Manlifts (29 CFR 1910.68)

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(vii) The brakes shall be set and outriggers, when used, shall be positioned
on pads or a solid surface. Wheel
chocks shall be installed before using
an aerial lift on an incline.
(viii) An aerial lift truck may not be
moved when the boom is elevated in a
working position with men in the basket, except for equipment which is specifically designed for this type of operation in accordance with the provisions
of paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this
section.
(ix) Articulating boom and extensible
boom platforms, primarily designed as
personnel carriers, shall have both
platform (upper) and lower controls.
Upper controls shall be in or beside the
platform within easy reach of the operator. Lower controls shall provide for
overriding the upper controls. Controls
shall be plainly marked as to their
function. Lower level controls shall not
be operated unless permission has been
obtained from the employee in the lift,
except in case of emergency.
(x) Climbers shall not be worn while
performing work from an aerial lift.
(xi) The insulated portion of an aerial
lift shall not be altered in any manner
that might reduce its insulating value.
(xii) Before moving an aerial lift for
travel, the boom(s) shall be inspected
to see that it is properly cradled and
outriggers are in stowed position, except
as
provided
in
paragraph
(c)(2)(viii) of this section.
(3) Electrical tests. Electrical tests
shall be made in conformance with the
requirements of ANSI A92.2—1969, Section 5. However, equivalent DC voltage
tests may be used in lieu of the AC
voltage test specified in A92.2—1969. DC
voltage tests which are approved by
the equipment manufacturer or equivalent entity shall be considered an
equivalent test for the purpose of this
paragraph (c)(3).
(4) Bursting safety factor. All critical
hydraulic and pneumatic components
shall comply with the provisions of the
American National Standards Institute
standard, ANSI A92.2—1969, Section 4.9
Bursting Safety Factor. Critical components are those in which a failure
would result in a free fall or free rotation of the boom. All noncritical components shall have a bursting safety
factor of at least two to one.

§ 1910.68

(5) Welding standards. All welding
shall conform to the following Automotive Welding Society (AWS) Standards, which are incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6, as applicable:
(i) Standard Qualification Procedure,
AWS B3.0—41.
(ii) Recommended Practices for
Automotive Welding Design, AWS
D8.4–61.
(iii) Standard Qualification of Welding Procedures and Welders for Piping
and Tubing, AWS D10.9–69.
(iv) Specifications for Welding Highway and Railway Bridges, AWS D2.0–69.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 40
FR 13439, Mar. 26, 1975; 55 FR 32014, Aug. 6,
1990; 61 FR 9235, Mar. 7, 1996]

§ 1910.68

Manlifts.

(a) Definitions applicable to this section—(1) Handhold (Handgrip). A handhold is a device attached to the belt
which can be grasped by the passenger
to provide a means of maintaining balance.
(2) Open type. One which has a handgrip surface fully exposed and capable
of being encircled by the passenger’s
fingers.
(3) Closed type. A cup-shaped device,
open at the top in the direction of travel of the step for which it is to be used,
and closed at the bottom, into which
the passenger may place his fingers.
(4) Limit switch. A device, the purpose
of which is to cut off the power to the
motor and apply the brake to stop the
carrier in the event that a loaded step
passes the terminal landing.
(5) Manlift. A device consisting of a
power-driven endless belt moving in
one direction only, and provided with
steps or platforms and handholds attached to it for the transportation of
personnel from floor to floor.
(6) Rated speed. Rated speed is the
speed for which the device is designed
and installed.
(7) Split-rail switch. An electric limit
switch operated mechanically by the
rollers on the manlift steps. It consists
of an additional hinged or ‘‘split’’ rail,
mounted on the regular guide rail, over
which the step rollers pass. It is
springloaded in the ‘‘split’’ position. If
the step supports no load, the rollers

