Hoisting personnel requirements

Under 1926.1431(a), hoisting employees is only allowed when the employer shows that conventional means (like ladders, scaffolds, aerial lifts, or personnel hoists) would be more hazardous or are not possible because of the project’s structural design or site conditions. See 1926.1431(a).

• You must be able to document why safer, conventional access is more hazardous or impossible before hoisting employees.
• This requirement is supplemental to other rules in Subpart CC; it does not replace other equipment or safe-work requirements (see 1926).

Under 1926.1431(b)(1), employees must be hoisted in a personnel platform that meets the platform design and safety requirements in paragraph (e) of the standard. See 1926.1431(b)(1) and the personnel platform criteria in 1926.1431(e).

• Exceptions to this requirement are limited and listed in 1926.1431(b)(2).

Under 1926.1431(b)(2), a personnel platform is not required for hoisting employees into and out of drill shafts up to 8 feet in diameter, in pile driving, for marine transfers using a marine-hoisted transfer device, or during storage-tank, shaft, and chimney operations. See 1926.1431(b)(2)(i)–(iv).

• Each exception points to separate requirements elsewhere in 1926.1431 (for example, drill shafts — see paragraph (o)).
• Even when a platform is not required, the total load limits in 1926.1431(d)(3) still apply.

Under 1926.1431(c)(1), equipment must be uniformly level within one percent of level grade and placed on footing a qualified person has determined to be firm and stable. See 1926.1431(c)(1).

• Have a qualified person evaluate ground or support conditions and document the footing is adequate.
• Level within 1% means small tolerances — use manufacturer guidance and leveling devices to verify.

Under 1926.1431(c)(2), all outriggers or stabilizers must be fully extended and locked, with the same amount of extension for each, and used according to manufacturer procedures and load charts. See 1926.1431(c)(2).

• Follow the crane or equipment manufacturer’s procedures and charts for outrigger placement and load configuration.
• Never operate with uneven outrigger extension when hoisting personnel.

Under 1926.1431(d)(1) and (d)(2), the total load (platform, occupants, hook, load line and rigging) must not exceed 50% of the rated capacity for the equipment’s radius and configuration, except during proof testing. See 1926.1431(d)(1) and 1926.1431(d)(2).

• This 50% limit applies to both suspended personnel platforms and boom-attached personnel platforms.
• Proof testing is the only time the 50% limit may be exceeded, and it must be done per applicable procedures.

Under 1926.1431(d)(3), when hoisting personnel without a personnel platform under the exceptions in paragraph (b)(2), the total load (hook, load line, rigging and other equipment) still must not exceed 50% of the rated capacity for the equipment’s radius and configuration, except during proof testing. See 1926.1431(d)(3).

• Even without a platform, strict load limits apply to protect stability and prevent overload.

Under 1926.1431(d)(4), when the occupied personnel platform is in a stationary working position, the load and boom hoist brakes, swing brakes, and operator-actuated secondary braking and locking features (such as pawls or dogs) or automatic secondary brakes must be engaged. See 1926.1431(d)(4).

• Operators must use both primary and approved secondary locking/braking systems to prevent unintentional movement.
• If any required device fails during operations, stop hoisting immediately and follow 1926.1417 for tag-out procedures.

Under 1926.1431(d)(5)(v), an anti two-block device that automatically prevents contact between the load block/overhaul ball and the boom tip (two-blocking) must be used at all points where two-blocking could occur; the exception is pile driving operations where paragraph (p)(2) specifies alternative measures. See 1926.1431(d)(5)(v).

• For most personnel hoisting, anti two-block protection is mandatory.
• In pile driving, follow the specific procedures in 1926.1431(p)(2).

Under 1926.1431(d)(5)(vi), controlled load lowering is a system (other than the load line hoist brake) that regulates the lowering speed of the hoist drum, and it must be used when hoisting personnel. See 1926.1431(d)(5)(vi) and note the related prohibition on free fall in 1926.1426(d).

• Free fall of the load line hoist is prohibited (1926.1426(d)).
• Ensure controlled lowering systems are tested and functioning before hoisting personnel.

Under 1926.1431(d)(5)(i), equipment (except derricks and articulating cranes) with a variable angle boom must have a boom angle indicator visible to the operator and a boom hoist limiting device. See 1926.1431(d)(5)(i)(A)–(B).

• These devices help operators know boom geometry and prevent unsafe boom angles or over-hoisting.
• If these devices fail, personnel hoisting must stop until they are repaired (see 1926.1431(d)(5)(vii)).

