W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-34

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 36-23-34 - Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors

34.1. Cranes and derricks.

(a) General requirements.

(1) The employer shall comply with the manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of any and all cranes and derricks.

When manufacturer's specifica­tions are not available, the limitations assigned to the equipment shall be based on the deter­minations of a qualified engineer competent in this field and such determinations will be appropriately documented and recorded. Attachments used with cranes shall not exceed the capacity, rating, or scope recommended by the manufacturer.

(2) Rated load capacities, and recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, or instruction, shall be conspicu­ously posted on all equipment. Instructions or warnings shall be visible to the operator while he is at his control station.

(3) Hand signals to crane and derrick operators shall be those prescribed by the applicable ANSI standard for the type of crane in use. An illustration of the signals shall be posted at the job site.

(4) The employer shall designate a competent person who shall inspect all ma­chinery and equipment each shift prior to each use, and during use, to make sure it is in safe operating condi­tion. Any deficiencies shall be repaired, or defective parts replaced, before continued use.

(5) A thorough, annual inspec­tion of the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person, or by a private agency recognized by the United States Department of Labor. The employer shall maintain a record of the time and dates and results of each inspection for each hoisting machine and piece of equip­ment.

(6) Wire rope shall be taken out of service when any of the following condi­tions exist:

(i) In running ropes, six (6) randomly distributed broken wires or three (3) broken wires in one (1) lay;

(ii) Wear of one-third (1/3) the original diameter of outside individual wires. Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other damage resulting in distortion of the rope structure;

(iii) Evidence of any heat damage from any cause;

(iv) Reductions from nomi­nal diameter of more than one-sixty-four­th (1/64) inch for diameters up to and including five-sixteenths (5/16) inch, one-thirty-two (1/32) inches for diameters three-eights (3/8) inch to and including one-half (1/2) inch, three-sixty-fourths (3/64) inch, for diameters nine-sixteenths (9/16) inch to and including three-fourths (3/4) inch, one-sixteenths (1/16) inch for diameters seven-eights (7/8) inch to one and one-eights (1 1/8) inches inclusive, three-thirty-two (3/32) inch for diameters one and one-quarter (1 1/4) to one and one-half (1 1/2) inches inclusive;

(v) In standing ropes, more than two (2) broken wires in one (1) lay in sections beyond end connections or more than one (1) broken wire at an end connection.

(vi) Wire rope safety factors shall be in accordance with American National Standards Institute B30.5-1968 or SAE J959-1966.

(7) Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating, or other mov­ing parts or equipment shall be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees or otherwise create a hazard. Guarding shall meet the requirements of the American Na­tional Standards Institute B15.1-1958 Rev. Safety code for Mechanical Power Transmis­sion Apparatus.

(8) Accessible areas within the swing radius of the rear of the rotating super­structure of the crane, either permanently or temporarily mounted, shall be barricaded in such a manner as to prevent an employee from being struck or crushed by the crane.

(9) All exhaust pipes shall be guarded or insulated in areas where contact by employees is possible in the performance of normal duties.

(10) Whenever internal combus­tion engine powered equipment exhausts in enclosed spaces, tests shall be made and re­corded to see that employees are not exposed to unsafe concentra­tions of toxic gases or oxygen deficient atmospheres.

(11) All windows in cabs shall be of safety glass, or equivalent, that introduces no visible distortion that will interfere with the safe operation of the machine.

(12)

(i) Where necessary for rigging or service require­ments, a ladder, or steps, shall be provided to give access to a cab roof.

(ii) Guardrails, handholds, and steps shall be provided on cranes for each access to the car and cab, conforming the ANSI B30.5.

(iii) Platforms and walkways shall have anti-skid surfaces.

(13) Fuel tank filler pipe shall be located in such a position, or protected in such a manner, as not to allow spill or overflow to run onto the engine, exhaust, or electrical equipment of any machine being fueled.

(i) An accessible fire extin­guisher of 5BC rating, or higher, shall be available at all operator stations or cabs of equipment.

