(1) Before lifting personnel the following must be met:
(a) Operate crane/equipment with outriggers or stabilizers extended, blocked, and locked in accordance with the manufacturers' specifications;
(b) For crane/equipment that uses wire rope to hoist a personnel platform, verify that the crane/equipment has an anti two-block device or upper travel limit switch, installed and operational;
(c) Position the personnel platform so that it may be tied off to the structure to which the occupants are entering or leaving, if the platform cannot be landed during the entrance or exit of the occupants. If the platform has been tied off, the operator must not move the platform until it is verified that it is freely suspended;
(d) Not knowingly allow the platform load to exceed the platform rating, except during proof testing;
(e) Not travel the crane/equipment with personnel in the personnel platform except when they run on fixed rails or runways;
(f) Perform all movements of the platform or crane/equipment in a slow, controlled, cautious manner to minimize sudden movement of the platform;
(g) Engage the power-controlled lowering mechanism at all times the platform is occupied (no freefall);
(h) In the case of suspended or boom-mounted platforms, without controls, the operator must remain at the crane/equipment controls at all times when the platform is occupied;
(i) Reserved;
(j) Platforms with controls. Where the platform is equipped with controls, the employer must meet all of the following at all times while the platform is occupied:
(i) The occupant using the controls in the platform must be a qualified person with respect to their use, including the safe limitations of the crane/equipment and hazards associated with its operation. See WAC 296-155-53300 Operator qualifications and certification.
(ii) The crane/equipment operator must be at a set of crane controls that include boom and swing functions of the crane, and must be on-site and in view of the crane/equipment and platform.
(iii) The platform operating manual must be in the platform or on the crane/equipment.
Note: | If lowering, retracting, and rotating primary power source becomes inoperative, the crane/equipment operator is allowed to leave the controls. |
(k) Set all brakes and locks on the crane/equipment after positioning of the personnel platform and before personnel perform any work;
(l) Move the platform under controlled conditions and under the direction of a qualified signal person or platform occupant(s);
(m) Not move platforms over, under, or in the vicinity of power lines unless the requirements of WAC 296-155-55305 are met;
(n) Not lift any other loads, on any other load lines, while conducting a personnel lift. When the crane/equipment has a boom-attached platform without controls, it must not be used for other lifting service;
(o) Factory-produced boom-mounted personnel platforms that incorporate a winch as original equipment: Loads are permitted to be hoisted by such a winch while employees occupy the personnel platform only where the load on the winch line does not exceed 500 pounds and does not exceed the rated capacity of the winch and platform, and does not exceed 50% of the crane's rated capacity at the radius and configuration used;
(p) Not disable, or allow to be disabled, any crane/equipment safety device during a personnel lift;
(q) Hoist the platform at a speed suitable for the safety of the operation but in no case in excess of 90 feet/minute (30 m/minute) or 1.5 feet/second (0.5 m/second).
(2) The operator must not move the platform without a discernible or audible signal from a signal person.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 25-16-089, s 296-155-55210, filed 8/5/25, effective 9/5/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-55210, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. WSR 13-02-068, § 296-155-55210, filed 12/31/12, effective 2/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.440, 49.17.060, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. WSR 12-01-086, § 296-155-55210, filed 12/20/11, effective 2/1/12.]