Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025
(a)
Stability and strength. Mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks used in
construction, demolition and excavation operations shall be so constructed,
placed and operated as to be stable. No component or part of any such crane or
derrick shall be stressed beyond its rated capacity as determined by the
manufacturer or builder.
(b)
Inspection.
(1) Every mobile crane, tower
crane and derrick shall be thoroughly inspected by a competent, designated
employee or authorized agent of the owner or lessee of such mobile crane, tower
crane or derrick at intervals not exceeding one month. Such inspections shall
include but not be limited to all blocks, shackles, sheaves, wire rope,
connectors, the various devices on the mast or boom, hooks, controls and
braking mechanisms.
(2) A written,
dated and signed record of each such inspection shall be completed by the
competent, designated employee or authorized agent who made the inspection on
an inspection form provided by the commissioner. The most recent record of
inspection of a moble crane, tower crane or derrick shall be posted inside the
cab of such crane or derrick under a transparent protective covering or shall
be filed in an office on the job site available for examination by the
commissioner. Attached to such record of inspection shall be a written
designation naming the competent employee or authorized agent. Such attached
designation shall be signed by the owner or lessee of such mobile crane, tower
crane or derrick.
(3) Every mobile
crane, tower crane and derrick shall be inspected before being erected or
operated for the first time on any job.
(4) Adjustments and repairs to mobile cranes,
tower cranes and derricks shall be made only by competent, designated
persons.
(5) A preventive
maintenance program shall be established for each mobile crane, tower crane and
derrick based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Dated and detailed records
of such programs shall be available on the job site for examination by the
commissioner.
(c)
Footings. A firm footing shall be provided for every mobile crane, tower crane
and derrick.
(d) Hoisting mechanism
brakes and locking devices.
(1) Every
power-operated mobile crane, tower crane and derrick shall be provided with
hoisting mechanism brakes capable of sustaining at rest one and one-half times
the maximum rated load on a single part line. Hand or foot operated brakes
shall be provided with a substantial locking device to lock any such brake in
engagement. Pedals of foot-operated brakes shall be constructed so that the
operators' feet cannot easily slip off. Nonslip pedal surfaces are acceptable
for this purpose.
(2)
Power-controlled lowering devices, when provided, shall be capable of handling
rated loads and speeds in order to provide precision lowering and reduce
demands on the brake loads.
Exception:This paragraph does not apply to any mobile
crane provided with a clamshell or dragline used in excavation
operations.
(3)
Electrically-driven mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks shall be provided
with devices which will automatically hold the loads in cases of power
failure.
(e) Load
handling.
(1) Mobile cranes, tower cranes and
derricks shall not be loaded beyond their rated capacities.
(2) Hoisting ropes for concrete buckets used
with mobile cranes, tower cranes or derricks shall be provided with safety
hooks or closed shackles.
(3) Where
slings are used to hoist material of long length, spreader bars shall be used
to space and keep the sling legs in proper balance.
(4) Reinforcing rods, conduit and lumber,
when of uneven lengths as well as column clamps and similar items which cannot
be easily secured to form safe drafts or loads shall be hoisted in boxes. Each
such box shall be substantially constructed and supported from its four corners
by individual lengths of wire rope having spliced or clipped loops for
attachment to the load line. The construction and suspension of each such box
shall be capable of holding at least four times the load for which it is
intended.
(5) In steel erection,
when a load is suspended from a mobile crane, tower crane or derrick at two or
more points with slings, the eyes of the lifting legs of the slings shall be
shackled together and this shackle or the eyes of the shackled slings shall be
placed on the hook. Alternatively, the eyes of the lifting legs may be shackled
directly to the hoisting block, ball or balance beam. The eyes may be placed on
the lifting hook without shackles if the hook is of the safety type.
(6) No more than one load shall be suspended
from the same load line of a mobile crane, tower crane or derrick at one
time.
(f) Hoisting the
load.
(1) Before starting to hoist with a
mobile crane, tower crane or derrick the following inspection for unsafe
conditions shall be made:
(i) The hoisting
rope shall be free from kinks.
(ii)
Multiple part lines shall not be twisted around each other.
(iii) The hook shall be brought over the load
in such manner and location as to prevent the load from swinging when hoisting
is started.
(iv) The load is well
secured and properly balanced in the sling or lifting device before it is
lifted more than a few inches.
(v)
If there is a slack rope condition, it shall be determined that the hosting
rope is properly seated on the drum and in the sheaves.
(2) During the hoisting operation the
following conditions shall be met:
(i) There
shall be no sudden acceleration or deceleration of the moving load unless
required by emergency conditions.
(ii) The load shall not contact any
obstruction.
(3) The
side loading of booms on mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks shall be
limited to freely suspended loads.
(4) Mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks
shall not be used for dragging loads sideways.
(5) Mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks
shall not hoist, lower, swing or travel while any person is located on the load
or hook.
(6) Mobile cranes, tower
cranes and derricks shall not hoist or carry any load over and above any person
except as otherwise provided in this Part (rule).