187

VerDate Aug<04>2004

11:00 Jul 27, 2005

Jkt 205111

PO 00000

Frm 00197

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Y:\SGML\205111.XXX

205111

§ 1910.68

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

will ‘‘bump’’ over the switch; if a loaded step should pass over the section,
the split rail will be forced straight,
tripping the switch and opening the
electrical circuit.
(8) Step (platform). A step is a passenger carrying unit.
(9) Travel. The travel is the distance
between the centers of the top and bottom pulleys.
(b) General requirements—(1) Application. This section applies to the construction, maintenance, inspection,
and operation of manlifts in relation to
accident hazards. Manlifts covered by
this section consist of platforms or
brackets and accompanying handholds
mounted on, or attached to an endless
belt, operating vertically in one direction only and being supported by, and
driven through pulleys, at the top and
bottom. These manlifts are intended
for conveyance of persons only. It is
not intended that this section cover
moving stairways, elevators with enclosed platforms (‘‘Paternoster’’ elevators), gravity lifts, nor conveyors
used only for conveying material. This
section applies to manlifts used to
carry only personnel trained and authorized by the employer in their use.
(2) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide reasonable safety for
life and limb.
(3) Design requirements. All new
manlift installations and equipment
installed after the effective date of
these regulations shall meet the design
requirements of the ‘‘American National Safety Standard for Manlifts
ANSI A90.1–1969’’, which is incorporated by reference as specified in
§ 1910.6, and the requirements of this
section.
(4) Reference to other codes and subparts. The following codes, and subparts of this part, are applicable to this
section: Safety Code for Mechanical
Power Transmission Apparatus, ANSI
B15.1–1953 (R 1958), and subpart O; subpart S; Safety Code for Fixed Ladders,
ANSI A14.3–1956, and Safety Requirements for Floor and Wall Openings,
Railings and Toeboards, ANSI A12.1–
1967, and subpart D. The preceding
ANSI standards are incorporated by
reference as specified in § 1910.6.
(5) Floor openings—(i) Allowable size.
Floor openings for both the ‘‘up’’ and

‘‘down’’ runs shall be not less than 28
inches nor more than 36 inches in
width for a 12-inch belt; not less than
34 inches nor more than 38 inches for a
14-inch belt; and not less than 36 inches
nor more than 40 inches for a 16-inch
belt and shall extend not less than 24
inches, nor more than 28 inches from
the face of the belt.
(ii) Uniformity. All floor openings for
a given manlift shall be uniform in size
and shall be approximately circular,
and each shall be located vertically
above the opening below it.
(6) Landing—(i) Vertical clearance. The
clearanace between the floor or mounting platform and the lower edge for the
conical guard above it required by subparagraph (7) of this paragraph shall
not be less than 7 feet 6 inches. Where
this clearance cannot be obtained no
access to the manlift shall be provided
and the manlift runway shall be enclosed where it passes through such
floor.
(ii) Clear landing space. The landing
space adjacent to the floor openings
shall be free from obstruction and kept
clear at all times. This landing space
shall be at least 2 feet in width from
the edge of the floor opening used for
mounting and dismounting.
(iii) Lighting and landing. Adequate
lighting, not less than 5-foot candles,
shall be provided at each floor landing
at all times when the lift is in operation.
(iv) Landing surface. The landing surfaces at the entrances and exits to the
manlift shall be constructed and maintained as to provide safe footing at all
times.
(v) Emergency landings. Where there is
a travel of 50 feet or more between
floor landings, one or more emergency
landings shall be provided so that there
will be a landing (either floor or emergency) for every 25 feet or less of
manlift travel.
(a) Emergency landings shall be accessible from both the ‘‘up’’ and
‘‘down’’ rungs of the manlift and shall
give access to the ladder required in
subparagraph (12) of this paragraph.
(b) Emergency landings shall be completely enclosed with a standard railing and toeboard.