(ii) All fuels shall be trans­ported, stored, and handled to meet the rules of Subpart F of this part. When fuel is trans­ported by vehicles on public highways Depart­ment of Transpor­tation rules contained in 49 CFR Parts 177 and 393 concerning such vehic­ular transportation are considered applicable.

(14) Except where electrical distribution and transmission lines have been deenergized and visibly grounded at point of work or where insulating barriers, not a part of or an attachment to the equipment or machin­ery, have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines, equipment or machines shall be operated proximate to power lines only in accordance with the following:

(i) For lines rated fifty (50)kV. or below, minimum clearance be­tween the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be ten (10) feet;

(ii) For lines rated over fifty (50)kV., minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be ten (10) feet plus four-tenths (0.4) inch for each one (1)kV. over fifty (50)kV., or twice the length of the line insulator, but never less than ten (10) feet;

(iii) In transit with no load and boom lowered, the equipment clearance shall be a minimum of four (4) feet for voltag­es, less than forty (40)kV., up to and including three hundred forty-five (345)kV. and sixteen (16) feet for voltages up to and including seven hundred fifty (750)kV;

(iv) A person shall be desig­nated to observe clearance of the equipment and give timely warning for all operations where it is difficult for the operator to main­tain the desired clearance by visual means;

(v) Cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices may be used on cranes, but the use of such devices shall not alter the requirements of any other regulation of this part even if such device is required by law or regulation.

(vi) Any overhead wire shall be considered to be an energized line unless and until the person owning such line or the electrical utility authorities indicate that it is not an energized line and it has been visibly grounded;

(vii) Prior to work near transmitter towers where an electric charge can be induced in the equipment or materials begin handled, the transmitter shall be deenergized or tests shall be made to determine if electrical charge is induced on the crane. The following precautions shall be taken when necessary to dissipate induced voltages:

(a) The equipment shall be provided with an electrical ground directly to the upper rotating structure supporting the boom;

(b) Ground jumper cables shall be attached to materials being handled by boom equipment when electrical charge is induced while working near ener­gized transmitters. Crews shall be provided with nonconductive poles having large alligator clips or other similar protection to attach the ground cable to the load; and

(c) Combustible and flammable materials shall be removed from the immediate area prior to operation.

(15) No modifications or addi­tions which affect the capacity or safe opera­tion of the equipment shall be made by the employer without the manufacturer's written approval. If such modifications or changes are made, the capacity, operation and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals, shall be changed accordingly. In no case shall the original safety factor of the equipment be reduced.

(16) The employer shall comply with Power Crane and Shovel Association Mobile Hydraulic Crane Standard No. 2.

(17) Sideboom cranes mounted on wheel or crawler tractors shall meet the re­quirements of SAE J743-1964.

(b) Crawler, locomotive and truck cranes.

(1) All jibs shall have positive stops to prevent their movement of more than five (5) degrees above the straight line of the jib and boom on conventional type crane booms. The use of cable type belly slings does not constitute compliance with this rule.

(2) All crawler, truck or locomo­tive cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, inspection, con­struction, testing, maintenance and operation as prescribed in the ANSI B30.5-1968, Safety Code for Crawler Locomotives and Truck Cranes.

(c) Hammerhead tower cranes.

(1) Adequate clearance shall be maintained between moving and rotating structures of the crane and fixed objects to allow the passage of employees without harm.

(2) Employees required to per­form duties on the horizontal boom of ham­merhead tower cranes shall be protected against falling by guardrails or by safety belts and lanyards attached to lifelines in confor­mance with this section.

(3) Buffers shall be provided at both ends of travel of the trolley.

(4) Cranes mounted on rail tracks shall be equipped with limit switches limiting the travel of the crane on the track and stops or buffers at each end of the tracks.

(5) All hammerhead tower cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, inspection and operation as prescribed by the manufacturer.

(d) Overhead and gantry cranes.

(1) The rated load of the crane shall be plainly marked on each side of the crane, and if the crane has more than one (1) hoisting unit, each hoist shall have its rated load marked on it or its load block, and this marking shall be clearly legible from the ground or floor.

