Voice signal requirements

Under 1926.1421(a), the crane operator, the signal person, and the lift director (if there is one) must contact each other and agree on the voice signals before beginning operations.

• This is a required pre-operation step; the standard names those three roles explicitly.
• If there is no lift director on the job, the operator and signal person still must make the agreement.

No. Under 1926.1421(a), once the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) have contacted each other and agreed on the voice signals, they do not have to meet again about the signals unless one of these conditions occurs:

• another worker is added or substituted;
• there is confusion about the voice signals; or
• a voice signal is to be changed.

If any of those events happen, they must meet again to re-establish and agree on the signals.

Each voice signal must include the specified elements in the exact order listed by 1926.1421(b). The elements are:

• function (for example, hoist, boom, etc.);
• direction;
• distance and/or speed; and
• function (stop command).

In plain terms: state what to move, tell which way, indicate how far or how fast, and include the function/stop command at the end. Those elements must be part of each voice signal and be given in that order.

Yes. A compliant voice signal follows the order required by 1926.1421(b). For example:

• “Hoist — up — two feet — hoist, stop.”

This example states the function (hoist), direction (up), distance (two feet), and ends with the function/stop command (hoist, stop), matching the required sequence.

Yes. 1926.1421(b) requires that each voice signal include, as one of its elements, the function/stop command. That means every voice signal must contain the final function or stop instruction as part of the ordered elements.

Under 1926.1421(a), you must re-establish voice signals if any of the following occur:

• a worker is added or substituted (for example, a new signal person or lift director starts work);
• there is confusion about the voice signals; or
• a voice signal is to be changed.

If any of these happen, the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) must contact each other and agree on the revised signals before continuing.

Under 1926.1421(c), the operator, signal person, and lift director (if there is one) must be able to effectively communicate in the language used for the voice signals.

• In other words, everyone involved must understand and be able to use the agreed voice signals in a common language so communication is effective for safe lifting operations.

No. 1926.1421(a) requires that the operator, signal person, and lift director contact each other and agree on voice signals prior to beginning operations, but it does not require a written record of those agreed signals.

• While written documentation is not mandated by this paragraph, employers may choose to document agreements as a best practice for clarity and training.

The operator, signal person, and lift director (if there is one) share responsibility for making sure voice signals are understood, as required by 1926.1421(a) and (c).

• They must contact each other and agree on signals before operations start and must be able to effectively communicate in the language used per 1926.1421(c).
• If confusion arises, they must stop and re-establish the signals per 1926.1421(a).

Yes. 1926.1421(a) specifies that if another worker is added or substituted (which includes adding a second signal person), the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) must contact each other and agree on the voice signals again before continuing.

• This ensures everyone using signals understands the same agreed commands.

Yes. 1926.1421(b) requires the distance and/or speed element to be included in each voice signal. You may communicate distance, speed, or both as part of that element, but it must appear in the ordered sequence after function and direction and before the function/stop command.

• Example: “Boom — out — slowly — boom, stop” (direction = out; speed = slowly).

If there is confusion about voice signals, 1926.1421(a) requires the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) to contact each other and agree on the voice signals again before proceeding.

• In practice this means stopping the operation if necessary, clarifying or changing the signals, and only resuming when everyone clearly understands the agreed commands.

Yes. If a lift director is present, they must be part of the agreement. 1926.1421(a) requires the operator, signal person, and lift director (if there is one) to contact each other and agree on voice signals before operations begin; if the lift director is added or substituted after operations have started, the agreement must be re-established.

• Adding or substituting a lift director triggers the requirement to re-agree on signals before continuing.

1926.1421 requires the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) to agree on the voice signals to be used for the operation at hand, but it does not mandate that the exact same signals be used across every crane type or every lift on a site.

• The key requirement is that the involved parties agree on and understand the signals before operations begin and re-agree if conditions change (such as new personnel or confusion), per 1926.1421(a).

1926.1421(b) specifies the required elements and their order but does not prescribe exact wording or limit commands to single words. The signal should include the required elements (function, direction, distance/speed, and function/stop) in that order; whether those are single words or short phrases is left to the parties to agree on as long as the elements and order are present and understood.

• Choose concise, clear wording that everyone understands and that contains the required elements in the required order.

Under 1926.1421(c), the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) must be able to effectively communicate in the language used for the voice signals. If their native languages differ, they must still be able to effectively communicate in a common language agreed upon for signals.

• If the parties cannot effectively communicate in the same language, they must take steps (such as selecting a mutually understood language or using agreed, clear signal wording) so that effective communication is achieved before operations begin.

1926.1421 addresses additional requirements for voice signals specifically; it requires agreement on and certain content for voice signals. The standard does not prohibit or describe hand signals, but it makes clear that when voice signals are used the parties must follow the agreement and the required elements in 1926.1421(b).

• Because the standard focuses on voice signals, if you plan to use hand signals as the primary or supplemental means, ensure the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) agree on and understand how both methods will be used.

No specific individual is named to decide the exact wording. 1926.1421(a) requires that the operator, signal person, and lift director (if there is one) contact each other and agree on the voice signals prior to beginning operations. That means the wording is decided collaboratively by those parties.

• The parties must simply agree on signals that include the required elements and sequence from 1926.1421(b).

1926.1421(a) requires that the operator, signal person, and lift director (if present) contact each other and agree on voice signals prior to operations and re-agree if a worker is added or substituted. That means whenever a new or substituted worker joins the crew, the involved parties must re-establish and agree on the signals before continuing.

• While the standard does not use the word “retrain,” adding or substituting personnel triggers the requirement to make sure everyone understands and agrees on the signals.