188

VerDate Aug<04>2004

11:00 Jul 27, 2005

Jkt 205111

PO 00000

Frm 00198

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Y:\SGML\205111.XXX

205111

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(c) Platforms constructed to give access to bucket elevators or other equipment for the purpose of inspection, lubrication, and repair may also serve as
emergency landings under this rule. All
such platforms will then be considered
part of the emergency landing and
shall be provided with standard railings and toeboards.
(7) Guards on underside of floor openings—(i) Fixed type. On the ascending
side of the manlift floor openings shall
be provided with a bevel guard or cone
meeting the following requirements:
(a) The cone shall make an angle of
not less than 45° with the horizontal.
An angle of 60° or greater shall be used
where ceiling heights permit.
(b) The lower edge of this guard shall
extend at least 42 inches outward from
any handhold on the belt. It shall not
extend beyond the upper surface of the
floor above.
(c) The cone shall be made of not less
than No. 18 U.S. gauge sheet steel or
material of equivalent strength or
stiffness. The lower edge shall be rolled
to a minimum diameter of one-half
inch and the interior shall be smooth
with no rivets, bolts or screws protruding.
(ii) Floating type. In lieu of the fixed
guards specified in subdivision (i) of
this subparagraph a floating type safety cone may be used, such floating
cones to be mounted on hinges at least
6 inches below the underside of the
floor and so constructed as to actuate
a limit switch should a force of 2
pounds be applied on the edge of the
cone closest to the hinge. The depth of
this floating cone need not exceed 12
inches.
(8) Protection of entrances and exits—
(i) Guard rail requirement. The entrances and exits at all floor landings
affording access to the manlift shall be
guarded by a maze (staggered railing)
or a handrail equipped with self-closing
gates.
(ii) Construction. The rails shall be
standard guardrails with toeboards
meeting the provisions of the Safety
Requirements for Floor and Wall Openings, Railings and Toeboards, ANSI
A12.1–1967 and § 1910.23.
(iii) Gates. Gates, if used, shall open
outward and shall be self-closing. Corners of gates shall be rounded.

§ 1910.68

(iv) Maze. Maze or staggered openings
shall offer no direct passage between
enclosure and outer floor space.
(v) Except where building layout prevents, entrances at all landings shall
be in the same relative position.
(9) Guards for openings—(i) Construction. The floor opening at each landing
shall be guarded on sides not used for
entrance or exit by a wall, a railing
and toeboard or by panels of wire mesh
of suitable strength.
(ii) Height and location. Such rails or
guards shall be at least 42 inches in
height on the up-running side and 66
inches on the down-running side.
(10) Bottom arrangement—(i) Bottom
landing. At the bottom landing the
clear area shall be not smaller than the
area enclosed by the guardrails on the
floors above, and any wall in front of
the down-running side of the belt shall
be not less than 48 inches from the face
of the belt. This space shall not be encroached upon by stairs or ladders.
(ii) Location of lower pulley. The lower
(boot) pulley shall be installed so that
it is supported by the lowest landing
served. The sides of the pulley support
shall be guarded to prevent contact
with the pulley or the steps.
(iii) Mounting platform. A mounting
platform shall be provided in front or
to one side of the uprun at the lowest
landing, unless the floor level is such
that the following requirement can be
met: The floor or platform shall be at
or above the point at which the upper
surface of the ascending step completes
its turn and assumes a horizontal position.
(iv) Guardrails. To guard against persons walking under a descending step,
the area on the downside of the manlift
shall be guarded in accordance with
subparagraph (8) of this paragraph. To
guard against a person getting between
the mounting platform and an ascending step, the area between the belt and
the platform shall be protected by a
guardrail.
(11) Top arrangements—(i) Clearance
from floor. A top clearance shall be provided of at least 11 feet above the top
terminal landing. This clearance shall
be maintained from a plane through
each face of the belt to a vertical cylindrical plane having a diameter 2 feet
greater than the diameter of the floor