(2) Bridge trucks shall be equipped with sweeps which extend below the top of the rail and project in front of the truck wheels.

(3) Except for floor-operated cranes, a gong or other effective audible warn­ing signal shall be provided for each crane equipped with a power traveling mechanism.

(4) All overhead and gantry cranes in use shall meet the applicable require­ments for design, construction, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, inspection, and operation as prescribed in the ANSI B30.2-1967, Safety Code for overhead and gantry cranes.

(e) Derricks. All derricks in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operations as prescribed in ANSI B30.6-1969, Safety Code for derricks.

34.2. Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators.

(a) General requirements.

(1) The employer shall comply with the manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of all hoists and elevators. Where manufacturer's specifications are not available, the limitations assigned to the equipment shall be based on the determinations of a professional engineer competent in the field.

(2) Rated load capacities, recom­mended operating speeds, and special hazard warnings or instructions shall be posted on cars and platforms.

(3) Wire rope shall be removed from service when any of the following condi­tions exists:

(i) In hoisting ropes, six (6) randomly broken wires in one (1) rope lay or three (3) broken wires in one (1) strand in one (1) rope lay;

(ii) Abrasion, scrubbing, flattening, or peening, causing loss of more than one-third (1/3) on the original diameter of the outside wires;

(iii) Evidence of any heat damage resulting from a torch or any damage caused by contact with electrical wires;

(iv) Reduction from nomi­nal diameter of more than three-sixty-­fourths (3/64) inch for diameters up to and including three-fourths (3/4) inch; one-­sixteenth (1/16) inch for diameters seven-­eights (7/8) to one and one-eights (1 1/8) inches; and three-thirty-se­conds (3/32) inch for diameters one and one-quarter (1 1/4) to one and one-half (1 1/2).

(4) Hoisting ropes shall be in­stalled in accordance with the wire rope manu­facturer's recommendations.

(5) The installation of live booms on hoists is prohibit­ed.

(6) The use of endless belt-type man-lifts on construction shall be prohibited.

(b) Material hoists.

(1)

(i) Operating rules shall be established and posted at the operator's station of the hoist. Such rules shall include signal system and allowable line speed for various loads. rules and notices shall be posted on a car frame or crosshead in a conspicuous loca­tion, including the statement "No riders Al­lowed."

(ii) No person shall be al­lowed to ride on material hoists except for the purposes of inspection and maintenance.

(2) All entrances of the hoistways shall be protected by substantial gates or bars which shall guard the full width of the landing entrance. All hoistway entrance bars and gates shall be painted with diagonal contrasting colors, such as black and yellow stripes.

(i) Bars shall be not less than two (2) inch x four (4) inch wooden bars or the equivalent, located two (2) feet from the hoistway line. Bars shall be located not less than thirty-six (36) inches nor more than forty-two (42) inches above the floor.

(ii) Gates or bars protecting the entrances to hoistways shall be equipped with a latching device.

(3) Overhead protective covering of two (2) inch planking. Three-quarter (3/4) inch plywood or other solid material of equiv­alent strength, shall be provided on the top of every material hoist cage or platform.

(4) The operator's station of a hoisting machine shall be provided with over­head protection equivalent to tight planking not less than two (2) inches thick. The support for the overhead protection shall be of equal strength.

(5) Hoist towers may be used with or without an enclosure on all sides. However, whichever alternative is chosen, the following applicable conditions shall be met:

(i) When a hoist tower is enclosed, it shall be enclosed on all sides for its entire height with a screen enclosure of one­half (1/2) inch mesh, No. 18 United States gauge wire or equivalent, except for landing access.

(ii) When a hoist tower is not enclosed, the hoist platform or car shall be totally enclosed (caged) on all sides for the full height between the floor and the overhead protective covering with one-half (1/2) inch mesh, No. 14 United States gauge wire or equivalent. The hoist platform enclosure shall include the required gates for loading and unloading. A six (6) foot high enclosure shall be provided on the unused sides of the hoist tower at ground level.