Under 1926.1431(d)(5)(ii) and (iii), articulating cranes must have a properly functioning automatic overload protection device, and equipment with a luffing jib must have a jib angle indicator visible to the operator and a jib hoist limiting device. See 1926.1431(d)(5)(ii) and 1926.1431(d)(5)(iii)(A)–(B).

• These required devices reduce the risk of overloads and unsafe jib positions while hoisting personnel.

Under 1926.1431(d)(6), direct attachment of a personnel platform to a luffing jib is prohibited. See 1926.1431(d)(6).

• Use approved suspension/attachment systems designed by a qualified person instead of direct attachment to a luffing jib.

Under 1926.1431(d)(5)(vii) and 1926.1417, personnel hoisting operations must stop immediately if any required device listed in the section stops working, and operations cannot resume until the device is repaired and working properly; tag-out procedures in 1926.1417 apply. See 1926.1431(d)(5)(vii).

• Alternative (temporary) measures are not permitted while devices are out of service.
• Use 1926.1417 for tagging and lockout procedures when removing equipment from service.

Under 1926.1431(e)(1)–(3), a qualified person familiar with structural design must design the personnel platform and attachment/suspension system, and the connection system must allow the platform to remain within 10 degrees of level regardless of boom angle and be designed to minimize tipping from occupant movement. See 1926.1431(e)(1)–(3).

• Use a qualified designer and document the platform/suspension design.
• Ensure rigging and suspension geometry prevent excessive tilt or tipping during normal operations.

Under 1926.1431(e)(4) and (e)(5), the personnel platform (excluding guardrails and fall-arrest anchorages) must support its own weight plus five times the maximum intended load without failure, and all welding must be performed by a certified welder per the platform design. See 1926.1431(e)(4)–(5).

• Platforms must be rated and tested to these strength factors.
• Keep documentation of welding certification and platform load-rating markings required by 1926.1431(e)(12).

Under 1926.1431(e)(6), personnel platforms must have a guardrail system that meets the requirements of Subpart M and be enclosed from the toeboard to mid-rail with solid material or expanded metal with openings no greater than 1/2 inch; anchor points for personal fall arrest systems must meet Subpart M anchorage requirements. See 1926.1431(e)(6) and 1926 Subpart M.

• Ensure guardrails, toeboards and enclosed panels comply with Subpart M dimensions and strength.
• Fall-arrest anchorage points must meet Subpart M anchorage criteria.

Under 1926.1431(e)(8), access gates/doors must not swing outward; they must be equipped with a device that prevents accidental opening. An exception allows an outward-swinging door only when platform size makes inward swing infeasible (for example, some one-person platforms). See 1926.1431(e)(8)(i)–(ii).

• Install positive-latching devices to prevent accidental opening during lifts.
• If an outward-swinging door is used, document why inward swing is infeasible.

Under 1926.1431(e)(10), overhead protection on the personnel platform is required when employees are exposed to falling objects, and the overhead protection must not obscure operator or occupant visibility unless full protection is necessary. See 1926.1431(e)(10).

• Common overhead protection uses include wire mesh (up to 1/2 inch openings) or solid panels when needed.
• Maintain operator sightlines unless hazards demand full enclosures.

Under 1926.1431(e)(12) and 1926.1431(f)(1), the platform must have its weight and rated capacity permanently posted, and the platform must never be loaded beyond its rated capacity. See 1926.1431(e)(12) and 1926.1431(f)(1).

• Post the capacity plate where occupants can see it before boarding.
• Verify occupant count, tools and materials do not exceed the rating.

Under 1926.1431(f)(2)–(3), personnel platforms may only carry employees, their tools, and materials necessary to do the work; materials and tools taken into the platform for trial lifts must be secured to prevent displacement and evenly distributed within the platform. See 1926.1431(f)(2)–(3).

• For trial lifts, secure tools/materials and distribute weight evenly to maintain stability.
• Do not hoist materials separately when personnel are not aboard (platforms are not for hoisting general materials).
• See exception for trial lifts in 1926.1431(f)(2)(ii).

Under 1926.1431(f)(4), the number of employees occupying the personnel platform must not exceed the maximum number the platform was designed to hold or the number required to perform the work, whichever is less. See 1926.1431(f)(4).

• Follow the designer’s or manufacturer’s published occupant limit and limit work activities to those necessary.
• Reduce occupant number if tools/materials increase the load close to capacity.

