(1) This rule applies to the lifting, lowering, and transporting of personnel using personnel platforms connected to cranes or derricks that are designed under ASME B30 series. Personnel platforms can be suspended from the crane or derrick by wire rope, or attached to the boom of the crane or derrick. Using articulating boom cranes with suspended platforms is not allowed. The use of attached work platforms to the articulating boom crane must be approved by the crane manufacturer. Cranes and derricks are designed and intended for material handling, and are not required to meet the same design standards as manlifts, aerial lifts, bucket trucks, and other conventional personnel-lifting equipment. The lifting or lowering of personnel using material handling cranes and derricks is prohibited unless all of the applicable requirements of WAC 296-155-547 through 296-155-55405 are met. Digger derricks must follow the requirements in ANSI/ASSE A10.31-2006 when hoisting personnel. Machines that are designed to both ASME B30 series and ANSI/SIA A92.2, Vehicle Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices must follow the requirements in ANSI/SIA A92.2-2009 when hoisting personnel.

(2) The use of cranes or derricks to hoist employees is prohibited except where the employer demonstrates that the erection, use, and dismantling of conventional means of reaching the work area, such as a personnel hoist, ladder, stairway, aerial lift, elevating work platform, or scaffold, would be more hazardous, or is not possible because of the project's structural design or worksite conditions.