(6) Car arresting devices shall be installed to function in case of rope failure.

(7) All material hoist towers shall be designed by a licensed professional engi­neer.

(8) All material hoists shall conform to the requirements of ANSI A10.5-1969, Safety Requirements for material hoists.

(c) Personnel hoists.

(1) Hoist towers outside the structure shall be enclosed for the full height of the side or sides used for entrance and exit to the structure. At the lowest landing, the enclosure on the sides not used for exit or entrance to the structure shall be enclosed to a height of at least ten (10) feet. Other sides of the tower adjacent to floors or scaffold plat­forms shall be enclosed to a height of ten (10) feet above the level of such floors or scaffolds.

(2) Towers inside of structures shall be enclosed on all four (4) sides through­out the full height.

(3) Towers shall be anchored to the structure at intervals not exceeding twenty-five (25) feet. In addition to tie-ins, a series of guys shall be installed. Where tie-ins are not practical the tower shall be anchored by means of guys made of wire rope at least one-half (1/2) inch in diameter, securely fastened to anchorage to ensure stability.

(4) Hoistway doors or gates shall be not less than six (6) foot six (6) inches high and shall be provided with mechanical locks which cannot be operated from the landing side, and shall be accessible only to persons on the car.

(5) Cars shall be permanently enclosed on all sides and the top, except sides used for entrance and exit which have car gates or doors.

(6) A door or gate shall be pro­vided at each entrance to the car which shall protect the full width and height of the car entrance opening.

(7) Overhead protective covering of two (2) inch planking. Three-quarter (3/4) inch plywood or other solid material or equiv­alent strength shall be provided on the top of every personnel hoist.

(8) Doors or gates shall be pro­vided with electric contacts which do not allow movement of the hoist when door or gate is open.

(9) Safeties shall be capable of stopping and holding the car and rated load when traveling at governor tripping speed.

(10) Cars shall be provided with a capacity and data plate secured in a conspic­uous place on the car or crosshead.

(11) Internal combustion engines shall not be permitted for direct drive.

(12) Normal and final terminal stopping devices shall be provided.

(13) An emergency stop switch shall be provided in the car and marked "Stop".

(14) Ropes.

(i) The minimum number of hoisting ropes shall be three (3) for traction hoists and two (2) for drum-type hoists.

(ii) The minimum diameter of hoisting and counterweight wire ropes shall be one-half (1/2) inch.

(iii) Safety factors: (See Table 46).

(15) Following assembly and erection of hoists and before being put in service, an inspection and tests of all functions and safety devices shall be made under the supervision of a competent person. A similar inspection and test is required following major alteration of an existing installation. All hoists shall be inspected and tested at not more than three (3) month intervals. Records shall be maintained and kept on file for the duration of the job.

(16) All personnel hoists used by employees shall be constructed of materials and components which meet the specifica­tions for materials, construction, safety devices, assembly, and structural integrity as stated in the ANSI A10.4-1963; Safety Requirements for Workmen's Hoists. The requirements of this subparagraph (16) do not apply to cantile­ver type personnel hoists.

(17)

(i) Personnel hoists used in bridge tower construction shall be approved by a registered professional engineer and erected under the supervision of a qualified engineer competent in this field.

(ii) When a hoist tower is not enclosed, the hoist platform or car shall be totally enclosed (caged) on all sides for the full height between the floor and the overhead protective covering with three-quarter (3/4) inch mesh of No. 14 United States gauge wire or equivalent. The hoist platform enclosure shall include the required gates for loading and unloading.

(iii) These hoists shall be inspected and maintained on a weekly basis. Whenever the hoisting equipment is exposed to winds exceeding thirty-five (35) miles per hour it shall be inspected and put in operable condition before reuse.

