, the parallel-to-surface rule does not apply since the line is constrained through the chock.
• Proper routing reduces side-loads on fittings and wear on the line, and helps maintain safe line geometry.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(d)(2).

Under 1918.54(f)(1) and 1918.54(f)(2), the bull wire should be secured to the winch head by a shackle or another equally strong method; if secure attachment is not possible or the topping lift is taken to the winch head, use at least five turns of wire on the drum.

• Preferred: secure the wire with a shackle, clamp, or approved mechanical fastening to the winch head.
• Alternate: when fastening is impossible, provide at least five neat wraps of wire around the drum to provide frictional holding.
• Never use a fiber rope fastening to secure a bull wire to the winch head.

See the Requirements in 1918.54(f)(1) and 1918.54(f)(2).

Under 1918.54(e), hatch coamings and similar structural parts are not considered "rigging," so the prohibition against cargo falls chafing on standing or running rigging does not apply to contact with hatch coamings.

• Protect lines from chafing on actual rigging (other lines, stays, etc.), but you do not have to treat hull structure like coamings as rigging under this rule.
• Still use chafing gear (pads, sleeves) where lines may contact sharp or abrasive structural parts to prevent damage.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(e).

Under 1918.54(c) and 1918.54(b), the operator should spot the midship boom no farther outboard than needed for control and secure guys in positions that minimize stress and prevent the boom from jackknifing.

• Balance reach and stability: only extend the boom as necessary for the lift (see 1918.54(c)).
• When choosing among alternate guy securing points, select the one that gives the best geometry to avoid excessive tension or a jackknife condition (see 1918.54(b)).
• Inspect and test the setup with a light load before full operations to confirm stability.

Under 1918.54(f)(1), fiber rope fastening is not sufficiently strong or reliable compared to a shackle or equivalent mechanical method, so it does not meet the requirement to secure a bull wire to the winch head.

• Fiber rope can slip, stretch, or fail under the loads encountered when topping or lowering booms; metal shackles or clamps provide a positive mechanical connection.
• Use manufacturer-recommended or industry-standard metal fittings that match the wire's rated capacity.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(f)(1).

Under 1918.54(g), a pendant or alternate device allows trimming of rigging from a safe location and prevents employees from having to go over the side when deckloads extend above the rail with less than 12 inches clearance.

• The device provides a means to adjust gear without leaning or reaching over the rail, reducing fall and overboard risk.
• Use appropriately rated pendants or trimming lines and train employees on their safe use.

See the Requirement in 1918.54(g).

Yes. OSHA has interpreted operator responsibilities in a related context: an operator who becomes incapacitated and cannot complete load handling must not leave the controls while a load is suspended because that endangers safety.

• Employers must ensure the person assigned to operate equipment can perform the task without unscheduled interruption that could affect safety; an operator leaving the controls while the load is suspended is unacceptable.

See the OSHA letter of interpretation on a crane operator medical condition scenario at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-09-13 and the general requirements in 1918.54.

Before starting cargo operations, inspect and verify that guys and preventers are separately secured, aligned as parallel as possible, adjusted to share loads (for burtoning), bull wire attachments meet winch requirements, and the boom head is not spotted farther outboard than necessary.

• Check that preventers are on different fittings than guys and nearly parallel to the guys (1918.54(d)(1)).
• Verify preventer leads to cleats are parallel to the cleat surface plane unless the cleat acts as a chock (1918.54(d)(2)).
• Ensure bull wire is shackled to the winch head or has at least five turns on the drum if it cannot be secured (1918.54(f)(1), 1918.54(f)(2)).

These checks reduce the chance of line failure, chafing, and boom instability.