Crane Operator Regulation Exclusions

OSHA’s crane and derrick standards apply to power-operated equipment used in construction work designed to hoist, pull, lower, and horizontally move a suspended load.

1926.1400(a) “This standard applies to power-operated equipment, when used in construction, that can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load. Such equipment includes, but is not limited to: Articulating cranes (such as knuckle-boom cranes); crawler cranes; floating cranes; cranes on barges; locomotive cranes; mobile cranes (such as wheel-mounted, rough-terrain, all-terrain, commercial truck-mounted, and boom truck cranes); multi-purpose machines when configured to hoist and lower (by means of a winch or hook) and horizontally move a suspended load; industrial cranes (such as carry-deck cranes); dedicated pile drivers; service/mechanic trucks with a hoisting device; a crane on a monorail; tower cranes (such as a fixed jib, i.e., “hammerhead boom”), luffing boom and self-erecting); pedestal cranes; portal cranes; overhead and gantry cranes; straddle cranes; sideboom cranes; derricks; and variations of such equipment. However, items listed in paragraph (c) of this section are excluded from the scope of this standard.”

OSHA – Regulations (Standards – 29 CFR) – 1926 Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction 1926.1400 – Scope

The following will focus exclusively on the exclusions listed by OSHA in 1926.1400(c).

Exclusion 17(i), (ii), (iii). Material delivery for Articulating/knuckle-boom truck cranes.

“It is common for material to be delivered to and unloaded on a construction site using a truck on which is mounted an articulating/knuckle-boom crane. Such equipment is covered by the standard when used in construction work.

When such equipment delivers materials by placing them on the ground without arranging them in a particular sequence for hoisting, the activity is not considered construction work and is not covered under the standard. This exclusion applies regardless of the type of material being delivered.

However, when the delivery equipment is used to transfer the materials onto a structure, the activity is considered construction work. Nevertheless, the activity is excluded from the standard if all of the following conditions are met:”

• The materials are sheet goods (such as sheet rock, plywood, or sheets of roofing shingles) or packaged goods (such as roofing shingles, bags of cement, or rolls of roofing felt).
• The equipment uses a fork/cradle at the end of the boom to deliver the materials.
• The equipment is not used to hold, support, or stabilize the material to facilitate a construction activity, such as holding material in place while it is attached to the structure.
• The equipment is equipped with a properly functioning automatic overload prevention device.

This exception, as noted, is limited to delivery of sheet goods and packaged goods. It does not apply to delivery of prefabricated components or building sections, such as roof trusses and wall panels. It also does not apply to delivery of structural steel members or components of a systems-engineered metal building.

References:

• OSHA – Regulations (Standards – 29 CFR) – 1926 Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction 1926.1400 – Scope
• OSHA – Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Final Rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction (p. 15-17)
• Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation – Cranes and Derricks Cranes and Derricks in Construction – Workplace Program