This section applies to all cranes covered under the scope of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, Cranes, rigging, and personnel lifting.

(1) Fall protection systems:

(a) Personal fall arrest systems must conform to the criteria in WAC 296-880-40020.

(b) Personal fall restraint systems must conform to the criteria in WAC 296-880-40025.

(2) For nonassembly/disassembly work on cranes/derricks except tower cranes, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees six feet or more above a lower level as follows:

(a) When moving point-to-point:

(i) On nonlattice booms (whether horizontal or not horizontal);

(ii) On lattice booms that are not horizontal;

(iii) On horizontal lattice booms where the fall distance is ten feet or more above a lower level.

(b) While at a work station on any part of the crane (including the boom, of any type).

Note:

If the equipment is running and the employee is at or near the draw-works, precautions should be taken to ensure the fall protection gear will not become entangled.

(3) For assembly/disassembly work on cranes/derricks except tower cranes, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees ten feet or more above a lower level.

Note:

If the equipment is running and the employee is at or near the draw-works, precautions should be taken to ensure the fall protection gear will not become entangled.

(4) Tower cranes.

(a) For work other than erecting, climbing, and dismantling, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees six feet or more above a lower level.

Note:

If the equipment is running and the employee is at or near the draw-works, precautions should be taken to ensure the fall protection gear will not become entangled.

(b) For erecting, climbing, and dismantling work, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees ten feet or more above a lower level.

(5) Anchorage criteria applicable to all cranes.

(a) Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least five thousand pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or must be designed, installed, and used as follows:

(i) As part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and

(ii) Under the supervision of a qualified person.

(b) Positioning devices must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an employee's fall or three thousand pounds (13.3 kN), whichever is greater.

(i) Personal fall arrest systems may be anchored to any apparently substantial part of the equipment unless a competent person, from a visual inspection, without an engineering analysis, would conclude that the criteria in (a) of this subsection would not be met.

(ii) Positioning device systems may be anchored to any apparently substantial part of the crane unless a competent person, from a visual inspection, without an engineering analysis, would conclude that the criteria in (b) of this subsection would not be met.

(iii) Attachable anchor devices (portable anchor devices that are attached to the crane) must meet the anchorage criteria in (a) of this subsection for personal fall arrest systems and (b) of this subsection for positioning device systems.

(d) Anchorages for fall restraint systems. Fall restraint systems may be anchored to any part of the crane that is capable of withstanding twice the maximum load that an employee may impose on it during reasonably anticipated conditions of use.

(e) Anchoring to the load line. A personal fall arrest system is permitted to be anchored to the crane/derrick's hook (or other part of the load line) where all of the following requirements are met:

(i) A qualified person has determined that the set-up and rated capacity of the crane/derrick (including the hook, load line, and rigging) meets or exceeds the requirements in (a) of this subsection;

(ii) The crane operator must be at the worksite and informed that the crane is being used for this purpose; and

(iii) No load is suspended from the load line when the personal fall arrest system is anchored to the crane/derrick's hook (or other part of the load line).

(6) Training. The employer must train each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards while on, or hoisted by, cranes/derricks covered by this section in accordance with WAC 296-880-10015.

Additional requirements for cranes can be found in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, Cranes, rigging and personnel lifting.

PDFWAC 296-880-30035

Cranes.