Question 1

Under 1926.1400(a), which types of cranes and hoisting equipment are covered by the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(a)) covers power operated equipment used in construction that can hoist, lower, and horizontally move a suspended load. Examples explicitly listed in §1926.1400(a)) include articulating (knuckle boom) cranes, crawler cranes, floating cranes, cranes on barges, locomotive cranes, mobile cranes (wheel mounted, rough terrain, all terrain, boom truck cranes), multi purpose machines when configured to hoist, industrial/carry deck cranes, dedicated pile drivers, service/mechanic trucks with hoisting devices, monorail and tower cranes, pedestal/portal/overhead/gantry/straddle cranes, sideboom cranes, derricks, and variations of such equipment. See the full list and scope in §1926.1400(a)).

Question 2

Under 1926.1400(b), do attachments such as hooks, buckets, or personnel platforms bring otherwise-covered equipment into the scope of the crane standard?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(b)) states that this standard applies to equipment listed in paragraph (a) when used with attachments, whether the attachments are crane attached or suspended. Attachments specifically mentioned include hooks, magnets, grapples, clamshells, concrete and orange peel buckets, draglines, personnel platforms, augers/drills, and pile driving gear. If the machine is within the equipment types in §1926.1400(a)), adding an attachment brings it within Subpart CC per §1926.1400(b)).

Question 3

Under 1926.1400(c)(1), is a crane converted to perform non-hoisting tasks (for example, an excavator) still covered by the crane standard?

Accepted Answer

No—§1926.1400(c)(1)(1)) excludes machinery from this subpart when it has been converted or adapted for a non hoisting/lifting use. Conversions such as power shovels, excavators, and concrete pumps are listed as examples of excluded uses. Even if the base machine is similar to a crane, conversion to a non hoisting function removes it from Subpart CC under §1926.1400(c)(1)(1)).

Question 4

Under 1926.1400(c)(2), are forklifts and other powered industrial trucks covered by Subpart CC when they lift suspended loads?

Accepted Answer

Usually not—§1926.1400(c)(8)(8)) excludes powered industrial trucks (forklifts) from this subpart, except when they are configured to hoist and lower (by means of a winch or hook) and horizontally move a suspended load. If a forklift is used in a typical forklift configuration (forks supporting a load on a pallet), it remains excluded; if it is reconfigured with a hook/winch to suspend a load, Subpart CC may apply. See §1926.1400(c)(8)(8)) for the exclusion and its exception.

Question 5

Under 1926.1400(c)(4), are digger derricks excluded from Subpart CC when working on utility poles, and what other standard applies for telecommunication work?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(c)(4)(4)) excludes digger derricks when used for augering holes, placing/removing poles, and handling materials for installation/removal on poles, but only if the use complies with all provisions of Subpart V. For telecommunication work, digger derrick use must also comply with §1910.268 and specifically the telecommunication service definition at §1910.268(s)(40)(40)). Employers must follow Subpart V or §1910.268 as required by §1926.1400(c)(4)(4)).

Question 6

Under 1926.1400(c)(5), are aerial lifts and self-propelled elevating work platforms covered by the crane standard?

Accepted Answer

No—§1926.1400(c)(5)(5)) excludes machinery originally designed as vehicle mounted aerial devices (for lifting personnel) and self propelled elevating work platforms from Subpart CC. These devices remain governed by the standards applicable to aerial lifts/elevating work platforms rather than the crane standard. See the exclusion at §1926.1400(c)(5)(5)).

Question 7

Under 1926.1400(c)(9), is a mechanic's truck with a hoisting device excluded when used for maintenance work?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(c)(9)(9)) excludes a mechanic's truck with a hoisting device when it is used in activities related to equipment maintenance and repair. When the truck is used for maintenance/repair tasks, Subpart CC does not apply to that use. Refer to §1926.1400(c)(9)(9)) for the exclusion.

Question 8

Under 1926.1400(c)(10), are come-alongs and chainfalls covered by the crane standard?

Accepted Answer

No—§1926.1400(c)(10)(10)) excludes machinery that hoists by using a come a long or chainfall from Subpart CC. Those types of manual hoisting tools are not covered by the crane and derrick regulations in this subpart. See the specific exclusion at §1926.1400(c)(10)(10)).

Question 9

Under 1926.1400(c)(11)–(13), are dedicated drilling rigs, gin poles for tower erection, and tree-trimming operations excluded from the crane standard?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(c)(11)(11)) excludes dedicated drilling rigs, §1926.1400(c)(12)(12)) excludes gin poles when used for erection of communication towers, and §1926.1400(c)(13)(13)) excludes tree trimming and tree removal work from Subpart CC. See exclusions at §1926.1400(c)(11)–(13)(11)).

Question 10

Under 1926.1400(c)(16), are helicopter cranes excluded from the scope of Subpart CC?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(c)(16)(16)) explicitly excludes helicopter cranes from Subpart CC. Operations using helicopters to lift loads are not covered by this crane standard. See the exclusion at §1926.1400(c)(16)(16)).

Question 11

Under 1926.1400(c)(17), when is material delivery by articulating/knuckle-boom truck cranes excluded from Subpart CC?

Accepted Answer

It can be excluded—§1926.1400(c)(17)(17)) provides a material delivery exclusion for articulating/knuckle boom truck cranes that deliver materials to a construction site in certain circumstances. Specifically, §1926.1400(c)(17)(i)(17)(i)) excludes truck cranes that transfer materials from the truck to the ground without arranging materials in a sequence for hoisting; and §1926.1400(c)(17)(ii)(17)(ii)) excludes those that transfer sheet goods or packaged building materials onto a structure using a fork/cradle, but only if the crane has a properly functioning automatic overload prevention device. See the delivery exclusions at §1926.1400(c)(17)(17)).

