Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 13. Cranes and Other Hoisting Equipment
Article 98. Operating Rules

§4994. Hoisting.

(a) Cranes shall not be operated with wheels or tracks off the ground or working surface at any time unless properly bearing on outriggers. Power actuated jacks (outriggers), where used, shall be provided with means to prevent loss of support under load.

(b) Outriggers shall be used when the load to be handled at that particular radius exceeds the rated load without outriggers as given by the certified agent for that crane.

(1) Where floats are used they shall be securely attached to the outriggers.

(2) Outrigger supports shall:

(A) Be strong enough to prevent crushing;

(B) Be free from defects;

(C) Be of sufficient width and length to prevent settling, shifting or toppling under load.

(3) Outriggers shall be set in accordance with the crane manufacturer's specified configuration requirements for the capacity chart being used. If the crane manufacturer is no longer in business or if the crane manufacturer's specification regarding the deployment of outriggers are no longer available, the outriggers shall be extended as specified by a qualified person.

(4) Timbers, cribbing or other structural members shall be used to distribute the load so as not to exceed the allowable bearing capacity of the underlying material.

(5) When a crane is equipped with stabilizers, the stabilizers shall be used in accordance with American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.22-2000, Sections 22-3.2.1(7) and (8), which are incorporated herein by reference.

(c) The brakes shall be tested each time a load approaching the rated load is handled by raising the load a few inches and applying the brakes.

(d) The load or the boom shall not be lowered below the point where less than two full wraps of rope remain on grooved drums and three full wraps on ungrooved drums.

(e) When two or more cranes are used to lift one load, a qualified person, other than the operators, shall direct the operation. This person shall analyze the operation and instruct all personnel involved in the proper positioning, rigging of the load, and the movements to be made. A qualified person shall be in direct audible communication with both crane operators at all times to direct the lifting operation. Where two cranes or more are used to lift one load, the rating chart shall be reduced on each crane by not less than 25 percent, unless equalizer or other acceptable provisions assure safe distribution of both vertical and horizontal load to the cranes involved, in which case a lesser reduction may be applied.

   Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

 HISTORY     1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 2-13-75; effective thirtieth day
thereafter (Register 75, No. 7).

2. Amendment filed 8-29-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, 
No. 39).

3. New subsections (b)(3)-(5) filed 1-29-2009; operative 2-28-2009 (Register
2009, No. 5).