Washington Administrative Code
Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of
Chapter 296-78 - Safety standards for sawmills and woodworking operations
Section 296-78-750 - Chains, wire rope, cables and fiber rope
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Ropes, cables, slings, and chains.
(2) Proper storage must be provided for slings while not in use.
(3) Protection must be provided between the sling and sharp unyielding surfaces of the load to be lifted.
(4) Hooks. No open hook must be used in rigging to lift any load where there is hazard from relieving the tension on the hook from the load or hook catching or fouling.
(5) Ropes or cables. Wire rope or cable must be inspected when installed and once each day thereafter, when in use. It must be removed from hoisting or load-carrying service when kinked or when one of the following conditions exist:
(6) Wire rope removed from service due to defects must be plainly marked or identified as being unfit for further use on cranes, hoists, and other load-carrying devices.
(7) The ratio between the rope diameter and the drum, block, sheave, or pulley tread diameter must be such that the rope will adjust itself to the bend without excessive wear, deformation, or injury. In no case must the safe value of drums, blocks, sheaves, or pulleys be reduced when replacing such items unless compensating changes are made for rope used and for safe loading limits.
(8) Drums, sheaves, and pulleys must be smooth and free from surface defects liable to injure rope. Drums, sheaves, or pulleys having eccentric bores or cracked hubs, spokes, or flanges must be removed from service.
(9) Connections, fittings, fastenings, and other parts used in connection with ropes and cables must be of the quality, size and strength recommended by the manufacturer for the use intended. These connections must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
(10) Socketing, splicing, and seizing.
(11) Wire rope clips attached with U-bolts must have these bolts on the dead or short end of the rope. The U-bolt nuts must be retightened immediately after initial load carrying use and at frequent intervals thereafter. The number and spacing of clips must be as follows:
Improved Plow Steel Diameter of Rope | Number of Clips (Drop Forged) | Required Other Material | Minimum Space Between Clips |
3/8 to 5/8" | 3 | 4 | 3-3/4 " |
3/4" | 4 | 5 | 4-1/2 " |
7/8" | 4 | 5 | 5-1/4 " |
1" | 5 | 6 | 6" |
1-1/8" | 6 | 6 | 6-3/4 " |
1-1/4" | 6 | 7 | 7-1/2 " |
1-3/8" | 7 | 7 | 8-1/4 " |
1-1/2" | 7 | 8 | 9" |
(12) Running lines. Running lines of hoisting equipment located within six feet six inches of the ground or working level must be boxed off or otherwise guarded, or the operating area must be restricted.
(13) Preventing abrasion. The reeving of a rope must be so arranged as to minimize chafing or abrading while in use.
(14) Sheave guards. Bottom sheaves must be protected by close fitting guards to prevent cable from jumping the sheave.
(15) There must not be less than two full wraps of hoisting cable on the drums of cranes and hoists at all times of operation.
(16) Where the cables are allowed to pile on the drums of cranes, the drums must have a flange at each end to prevent the cables from slipping off the drum.
(17) Chains used in load carrying service must be inspected before initial use and weekly thereafter.
If at any time any three-foot length of chain is found to have stretched one-third the length of a link it must be discarded.
(18) Chains must be spliced in compliance with the requirements of the general safety and health standard, WAC 296-24-29413.
(19) Wherever annealing of chains is attempted, it must be done in properly equipped annealing furnaces and under the direct supervision of a competent person thoroughly versed in heat treating.
Chains must be normalized or annealed periodically as recommended by the manufacturer.
(20) Fiber rope.
Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-17-056, § 296-78-750, filed 8/20/96, effective 10/15/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-750, filed 8/27/81.