(7) The operator of any mobile crane, tower
crane or derrick shall not leave his position at the controls while any load is
suspended nor shall any person be permitted to work or pass under a stationary
suspended load.
(g)
Limitations on modifications of mobile cranes, tower cranes or derricks. No
load-bearing component or part of any mobile crane, tower crane or power-driven
derrick shall be replaced by another component or part nor shall any mobile
crane, tower crane or derrick be modified by the addition thereto or the
removal therefrom of any load-bearing component or part unless such replacement
or modification shall be as certified by either the manufacturer or builder of
such crane or derrick or by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the
State of New York.
(h) Cast iron.
Cast iron shall not be used for members or parts of any mobile crane, tower
crane or derrick subject to tension or torsion except for brake and clutch
drums.
(i) Guarding moving parts.
Exposed moving components or parts of mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks
such as gears, set screws, projection keys, chains, chain sprockets and
reciprocating parts which might constitute a hazard under normal operating
conditions shall be guarded and such guards shall be securely fastened in
place. Each such guard shall be capable of supporting without permanent
distortion the weight of a 200 pound man, unless such guard is located where it
is impossible for a person to step or ply his weight on it.
(j) Protection from the elements. Friction
brakes and clutches of mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks shall be
provided with adequate protection from the elements.
(k) Wire ropes and reeving accessories.
(1) Rope safety factors. Wire rope provided
for use on any mobile crane, tower crane or derrick shall be in compliance with
the safety factor requirements listed as follows:
(i) For supporting rated loads (including
boom suspensions):
(a) The safety factor for
live or running ropes that wind on drums or pass over sheaves shall be not less
than 3.5.
(b) The safety factor for
boom pendants or standing ropes shall be not less than 3.0.
(ii) For supporting the boom and
working attachments at recommended travel or transit positions and boom
lengths:
(a) The safety factor for live or
running ropes shall be not less than 3.5.
(b) The safety factor for boom pendants and
standing ropes shall be not less than 3.0.
(iii) For supporting the boom under
recommended boom erection conditions:
(a) The
safety factor for live or running ropes shall be not less than 3.0.
(b) The safety factor for boom pendants or
standing ropes shall be not less than 2.5.
(iv) The safety factors specified in
subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be determined on the basis of
rope loads resulting from crane or derrick manufacturers' ratings, with
approved reeving, published nominal breaking strengths of new ropes and with
load and boom stationary.
(2) Hoisting rope. When the hook of the hoist
of any mobile crane, tower crane or derrick is resting on the ground or
equivalent elevation at least two full wraps of the hoisting rope shall remain
on the drum of such crane or derrick.
(3) Replacement rope. Replacement ropes for
any mobile crane, tower crane or derrick shall be at least the equivalent in
strength and grade as the original ropes furnished by the manufacturer or
builder of such crane or derrick.
(4) Eye splices. Eye splices shall be made in
an acceptable manner and rope thimbles shall be used in the eye.
(5) U-bolt clips. U-bolt clips shall have the
U-bolt section on the dead or short end, and the saddle on the live or long end
of the rope. Spacing and number of clips shall be in accordance with
manufacturer's recommendation. Clips shall be of drop-forged steel. When a
newly installed rope has been in operation for at least one hour, all nuts on
the clip bolts shall be re-tightened and they shall be re-checked for tightness
at monthly intervals thereafter.
(6) Special fittings. Swaged, compressed or
wedge-socket fittings shall be applied as recommended by the manufacturer of
the rope or fittings or by the manufacturer or builder of the mobile crane,
tower crane or derrick.
(7) Rope
inspection.
(i) Daily. All running ropes in
continuous service on a mobile crane, tower crane or derrick shall be visually
inspected at least once every working day.
(ii) Monthly. All ropes in use on a mobile
crane, tower crane or derrick shall be thoroughly inspected by a competent,
designated person at least once a month. A full written, dated and signed
report of each such inspection, which shall include the condition of all ropes,
shall be kept on file on the job site available for examination by the
commissioner. Any rope damage or deterioration which might result in
appreciable loss of original rope strength shall be carefully noted and a
determination shall be made by the designated person as to whether continued
use of such damaged or deteriorated rope constitutes a hazard.
(l) Lubrication.
(1) Sheave bearings. All sheave bearings on
mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks shall be regularly lubricated
according to the recommendations of the manufacturers or builders of such
cranes or derricks.
(2) Moving
parts. All moving parts of mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks for which
lubrication is specified, including ropes and chains, shall be regularly
lubricated. Lubricating systems shall be frequently checked for proper delivery
of the lubricant. Lubricating points shall be accessible without moving guards
or other parts.
(m)
Operation near power lines. The operation of any mobile crane, tower crane or
derrick near or around any power line or power facility shall be done only in
accordance with the provisions of Subpart 23-1 of this Part (rule).
(n) Use of mobile cranes in concrete work. In
building construction where concrete is raised by mobile cranes, such loads
raised to elevations more than 150 feet shall be deposited or discharged only
in hoppers or other appropriate facilities which are so located as to permit
operation of the boom of any such crane at a minimum load radius.