189

VerDate Aug<04>2004

11:00 Jul 27, 2005

Jkt 205111

PO 00000

Frm 00199

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Y:\SGML\205111.XXX

205111

§ 1910.68

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

opening, extending upward from the
top floor to the ceiling on the up-running side of the belt. No encroachment
of structural or machine supporting
members within this space will be permitted.
(ii) Pulley clearance. (a) There shall be
a clearance of at least 5 feet between
the center of the head pulley shaft and
any ceiling obstruction.
(b) The center of the head pulley
shaft shall be not less than 6 feet above
the top terminal landing.
(iii) Emergency grab rail. An emergency grab bar or rail and platform
shall be provided at the head pulley
when the distance to the head pulley is
over 6 feet above the top landing, otherwise only a grab bar or rail is to be
provided to permit the rider to swing
free should the emergency stops become inoperative.
(12) Emergency exit ladder. A fixed
metal ladder accessible from both the
‘‘up’’ and ‘‘down’’ run of the manlift
shall be provided for the entire travel
of the manlift. Such ladder shall be in
accordance with the existing ANSI
A14.3–1956 Safety Code for Fixed Ladders and § 1910.27.
(13) Superstructure bracing. Manlift
rails shall be secured in such a manner
as to avoid spreading, vibration, and
misalinement.
(14) Illumination—(i) General. Both
runs of the manlift shall be illuminated at all times when the lift is in
operation. An intensity of not less than
1-foot candle shall be maintained at all
points. (However, see subparagraph
(6)(iii) of this paragraph for illumination requirements at landings.)
(ii) Control of illumination. Lighting of
manlift runways shall be by means of
circuits permanently tied in to the
building circuits (no switches), or shall
be controlled by switches at each landing. Where separate switches are provided at each landing, any switch shall
turn on all lights necessary to illuminate the entire runway.
(15) Weather protection. The entire
manlift and its driving mechanism
shall be protected from the weather at
all times.
(c) Mechanical requirements—(1) Machines, general—(i) Brakes. Brakes provided for stopping and holding a
manlift shall be inherently self-engag-

ing, by requiring power or force from
an external source to cause disengagement. The brake shall be electrically
released, and shall be applied to the
motor shaft for direct-connected units
or to the input shaft for belt-driven
units. The brake shall be capable of
stopping and holding the manlift when
the descending side is loaded with 250
lb on each step.
(ii) Belt. (a) The belts shall be of
hard-woven canvas, rubber-coated canvas, leather, or other material meeting
the strength requirements of paragraph
(b)(3) of this section and having a coefficient of friction such that when used
in conjunction with an adequate tension device it will meet the brake test
specified in subdivision (i) of this subparagraph.
(b) The width of the belt shall be not
less than 12 inches for a travel not exceeding 100 feet, not less than 14 inches
for a travel greater than 100 feet but
not exceeding 150 feet and 16 inches for
a travel exceeding 150 feet.
(c) A belt that has become torn while
in use on a manlift shall not be spliced
and put back in service.
(2) Speed—(i) Maximum speed. No
manlift designed for a speed in excess
of 80 feet per minute shall be installed.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) Platforms or steps—(i) Minimum
depth. Steps or platforms shall be not
less than 12 inches nor more than 14
inches deep, measured from the belt to
the edge of the step or platform.
(ii) Width. The width of the step or
platform shall be not less than the
width of the belt to which it is attached.
(iii) Distance between steps. The distance between steps shall be equally
spaced and not less than 16 feet measured from the upper surface of one step
to the upper surface of the next step
above it.
(iv) Angle of step. The surface of the
step shall make approximately a right
angle with the ‘‘up’’ and ‘‘down’’ run of
the belt, and shall travel in the approximate horizontal position with the
‘‘up’’ and ‘‘down’’ run of the belt.
(v) Surfaces. The upper or working
surfaces of the step shall be of a material having inherent nonslip characteristics (coefficient of friction not less
than 0.5) or shall be covered completely