(iv) Wire rope shall be taken out of service when any of the following conditions exist:

(a) In running ropes, six (6) randomly distributed broken wires in one (1) lay or three (3) broken wires in one (1) strand in one (1) lay;

(b) Wear of one-third (1/3) the original diameter of outside individ­ual wires. Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other damage resulting in distortion of the rope structure;

(c) Evidence of any heat damage from any cause;

(d) Reductions from nominal diameter of more than three-sixty­fourths (3/64) inch for diameters to and in­cluding three-quarter (3/4) inch, one and one-sixteenth (1 1/16) inch for diameters seven-eights (7/8) inch to one and one-eights (1 1/8) inch inclusive, three-thirty-seconds (3/32) inch for diameters one and one-quarter (1 1/4) to one and one-half (1 1/2) inch inclu­sive;

(e) In standing ropes, more than two (2) broken wires in one (1) lay in sections beyond end connections or more than one (1) broken wire at end connection.

(f) Permanent elevators under the care of the employer and used by employees for work covered by this regulation, shall comply with the requirements of ANSI A17.1-1965 with addenda A17.1a-1967,A17.1b-1968, A16.1c-1969, A16.1d-1976, and inspected in accordance with A16.2-1960 with addenda A16.2a-1965, A17.2b-1967.

34.3. Base-mounted drum hoists.

(a) General requirements.

(1) Exposed moving parts such as gears, projecting screws, setscrews, chain, cables, chain sprockets, and reciprocating or rotating parts, which constitute a hazard, shall be guarded.

(2) All controls used during the normal operation cycle shall be located within easy reach of the operator's station.

(3) Electric motor operated hoists shall be provided with:

(i) A device to disconnect all motors from the line upon power failure and not permit any motor to be restarted until the controller handle is brought to the "Off" posi­tion;

(ii) Where applicable, an overspeed preventive device;

(iii) A means whereby remotely operated hoists stop when any control is ineffective.

(4) All base-mounted drum hoists in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, inspection, maintenance and operations, as prescribed by the manufacturer.

34.4. Overhead hoists.

(1) The safe working load of the overhead hoist, as determined by the manufac­ture, shall be indicated on the hoist, and this safe working load shall not be exceeded.

(2) The supporting structure to which the hoist is attached shall have a safe working load equal to that of the hoist.

(3) The support shall be arranged so as to provide for free movement of the hoist and shall not restrict the hoist from lining itself up with the load.

(4) The hoist shall be installed only in locations that will permit the operator to stand clear of the load at all times.

(5) Air hoists shall be connected to an air supply of sufficient capacity and pressure to safely operate the hoist. All air hoses supplying air shall be positively connect­ed to prevent their becoming disconnected during use.

(6) All overhead hoists in use shall meet the applicable requirements for construction, design, installation, testing, inspection, maintenance and operation, as prescribed by the manufactur­er.

34.5. Conveyors.

(a) General requirements.

(1) Means for stopping the motor or engine shall be provided at the operator's station. Conveyor systems shall be equipped with an audible warning signal to be sounded immediately before starting up the conveyor.

(2) If the operator's station is at a remote point, similar provisions for stopping the motor or engine shall be provided at the motor or engine location.

(3) Emergency stop switches shall be arranged so that the conveyor cannot be started again until the actuating stop switch has been reset to running or "On" position.

(4) Screw conveyors shall be guarded to prevent employee contact with turning flights.

(5) Where a conveyor passes over work areas, aisles, or thoroughfares, suitable guards shall be provided to protect employees required to work below the conveyors.

(6) All crossovers, aisles and passageways shall be conspicuously marked by suitable signs, as required in these rules and regulations.

(7) Conveyors shall be locked out or otherwise rendered inoperable and tagged out with a "Do Not Operate" tag during repairs and when operation is hazardous to employees performing maintenance work.

(8) All conveyors in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, inspection, testing, maintenance and operation, as prescribed in the ANSI B20.1-1957, Safety Code for conveyors, cable­ways and related equipment.

34.6. Aerial lifts.

(a) General requirements.