Under 1926.1431(g)(1)(i)–(ii), hooks used between the hoist line and the personnel platform must be of a type that can be closed and locked (eliminating the throat opening) and must be closed and locked when attached; shackles used in place of hooks must be alloy anchor type with a bolt/nut/retaining pin or screw type with the screw pin secured. See 1926.1431(g)(1)(i)–(ii).

• Use locking or captive hooks or properly secured shackles to prevent accidental disengagement.
• Inspect and verify the locking mechanism or pin security before each lift.

Under 1926.1431(g)(3), rigging hardware (wire rope, shackles, rings, master links, etc.) and hooks must support at least five times the maximum intended load without failure; if rotation-resistant rope is used, slings must support at least ten times the maximum intended load. See 1926.1431(g)(3).

• Select rigging components with appropriate safety factors and keep records of ratings.
• Fabricate wire rope sling eyes with thimbles per 1926.1431(g)(4).

Under 1926.1431(g)(5), bridles and associated rigging used to suspend the personnel platform must be used only for that platform and the necessary employees, tools and materials, and must not have been used for any other purpose. See 1926.1431(g)(5).

• Reserve platform-specific rigging for personnel lifts only; do not reuse it for general material hoists to avoid hidden wear or mismatches.
• Inspect rigging before use and keep it dedicated to personnel hoisting.

OSHA treats conveyances or temporary suspended platforms that meet the definition of a suspended scaffold as scaffolds subject to scaffold and fall-protection requirements; this was clarified in OSHA’s letter about conveyances and suspended scaffolds. See OSHA’s interpretation on suspended scaffolds (12/05/2023 Letter of Interpretation) and the definitions in 29 CFR 1926.450(b).

• If a conveyance is suspended by temporary means or uses temporary guides or hoist machines, OSHA considers it a suspended scaffold and fall-protection and falling-object protection must meet 1926.451(g) and 1926.451(h).
• This classification is important because it brings scaffold/ladder/fall-protection rules into play for personnel hoisting operations.

A trial lift is a test hoist of the unoccupied personnel platform loaded at least to the anticipated lift weight that must be made from the entry level to every location where the platform will be hoisted and positioned immediately prior to each shift in which employees will be hoisted. See 1926.1431(h)(1) and 1926.1431(h)(2).

• If more than one location is reached from a single set-up, either separate trial lifts for each location or one sequential trial lift that moves the platform to each location is required, and the method must match how personnel will be hoisted.
• Trial lifts must be done immediately before each shift and repeated when equipment is moved, set up in a new/previous location, or the lift route changes unless a competent person finds no new safety factors (see 1926.1431(h)(2)(i)–(ii)).

The competent person must verify during the trial lift that required safety devices and operational aids are activated and functioning, nothing interferes with the equipment or platform, the lift will not exceed 50 percent of the equipment’s rated capacity at any time, and the load radius has been accurately determined. See 1926.1431(h)(3).

• Confirm safety devices/operational aids are working as required by this section and related device standards (see 1926.1415 and 1926.1416).
• Ensure the lift never goes above 50% of equipment rated capacity during the trial (1926.1431(h)(3)(iii)).

Immediately after the trial lift a competent person must visually inspect the equipment, base support or ground, and personnel platform for defects or adverse effects and confirm the test weight has been removed; immediately prior to each lift the platform must be raised a few inches with personnel and tools on board and inspected to ensure it is secure, balanced, and that hoist ropes and rigging meet inspection requirements. See 1926.1431(h)(4) and 1926.1431(h)(5).

• Hoist ropes must be free of deficiencies as required in 1926.1413(a).
• Multiple part lines must not be twisted around each other (1926.1431(h)(5)(ii)(B)).
• Primary attachment must be centered and if rope slack is found, ensure ropes are properly seated on drums and sheaves (1926.1431(h)(5)(ii)(C)–(D)).

Before hoisting employees at each jobsite, and after any repair or modification, the personnel platform and rigging must be proof tested to 125% of the platform’s rated capacity and held suspended under that controlled load for at least five minutes, with the test load evenly distributed. See 1926.1431(j)(1)–(3).

• The proof test may be done at the same time as the trial lift (1926.1431(j)(1)).
• After the proof test a competent person must inspect and determine whether the test was passed; correct any deficiencies and repeat the test before use if failures are found (1926.1431(j)(3)–(4)).