190

VerDate Aug<04>2004

11:00 Jul 27, 2005

Jkt 205111

PO 00000

Frm 00200

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Y:\SGML\205111.XXX

205111

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
by a nonslip tread securely fastened to
it.
(vi) Strength of step supports. When
subjected to a load of 400 pounds applied at the approximate center of the
step, step frames, or supports and their
guides shall be of adequate strength to:
(a) Prevent the disengagement of any
step roller.
(b)
Prevent
any
appreciable
misalinement.
(c) Prevent any visible deformation
of the steps or its support.
(vii) Prohibition of steps without
handholds. No steps shall be provided
unless there is a corresponding handhold above or below it meeting the requirements of paragraph (c)(4) of this
section. If a step is removed for repairs
or permanently, the handholds immediately above and below it shall be removed before the lift is again placed in
service.
(4)
Handholds—(i)
Location.
Handholds attached to the belt shall be
provided and installed so that they are
not less than 4 feet nor more than 4
feet 8 inches above the step tread.
These shall be so located as to be available on the both ‘‘up’’ and ‘‘down’’ run
of the belt.
(ii) Size. The grab surface of the
handhold shall be not less than 41⁄2
inches in width, not less than 3 inches
in depth, and shall provide 2 inches of
clearance from the belt. Fastenings for
handholds shall be located not less
than 1 inch from the edge of the belt.
(iii) Strength. The handhold shall be
capable of withstanding, without damage, a load of 300 pounds applied parallel to the run of the belt.
(iv) Prohibition of handhold without
steps. No handhold shall be provided
without a corresponding step. If a
handhold is removed permanently or
temporarily, the corresponding step
and handhold for the opposite direction
of travel shall also be removed before
the lift is again placed in service.
(v) Type. All handholds shall be of the
closed type.
(5) Up limit stops—(i) Requirements.
Two separate automatic stop devices
shall be provided to cut off the power
and apply the brake when a loaded step
passes the upper terminal landing. One
of these shall consist of a split-rail
switch mechanically operated by the

§ 1910.68

step roller and located not more than 6
inches above the top terminal landing.
The second automatic stop device may
consist of any of the following:
(a) Any split-rail switch placed 6
inches above and on the side opposite
the first limit switch.
(b) An electronic device.
(c) A switch actuated by a lever, rod,
or plate, the latter to be placed on the
‘‘up’’ side of the head pulley so as to
just clear a passing step.
(ii) Manual reset location. After the
manlift has been stopped by a stop device it shall be necessary to reset the
automatic stop manually. The device
shall be so located that a person resetting it shall have a clear view of both
the ‘‘up’’ and ‘‘down’’ runs of the
manlift. It shall not be possible to
reset the device from any step or platform.
(iii) Cut-off point. The initial limit
stop device shall function so that the
manlift will be stopped before the loaded step has reached a point 24 inches
above the top terminal landing.
(iv) Electrical requirements. (a) Where
such switches open the main motor circuit directly they shall be of the
multipole type.
(b) Where electronic devices are used
they shall be so designed and installed
that failure will result in shutting off
the power to the driving motor.
(c) Where flammable vapors or combustible dusts may be present, electrical installations shall be in accordance with the requirements of subpart
S of this part for such locations.
(d) Unless of the oil-immersed type
controller contacts carrying the main
motor current shall be copper to carbon or equal, except where the circuit
is broken at two or more points simultaneously.
(6) Emergency stop—(i) General. An
emergency stop means shall be provided.
(ii) Location. This stop means shall be
within easy reach of the ascending and
descending runs of the belt.
(iii) Operation. This stop means shall
be so connected with the control lever
or operating mechanism that it will
cut off the power and apply the brake
when pulled in the direction of travel.