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, aerial lifts acquired for use on or after the effective date of this section shall be designed and constructed in conformance with the applicable requirements of the American National Standard for vehicle mounted elevat­ing and rotating work platforms; ANSI A92.2-1969, including appendix. Aerial lifts acquired before the effective date of this section, which do not meet the requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969, may not be used after January 1, 1976, unless they shall have been modified so as to conform with the applicable design and construction requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969. Aerial lifts include the following types of vehicle-mounted aerial devices used to elevate personnel to job sites above the ground:

(i) Extensible boom plat­form;

(ii) Aerial ladders;

(iii) Articulating boom platforms;

(iv) Vertical towers; and

(v) A combination of any of the above.

Aerial equipment may be made of metal, wood, fiberglass reinforced plastic, or other material; may be powered or manually operated; and are deemed to be aerial lifts whether or not they are capa­ble of rotating about a substantially vertical axis.

(2) Aerial lifts may be "Field Modified" for uses other than those intended by the manufacturer provided the modification has been certified in writing by the manufac­turer or by any other equivalent entity, such as a nationally recognized testing laboratory to be in conformity with all applicable provisions of ANSI A92.2-1969 and this section, and to be at least as safe as the equipment was before modifications.

(b) Specific requirements.

(1) Ladder trucks and tower trucks. Aerial ladders shall be secured in the lower traveling position by the locking device on top of the truck cab, and the manually operated device at the base of the ladder before the truck is moved for highway travel.

(2) Extensible and articulating boom platforms.

(i) Lift controls shall be tested each day prior to use to determine that such controls are in safe working condition;

(ii) Only authorized persons shall operate an aerial lift;

(iii) Belting off to an adja­cent pole, structure, or equipment while work­ing from an aerial lift shall not be permitted;

(iv) Employees shall always stand firmly on the floor of the basket, and shall not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices for a work position;

(v) A body belt shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from aerial lift;

(vi) Boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded;

(vii) The brakes shall be set and when outriggers are used, they shall be positioned on pads or a solid surface. Wheel chocks shall be installed before using an aerial lift on an incline, provided they can be safely installed;

(viii) An aerial lift truck shall not be moved when the boom is elevated in a working position with men in the basket, except for equipment which is specifically designed for this type of operation in accor­dance with the provisions of subparagraphs (1) and (2) of paragraph (a) of this subsection;

(ix) Articulating boom and extensible boom platforms, primarily designed as personnel carriers, shall have both platform (upper) and lower controls. Upper controls shall be in or beside the platforms within easy reach of the operator. Lower controls shall provide for overriding the upper controls. Controls shall be plainly marked as to their function. Lower level controls shall not be operated unless permission has been obtained from the employee in the lift, except in case of emergency;

(x) Climbers shall not be worn while performing work from an aerial lift;

(xi) The insulated portion of an aerial lift shall not be altered in any manner that might reduce its insulating value; and

(xii) Before moving an aerial lift for travel, the boom(s) shall be inspected to see that it is properly cradled and outriggers are in stowed position except as provided in subdivision (viii) of this subparagraph.

(3) Electrical tests. All electrical tests shall conform to the requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969, Section 5. However, equiv­alent D.C. voltage tests may be used in lieu of the A.C. voltage specified in A92.2-1969, D.C. voltage tests which are approved by the equipment manufacturer or equivalent entity shall be considered an equivalent test for the purpose of this subparagraph.

(4) Bursting safety factor. The provisions of the American National Standards Institute, Standard ANSI A92.2-1969, Section 4.9, Bursting Safety Factor shall apply to all critical hydraulic and pneumatic components are those in which a failure would result in a free fall or free rotation of the boom. All noncritical components shall have a bursting safety factor of at least two (2) to one (1).

(5) Welding standards. All weld­ing shall conform to the following standards as applicable:

(i) Standard qualification procedure, AWS B3.0-41;

(ii) Recommended practices for automotive welding design, AWS D8.4-61;

(iii) Standard qualifications of welding procedures and welders for piping and tubing, AWS D10.9-69; and

(iv) Specifications for weld­ing highway and railway bridges, AWS D2.0-69.

W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-34