Hoisting personnel must be done slowly and in a controlled manner with no sudden movements; occupants must keep their bodies inside the platform, not stand or work from rails or toeboards, and the platform must be secured to the structure before people enter or exit if it is not landed (unless securing creates a greater hazard). See 1926.1431(k)(1)–(3).

• Exceptions to keeping parts of the body inside apply only when positioning the platform or performing a signal person’s duties (1926.1431(k)(2)(i)).
• If tied to the structure, the operator must get confirmation that the platform is freely suspended before moving it (1926.1431(k)(4)).

Tag lines must be used when necessary to control the platform. If the platform has no controls, the equipment operator must remain at the equipment controls on site and in view while the platform is occupied; if the platform has controls, the occupant using them must be a qualified person, the equipment operator must remain at a set of controls with boom and swing functions on site in view, and the platform operating manual must be available in the platform or on the equipment. See 1926.1431(k)(5)–(7).

• Qualifications for the platform occupant include being familiar with safe limitations and hazards of equipment operation (1926.1431(k)(7)(i)).

When wind speed (sustained or gusts) exceeds 20 mph at the personnel platform, a qualified person must determine whether it is safe to lift personnel; if they determine it is not safe, the lifting operation must not begin or must be terminated. See 1926.1431(k)(8)(i).

• A qualified person must also evaluate other dangerous weather or environmental conditions and stop or not begin lifts when conditions pose a hazard (1926.1431(k)(8)(ii)).
• A qualified person must determine if other indications of dangerous weather require halting the lift (1926.1431(k)(8) and related text).

Employees being hoisted must remain in direct communication with the signal person or the operator; except over water, occupants must use a personal fall arrest system attached to a structural member within the platform that meets 1926.502; and no other lifts may be made on the equipment’s other load lines while personnel are being hoisted (with an exception for pile driving). See 1926.1431(k)(9)–(11).

• Fall arrest systems and anchorages must meet 1926.502 requirements (1926.1431(k)(10)).

Hoisting employees while equipment is traveling is generally prohibited except when the equipment travels on fixed rails or the employer demonstrates there is no less hazardous way; when allowed, travel must be restricted to a fixed track/runway, the runway must be firm and level for the equipment, travel must be limited to boom length, and the boom must be parallel to travel unless otherwise safer. See 1926.1431(k)(12)(i)–(ii).

• The exception does not apply to rubber-tired equipment (1926.1431(k)(12)(i)(C)).
• A complete trial run to test the route of travel must be performed before employees occupy the platform, and this can be combined with the trial lift (1926.1431(k)(12)(ii)(E)).

No—derricks are prohibited from traveling while personnel are hoisted. See 1926.1431(k)(13).

• This requirement is absolute for derricks and must be followed even if other equipment rules permit travel in limited circumstances (1926.1431(k)(12)–(13)).

A pre-lift meeting must be held to review applicable requirements and procedures and must be attended by the equipment operator, signal person (if used), employees to be hoisted, and the person responsible for the task; it must be held prior to the trial lift at each new work location and repeated for any newly assigned employees. See 1926.1431(m)(1)–(3).

• The pre-lift meeting ensures everyone understands the plan, safety checks, communication methods, and emergency procedures before personnel are hoisted.

Hoisting personnel within 20 feet of a power line up to 350 kV and within 50 feet of a power line over 350 kV is prohibited, except for work covered by Subpart V (Power Transmission and Distribution). See 1926.1431(n).

• Employers working near power lines in transmission/distribution operations should consult Subpart V for applicable requirements and exceptions.

When hoisting employees into or out of drill shafts up to and including 8 feet in diameter, the employee must be in a personnel platform or on a boatswain’s chair; if using a personnel platform, paragraphs (a) through (n) apply; if using a boatswain’s chair, a specific set of paragraphs applies with substitutions and additional requirements such as a signal person at the shaft opening, slow controlled descent/ascent, independent personal fall protection, strength requirements for the chair, and only one person at a time. See 1926.1431(o)(1)–(3).

• Boatswain’s chair occupants must use a full body harness attached independently of the crane/derrick and the fall protection must meet 1926.502 (1926.1431(o)(3)(iv)–(v)).

For pile driving operations the employee must be in a personnel platform or boatswain’s chair, and for lattice or telescopic boom cranes the cable must be clearly marked at a point visible to the operator that allows stopping before two-blocking, or a spotter in direct communication with the operator must be used. See 1926.1431(p)(1)–(2).

• If using a personnel platform, paragraphs (b) through (n) apply; if using a boatswain’s chair, a tailored set of requirements from paragraphs (a)–(n) applies with substitutions (1926.1431(p)(3)–(4)).

