Cranes and Derricks
A crane is a mechanical device intended for lifting or lowering a load and moving it horizontally, in which the hoisting mechanism is an integral part of the machine. Cranes can be fixed or mobile and are driven manually or by power.
A derrick is an apparatus consisting of a mast or equivalent member held at the head by guys (ropes) or braces, with or without a boom, for use with a hoisting mechanism and operating ropes.
Cranes and Derricks
What are the hazards associated with cranes and derricks?
Employees within the swing radius of a crane can be struck by a part of the crane or by the load and suffer serious bodily injury or death. Employees within the hazard area where loads are raised and lowered could be seriously injured or killed by crushing if the load becomes unstable or is not properly secured and falls.
What can I do to protect myself?
Unless authorized to be working in or moving through a crane work area, employees should remain clear of the area. Never walk under a suspended load.
What resources are available to assist employers?
Safety and Health Programs
Example cranes and derricks - mobile auxiliary crane plan and procedures and cranes and derricks - multiple crane and derrick operational plan and procedures are available for employer use. In addition, crane inspection checklists are also available for employers to customize to suit the equipment that will be used and conditions in which work will be done. This includes forms for crawler locomotive and truck crane, luffing tower crane - preshift, mobile crane - monthly, and tower crane - preshift. Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.
Training and Outreach Services
The presentations on cranes and derricks and struck by/caught between can be downloaded and customized to meet your training needs. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time.
In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request.
The NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including a streaming video service) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).
Safety and Health Topics
The safety and health topic pages have additional related resource information on electrical safety, aerial lifts, materials handling and storage and overhead and gantry cranes.
Consultation Services
The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.
Which standards apply?
OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to cranes and derricks in North Carolina. Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.
General Industry
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29 CFR 1910.179 - overhead and gantry cranes
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29 CFR 1910.180 - crawler locomotive and truck cranes
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29 CFR 1910.181 - derricks
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29 CFR 1910.184 - slings
Maritime, Marine Terminals
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29 CFR 1917.45 - cranes and derricks
Construction
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29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC - cranes and derricks in construction
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29 CFR 1926.1427 - operator training, certification, and evaluation
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Other standards closely related to cranes and derricks include:
General Industry
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29 CFR 1910 Subpart S - electrical
Maritime, Marine Terminals
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29 CFR 1917.71 - specialized terminals
Construction
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29 CFR 1926 Subpart K - electrical
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29 CFR 1926 Subpart N - helicopters, hoists, elevators, and conveyors
Other Applicable Standards
The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.
Where can I learn more?
Industry Guides
- Industry Guide 48 - OSHA Construction Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training provides requirements for standards related to cranes and derricks along with other construction standards.
- Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training provides requirements for standards related to cranes and derricks along with other general industry standards.
- Industry Guide 54 - OSHA Marine Terminal Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards related to cranes and derricks at marine terminals.
Fact Sheets
- NCDOL Investigates Crane Accidents describes the investigation process when a work-related accident involves a crane or derrick.
- NCDOL Investigates Communication Towers describes the investigation process when a work-related accident involves a tower crane.
Compliance Documents
- Memorandum: MRH 01 - Monorail Hoists Enforcement Policies, memo provides monorail enforcement discretion in construction applications.
- Standards Notice: SN 44 - Upper and Lower Controls on Vehicle-mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms discusses the circumstances under which upper and lower controls are required for multipurpose equipment, such as digger derricks, aerial devices and other combination devices.
- Compliance Directive: CPL 02-01-057, Compliance Directive for the Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard, establishes enforcement policy and provides an explanation of the standard to ensure uniform enforcement.
- Compliance Directive: CPL 02-00-124 - Multi-Employer Citation Policy provides guidance to Compliance Officers regarding the issuance of citations for employers who exercise control in creating, controlling, exposing and correcting hazards for their employees and those of other employers on site.
Technical Assistance
Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH through the online form, by email to ask.osh@labor.nc.gov, or by phone at 919-707-7876.