Construction equipment safety requirements

Equipment left unattended at night, adjacent to a highway in normal use, or next to active construction areas must be marked with appropriate lights or reflectors, or have barricades equipped with lights or reflectors to identify its location.

• This requirement is found in 1926.600(a)(1).
• Use enough lighting/reflective material so drivers and workers can clearly see the equipment from the direction of travel and from the work zone.
• Consider portable battery or solar-powered lights and highly visible reflectors when power is not available.

A safety tire rack, cage, or equivalent protection must be provided and used when inflating, mounting, or dismounting tires on split rims or rims with locking rings or similar devices to protect workers from rim explosions.

• This is required by 1926.600(a)(2).
• Use a purpose-built inflation cage or similar device and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe inflation pressure and inflation procedures.
• Never stand directly over a tire/rim assembly while inflating; use remote inflation devices or extensions where practical.

Heavy machinery or parts suspended by slings, hoists, or jacks must be substantially blocked or cribbed to prevent falling or shifting before employees work under or between them.

• See 1926.600(a)(3)(i).
• "Substantially blocked or cribbed" means using stable, load-rated blocking/cribbing that prevents movement and supports the load fully; jacks or hoists alone are not acceptable for supporting a load while people work beneath.
• Inspect blocking for defects and place it on firm footing; use multiple layers (cribs) as needed to distribute load safely.

Bulldozer and scraper blades, end-loader buckets, dump bodies, and similar equipment must be fully lowered or blocked when being repaired or when not in use.

• The rule is in 1926.600(a)(3)(ii).
• All controls should be in neutral, motors stopped, and brakes set unless the work requires otherwise.
• If parked on an incline, follow the wheel-chocking and parking brake rules described in 1926.600(a)(3)(ii).

When equipment is parked on inclines, the parking brake must be set and the wheels must be chocked.

• This is required by 1926.600(a)(3)(ii).
• Use chocks sized for the wheel diameter and rated for the expected load; place chocks on the downhill side(s) of the wheels.
• In addition, place controls in neutral and set brakes as described in the same subsection to prevent unintended movement.

The use, care, and charging of all batteries must conform to the requirements of Subpart K of part 1926.

• See 1926.600(a)(4) and the broader construction standards at 1926 Subpart K.

Practical steps:

• Charge batteries in well-ventilated areas, follow manufacturer instructions, and keep ignition sources away from hydrogen gas that may be emitted.
• Use appropriate PPE when handling batteries (eye protection, gloves) and have spill cleanup materials and first-aid measures available.
• Ensure charging stations are on stable surfaces and that electrical connections are safe and protected.

All cab glass on machines covered by this subpart must be safety glass or equivalent that introduces no visible distortion affecting safe operation.

• This requirement appears in 1926.600(a)(5).
• "Equivalent" means glazing material that provides impact protection and optical clarity comparable to safety glass; do not use cracked, pitted, or distorted glass that could impair an operator's view.
• Inspect cab glass regularly and replace any damaged glazing with approved safety materials per manufacturer guidance.

For lines rated 50 kV or below, a minimum clearance of 10 feet must be maintained; for lines over 50 kV, the minimum clearance is 10 feet plus 0.4 inch for each 1 kV over 50 kV, or twice the length of the line insulator, but never less than 10 feet.

• See the clearance rules in 1926.600(a)(6)(i) and 1926.600(a)(6)(ii).
• Example: For a 100 kV line, the minimum clearance is 10 ft + (0.4 in × 50 kV) = 10 ft + 20 in (i.e., 11 ft 8 in), unless twice the insulator length gives a larger clearance.
• Always verify voltage and insulator length with the utility when planning work near overhead lines.

When equipment is in transit with no load and the boom lowered, the minimum clearance must be 4 feet for voltages less than 50 kV; 10 feet for voltages over 50 kV up to and including 345 kV; and 16 feet for voltages up to and including 750 kV.

• The transit clearances are specified in 1926.600(a)(6)(iii).
• Even when moving without a load, operators must be aware of these limits and plan routes to avoid violating them.
• When in doubt, stop and consult a designated observer or the utility to confirm safe clearance.

A person must be designated to observe clearance and give timely warnings for all operations where it is difficult for the operator to maintain the desired clearance by visual means.

• This requirement is in 1926.600(a)(6)(iv).
• The observer should have an unobstructed view of the clearance, be empowered to stop or direct operations, and use clear signals or radio communication to warn the operator when clearance distances are approaching unsafe limits.
• Observers should be trained on required clearances and on the specific signals or communication methods to be used.

Cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices may be used on cranes, but their use does not change or reduce the clearance requirements of the regulation.

• The allowance and limitation appear in 1926.600(a)(6)(v).
• These devices can add protection or warning, but employers and operators must still maintain the clearances specified in the standard.
• Do not rely solely on these devices to substitute for required distances; treat them as supplemental safety measures.

Any overhead wire must be considered energized unless and until the owner of the line or the electrical utility authorities indicate it is not energized and it has been visibly grounded.

• This presumption is stated in 1926.600(a)(6)(vi).
• Before assuming a line is deenergized, obtain written or verbal confirmation from the utility and verify that the line has been visibly grounded at the work point.
• Treat all lines as hazardous until positive confirmation and grounding are completed.

Before work near transmitter towers where electrical charge can be induced in equipment or materials, the transmitter must be de-energized or tests must be made to determine if an electrical charge is induced on the crane.