Question 12

Under 1926.1400(c)(17)(iii), when does the material-delivery exclusion for articulating truck cranes NOT apply?

Accepted Answer

The exclusion does not apply in several specific situations—§1926.1400(c)(17)(iii)(17)(iii)) states the delivery exclusion is not available when the truck crane is used to hold, support, or stabilize material to facilitate a construction activity; when the materials are prefabricated components such as precast panels or roof trusses; when handling structural steel members; or when the activity is not specifically excluded by §1926.1400(c)(17)(i) and (ii)(17)(i)). See the exceptions listed in §1926.1400(c)(17)(iii)(A)–(D)(17)(iii)).

Question 13

Under 1926.1400(c)(18), are flash-butt welding trucks used on railroad track work excluded from Subpart CC?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(c)(18)(18)) excludes flash butt welding trucks or roadway maintenance machines that meet the definition of “roadway maintenance machine” in 49 CFR 214.7 and are used only for railroad track work. The provision ties the exclusion to the Federal Railroad Administration definitions at 49 CFR 214.7. See §1926.1400(c)(18)(18)) and the cross reference to 49 CFR 214.7.

Question 14

Under 1926.1400(d)–(f), do all sections of Subpart CC apply to equipment covered unless otherwise specified, and must employers adopt work rules for operator/crew actions?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(d)) says all sections of Subpart CC apply to covered equipment unless a section specifies otherwise, and §1926.1400(f)) requires employers to establish, effectively communicate, and enforce work rules whenever the standard directs an operator, crewmember, or other employee to take certain actions. See §1926.1400(d)) and §1926.1400(f)).

Question 15

Under 1926.1400(e) and 1926.1402, what duties do controlling entities have for crane operations on construction sites?

Accepted Answer

Controlling entities have specified duties—§1926.1400(e)) states that the duties of controlling entities include but are not limited to duties specified in §1926.1402(c)), §1926.1402(e)), and §1926.1424(b)). In practice, that means controlling entities must coordinate crane operations, ensure site safety controls (like ground conditions, exclusion zones), and ensure competent persons and communication procedures per §1926.1402. See §1926.1400(e)) and §1926.1402 for controlling entity duties.

Question 16

Under 1926.1400(g), if work is covered by Subpart V, can compliance with 1926.959 satisfy requirements in Subpart CC?

Accepted Answer

Yes—§1926.1400(g)) states that for work covered by Subpart V, compliance with §1926.959 is deemed compliance with §§1926.1407 through 1926.1411]. In other words, meeting the Subpart V requirements in [§1926.959 satisfies certain Subpart CC provisions. See §1926.1400(g)) and §1926.959.

Question 17

Under 1926.1400(h), do cranes designed for railroad-track use remain subject to 1926.1402 when operating on tracks regulated by the FRA?

Accepted Answer

No—§1926.1400(h)) says §1926.1402 does not apply to cranes designed for use on railroad tracks when they are used on railroad tracks that are part of the general railroad system regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under 49 CFR part 213, and that comply with FRA requirements. See §1926.1402(f)). See §1926.1400(h)) and §1926.1402(f)).

Question 18

Under 1926.1400(c)(17)(ii), when can an articulating/knuckle-boom truck crane place building supply materials onto a structure and still be excluded from Subpart CC?

Accepted Answer

It can be excluded only if the crane transfers sheet goods or packaged building materials onto a structure using a fork/cradle and the truck crane is equipped with a properly functioning automatic overload prevention device, as stated in §1926.1400(c)(17)(ii)(17)(ii)). Examples include sheetrock, plywood sheets, cement bags, and rolls of roofing felt. See the conditional exclusion at §1926.1400(c)(17)(ii)(17)(ii)).

Question 19

Subject: head protection for crane operators — based on OSHA interpretations, must crane operators wear protective helmets when lifting loads that create overhead hazards?

Accepted Answer

Yes—OSHA requires head protection when employees face potential head injury from falling objects, including during crane lifts where overhead hazards exist. OSHA's head protection standard at §1910.135(a)(1) applies to crane operations covered by §1910.179 and related lift operations, and OSHA's letter of interpretation on head protection for crane operators confirms that employers must provide helmets where there is potential for falling object hazards (see https://www.osha.gov/laws regs/standardinterpretations/2024 06 06 2). See §1910.135(a)(1) and OSHA's interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws regs/standardinterpretations/2024 06 06 2 for practical guidance on helmet use during crane operations.

Question 20

Under 1926.1400, if an employer's equipment appears similar to a crane but is used exclusively for vehicle towing or wreck removal, is it covered by Subpart CC?

Accepted Answer

No—§1926.1400(c)(3)(3)) excludes automotive wreckers and tow trucks when used to clear wrecks and haul vehicles. If the device is used for standard tow/wreck removal activities, Subpart CC does not apply to those uses. See the exclusion at §1926.1400(c)(3)(3)).

Question 21

Under 1926.1400, does the crane standard apply to a service/mechanic truck with a hoisting device when it is used to deliver materials to a worksite?

Accepted Answer

It depends—§1926.1400(a)) includes service/mechanic trucks with hoisting devices in the list of equipment covered by the standard, but §1926.1400(c)(9)(9)) excludes mechanic's trucks with hoisting devices when they are used in equipment maintenance and repair. If the truck is being used to deliver materials (not maintenance), Subpart CC would generally apply. See §1926.1400(a)) and the maintenance exclusion at §1926.1400(c)(9)(9)).

Scope of crane regulations

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