191

VerDate Aug<04>2004

11:00 Jul 27, 2005

Jkt 205111

PO 00000

Frm 00201

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Y:\SGML\205111.XXX

205111

§ 1910.94

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

(iv) Rope. If rope is used, it shall be
not less than three-eights inch in diameter. Wire rope, unless marlin-covered, shall not be used.
(7) Instruction and warning signs—(i)
Instruction signs at landings or belts.
Signs of conspicuous and easily read
style giving instructions for the use of
the manlift shall be posted at each
landing or stenciled on the belt.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) The instructions shall read approximately as follows:
Face the Belt.
Use the Handholds.
To Stop—Pull Rope.

(ii) Top floor warning sign and light.
(a) At the top floor an illuminated sign
shall be displayed bearing the following wording:
‘‘TOP FLOOR—GET OFF’’

Signs shall be in block letters not less
than 2 inches in height. This sign shall
be located within easy view of an ascending passenger and not more than 2
feet above the top terminal landing.
(b) In addition to the sign required by
paragraph (c)(7)(ii)(a) of this section, a
red warning light of not less than 40watt rating shall be provided immediately below the upper landing terminal and so located as to shine in the
passenger’s face.
(iii) Visitor warning. A conspicuous
sign having the following legend—AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY—shall
be displayed at each landing.
(d) Operating rules—(1) Proper use of
manlifts. No freight, packaged goods,
pipe, lumber, or construction materials
of any kind shall be handled on any
manlift.
(2) [Reserved]
(e) Periodic inspection—(1) Frequency.
All manlifts shall be inspected by a
competent designated person at intervals of not more than 30 days. Limit
switches shall be checked weekly.
Manlifts found to be unsafe shall not be
operated until properly repaired.
(2) Items covered. This periodic inspection shall cover but is not limited to
the following items:
Steps.
Step Fastenings.
Rails.
Rail Supports and Fastenings.
Rollers and Slides.

Belt and Belt Tension.
Handholds and Fastenings.
Floor Landings.
Guardrails.
Lubrication.
Limit Switches.
Warning Signs and Lights.
Illumination.
Drive Pulley.
Bottom (boot) Pulley and Clearance.
Pulley Supports.
Motor.
Driving Mechanism.
Brake.
Electrical Switches.
Vibration and Misalignment.
‘‘Skip’’ on up or down run when mounting
step (indicating worn gears).

(3) Inspection record. A certification
record shall be kept of each inspection
which includes the date of the inspection, the signature of the person who
performed the inspection and the serial
number, or other identifier, of the
manlift which was inspected. This
record of inspection shall be made
available to the Assistant Secretary of
Labor or a duly authorized representative.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43
FR 49746, Oct. 24, 1978; 51 FR 34560, Sept. 29,
1986; 54 FR 24334, June 7, 1989; 55 FR 32014,
Aug. 6, 1990; 61 FR 9235, Mar. 7, 1996]

Subpart G—Occupational Health
and Environmental Control
AUTHORITY: Sections 4, 6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Secretary of Labor’s Orders Nos. 12–71 (36 FR 8754), 8–76 (41 FR 25059),
9–83 (48 FR 35736), 1–90 (55 FR 9033), or 6–96 (62
FR 111), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911.

§ 1910.94

Ventilation.

(a) Abrasive blasting—(1) Definitions
applicable to this paragraph—(i) Abrasive. A solid substance used in an abrasive blasting operation.
(ii) Abrasive-blasting respirator. A respirator constructed so that it covers
the wearer’s head, neck, and shoulders
to protect the wearer from rebounding
abrasive.
(iii) Blast cleaning barrel. A complete
enclosure which rotates on an axis, or
which has an internal moving tread to
tumble the parts, in order to expose
various surfaces of the parts to the action of an automatic blast spray.

192

VerDate Aug<04>2004

11:00 Jul 27, 2005

Jkt 205111

PO 00000

Frm 00202

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8002

Y:\SGML\205111.XXX

205111