• See 1926.600(a)(6)(vii).
• If tests indicate induced charge, take the prescribed precautions to dissipate the charge, such as grounding the equipment and using ground jumper cables as described in 1926.600(a)(6)(vii)(A)–(B).
• Always coordinate with the transmitter owner/operator and follow established testing and grounding procedures.

To dissipate induced voltages, the equipment must be provided with an electrical ground to the upper rotating structure, ground jumper cables must be attached to materials being handled when charge is induced, crews must be provided nonconductive poles with large clips to attach ground cables, and combustible/flammable materials must be removed from the immediate area prior to operations.

• The specific measures are in 1926.600(a)(6)(vii)(A), 1926.600(a)(6)(vii)(B), and 1926.600(a)(6)(vii)(C).
• Use dedicated grounding points on the crane’s rotating structure; ensure jumper cables are heavy-duty and rated for the application; use nonconductive poles so workers don’t have to directly handle charged connections.
• Remove fuel and other combustibles nearby to prevent ignition from arcing and follow utility/transmitter owner guidance.

Derail and/or bumper blocks must be provided on spur railroad tracks where a rolling car could contact other cars being worked, enter a building, or enter a work or traffic area.

• This requirement is specified in 1926.600(a)(7).
• Place derails or bumper blocks at appropriate locations and ensure they are properly installed and maintained to stop unintended rolling cars.
• Use additional controls such as wheel chocks and clear procedures for coupling/uncoupling to reduce risk.

When a regulatory section like 1926.600(b) is labeled "Reserved," it means the Agency did not include specific additional requirements in that subsection at this time, and no enforceable rules are contained there.

• "Reserved" sections are placeholders for possible future regulatory text and do not impose obligations by themselves.
• Employers must still follow the existing active requirements in other subsections of 1926.600 and related standards.

Employers must use substantial blocking or cribbing that prevents falling or shifting and fully supports the suspended machinery before allowing employees to work under or between it.

• The requirement is in 1926.600(a)(3).
• Acceptable blocking is load-rated, stable, and sized so it bears the load across a firm, level surface; use multiple-tier cribbing or engineered support when necessary.
• Inspect blocking for integrity and never rely solely on slings, hoists, or jacks as the only support while workers are under the equipment.

For lines over 50 kV, calculate minimum clearance as 10 feet plus 0.4 inch for each 1 kV over 50 kV, or use twice the length of the line insulator if that is greater; in all cases the clearance must never be less than 10 feet.

• The calculation and options are described in 1926.600(a)(6)(ii).
• Example: For a 345 kV line, the basic formula yields 10 ft + (0.4 in × 295 kV) = 10 ft + 118 in (9 ft 10 in), so check whether twice the insulator length requires a larger clearance; nevertheless, always default to the larger of the formula or insulator-based clearance.
• When in doubt, consult the utility or a qualified electrical engineer to confirm the required clearance.

If PPE will be required to protect workers during battery charging or servicing, the employer must perform a workplace hazard assessment and provide a written certification of that assessment.

• 1926.600(a)(4) requires battery charging to conform to Subpart K; employers must also follow PPE rules in the General Industry construction guidance when PPE is needed. OSHA's interpretation on hazard assessments clarifies that employers must assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present and must provide a written certification if PPE will be required, as explained in the PPE hazard assessment letter of interpretation (PPE hazard assessment requirements, 2024-03-28).
• Practical steps: evaluate battery charging for chemical, electrical, and ignition hazards; select appropriate eye/face protection, gloves, and insulating equipment; document the assessment and keep the written certification on file.

If equipment repair will disturb asbestos-containing material covered by the Asbestos in Construction standard, employers must follow 29 CFR 1926.1101 respirator requirements for Class I asbestos work, which may mandate full facepiece supplied-air respirators with pressure-demand mode and SCBA backup when exposures exceed 1 f/cc.

• OSHA's respirator selection interpretation for Class I asbestos work explains these requirements in detail (Respirator selection for asbestos work, 2024-01-04).
• If an initial exposure assessment shows exposures exceed 1 f/cc as an 8-hour TWA, provide full facepiece SARs in pressure-demand mode with auxiliary positive-pressure SCBA; if exposures are at or below 1 f/cc, PAPRs or SARs may be allowed unless a negative exposure assessment supports using other respirators.
• Coordinate asbestos work with a qualified industrial hygienist, perform monitoring, and follow 29 CFR 1926.1101 requirements for testing and respiratory protection.

Employers should prioritize engineering and administrative controls over PPE, but when PPE is necessary they must assess the workplace and select appropriate PPE with written certification if PPE will be required.

• The equipment rules in 1926.600 set equipment-specific measures, while OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation explains that employers must assess hazards before selecting PPE and produce a written certification when PPE is required (PPE hazard assessment requirements, 2024-03-28).
• Follow the hierarchy of controls: eliminate the hazard, substitute, use engineering controls, then administrative controls, and finally PPE as last line of defense.
• Document hazard assessments, train employees on chosen PPE, and re-evaluate controls when conditions change.

Before performing lifting operations near overhead power lines or transmitter towers, you should contact the line or transmitter owner/utility to confirm deenergization/grounding, and designate trained observers and qualified personnel to perform tests and grounding as required.

• These coordination and verification steps are implied by 1926.600(a)(6) and the transmitter-specific requirements in 1926.600(a)(6)(vii).
• Confirm with the utility whether lines can be deenergized and visibly grounded; if not, follow minimum clearance rules and use a designated observer as required by the standard.
• When working near transmitters, require testing for induced charge and apply grounding and jumper-cable procedures if induced voltages are present.