Any condition found during the trial lift or subsequent inspections that violates the standard or creates a safety hazard must be corrected before hoisting personnel, and tag-out/related requirements in 1926.1417 apply. See 1926.1431(h)(6).

• Corrective actions could include repair, replacement, repeating proof tests, and ensuring competent person clearance before resuming personnel hoists.

Personnel hoisting may not begin until a competent person determines that the platform and rigging have successfully passed the proof test. See 1926.1431(j)(4).

• If deficiencies are found during proof testing, they must be corrected and the test repeated and passed under competent person inspection before personnel lifts proceed (1926.1431(j)(3)).

Hoist ropes must be free of deficiencies in accordance with 1926.1413(a) before hoisting personnel, as required by 1926.1431(h)(5)(ii)(A).

• Inspect ropes for broken wires, corrosion, deformation, birdcaging, heat damage, or other defects identified in 1926.1413(a) and remove from service as required.

Except over water, employees in a personnel platform must be provided and use a personal fall arrest system attached to a structural member within the personnel platform, and the fall arrest system and anchorages must meet the requirements of 1926.502 as required by 1926.1431(k)(10).

• Anchorages must be capable of supporting the fall arrest forces specified in 1926.502 and personal fall arrest systems must meet the configuration and inspection requirements in that section.

No—no other lifts may be made on any other of the equipment’s load lines while personnel are being hoisted, except in pile driving operations; there is a specific provision for factory-produced boom‑mounted platforms with original winches. See 1926.1431(k)(11)(i)–(ii).

• For pile driving operations different provisions apply (see 1926.1431(p)).

When employees are hoisted while equipment is traveling, the equipment travel must be restricted to a fixed track or runway; the runway must be a firm, level surface designed and designated as the path of travel for that equipment; travel must be limited to boom length; and the boom must be parallel to the direction of travel unless a safer configuration is identified. See 1926.1431(k)(12)(ii)(A)–(D).

• The employer must demonstrate that there is no less hazardous way to perform the work if claiming an exception to the general prohibition on traveling while personnel are hoisted (1926.1431(k)(12)(i)(B)).

The primary attachment must be centered over the platform before hoisting personnel. See 1926.1431(h)(5)(ii)(C).

• Proper centering helps ensure the platform is balanced and minimizes unplanned tilting or instability during lifts.

The proof test must be applied by controlled load lowering, braked, and the platform held in a suspended position for a minimum of five minutes with the test load evenly distributed on the platform. See 1926.1431(j)(1)–(2).

• After the five-minute hold a competent person must inspect the platform and rigging to determine if the test has been passed (1926.1431(j)(3)).

OSHA’s Dec. 5, 2023 Letter of Interpretation confirms that conveyances using temporary suspension or temporary guides configured like a temporary working platform meet the definition of a suspended scaffold and are therefore subject to the scaffold standard requirements, which include applicable fall protection and falling object protections—this reinforces that some hoisted personnel platforms may also be regulated as suspended scaffolds under scaffold rules. See the OSHA Letter of Interpretation (Dec. 5, 2023) at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-12-05 and consider 1926.1431 and scaffold/fall protection provisions in Subpart L and 1926.451(g)–(h) when platforms resemble suspended scaffolds.

• If a conveyance or temporary platform meets the suspended scaffold definition, employers must follow suspended scaffold fall protection and overhead protection requirements noted in the LOI and 1926.451(g)–(h).

The personal fall arrest system must be independently attached to the lower load block or overhaul ball, and the worker must wear a full‑body harness. This is required when there is no adequate structure for anchorage while hoisting an employee in a boatswain’s chair (1926.1431(s)(3)(iii) and 1926.1431(p)(4)(iii).

• Use a full‑body harness that is tied off independently of the crane or derrick (not anchored to the boatswain’s chair or crane structure).
• The fall protection equipment must meet the applicable requirements in 1926.502 (see especially 1926.502(d)(15)).
• Remember related boatswain’s chair limits: the chair (excluding the personal fall arrest system anchorages) must support its own weight plus at least five times the maximum intended load, and no more than one person may be hoisted at a time (1926.1431(p)(4)(v); 1926.1431(p)(4)(vi)).

Employers must perform a hazard assessment and select appropriate PPE consistent with OSHA guidance on PPE selection and hazard assessments; see OSHA’s interpretation on employers’ responsibility to assess hazards and certify PPE selection (PPE hazard assessment requirements).