29 Cfr 1910.66

§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

wardens so that employees can be swiftly
moved from the danger location to the safe
areas. Generally, one warden for each twenty
employees in the workplace should be able to
provide adequate guidance and instruction at
the time of a fire emergency. The employees
selected or who volunteer to serve as wardens should be trained in the complete workplace layout and the various alternative escape routes from the workplace. All wardens
and fellow employees should be made aware
of handicapped employees who may need
extra assistance, such as using the buddy
system, and of hazardous areas to be avoided
during emergencies. Before leaving, wardens
should check rooms and other enclosed
spaces in the workplace for employees who
may be trapped or otherwise unable to evacuate the area.
After the desired degree of evacuation is
completed, the wardens should be able to account for or otherwise verify that all employees are in the safe areas.
In buildings with several places of employment, employers are encouraged to coordinate their plans with the other employers in
the building. A building-wide or standardized
plan for the whole building is acceptable provided that the employers inform their respective employees of their duties and responsibilities under the plan. The standardized plan need not be kept by each employer
in the multi-employer building, provided
there is an accessible location within the
building where the plan can be reviewed by
affected employees. When multi-employer
building-wide plans are not feasible, employers should coordinate their plans with the
other employers within the building to assure that conflicts and confusion are avoided
during times of emergencies. In multi-story
buildings where more than one employer is
on a single floor, it is essential that these
employers coordinate their plans with each
other to avoid conflicts and confusion.
4. Fire prevention housekeeping. The standard calls for the control of accumulations of
flammable and combustible waste materials.
It is the intent of this standard to assure
that hazardous accumulations of combustible waste materials are controlled so that
a fast developing fire, rapid spread of toxic
smoke, or an explosion will not occur. This
does not necessarily mean that each room
has to be swept each day. Employers and employees should be aware of the hazardous
properties of materials in their workplaces,
and the degree of hazard each poses. Certainly oil soaked rags have to be treated differently than general paper trash in office
areas. However, large accumulations of
waste paper or corrugated boxes, etc., can
pose a significant fire hazard. Accumulations
of materials which can cause large fires or
generate dense smoke that are easily ignited
or may start from spontaneous combustion,
are the types of materials with which this

standard is concerned. Such combustible materials may be easily ignited by matches,
welder’s sparks, cigarettes and similar low
level energy ignition sources.
5. Maintenance of equipment under the fire
prevention plan. Certain equipment is often
installed in workplaces to control heat
sources or to detect fuel leaks. An example is
a temperature limit switch often found on
deep-fat food fryers found in restaurants.
There may be similar switches for high temperature dip tanks, or flame failure and
flashback arrester devices on furnaces and
similar heat producing equipment. If these
devices are not properly maintained or if
they become inoperative, a definite fire hazard exists. Again employees and supervisors
should be aware of the specific type of control devices on equipment involved with
combustible materials in the workplace and
should make sure, through periodic inspection or testing, that these controls are operable.
Manufacturers’
recommendations
should be followed to assure proper maintenance procedures.
[45 FR 60714, Sept. 12, 1980]

Subpart F—Powered Platforms,
Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms
AUTHORITY: Secs. 4, 6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 653, 655, and 657); Secretary of Labor’s
Order No. 12–71 (36 FR 8754), 8–76 (41 FR
25059), 9–83 (48 FR 35736), or 1–90 (55 FR 9033),
as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911.

§ 1910.66 Powered platforms for building maintenance.
(a) Scope. This section covers powered
platform installations permanently
dedicated to interior or exterior building maintenance of a specific structure
or group of structures. This section
does not apply to suspended scaffolds
(swinging scaffolds) used to service
buildings on a temporary basis and
covered under subpart D of this part,
nor to suspended scaffolds used for construction work and covered under subpart L of 29 CFR part 1926. Building
maintenance includes, but is not limited to, such tasks as window cleaning,
caulking, metal polishing and reglazing.
(b) Application—(1) New installations.
This section applies to all permanent
installations completed after July 23,
1990. Major modifications to existing
installations completed after that date

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are also considered new installations
under this section.
(2) Existing installations. (i) Permanent installations in existence and/or
completed before July 23, 1990 shall
comply with paragraphs (g), (h), (i), (j)
and appendix C of this section.
(ii) In addition, permanent installations completed after August 27, 1971,
and in existence and/or completed before July 23, 1990, shall comply with appendix D of this section.
(c) Assurance. (1) Building owners of
new installations shall inform the employer before each use in writing that
the installation meets the requirements of paragraphs (e)(1) and (f)(1) of
this section and the additional design
criteria contained in other provisions
of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section
relating to: required load sustaining
capabilities of platforms, building components, hoisting and supporting equipment; stability factors for carriages,
platforms and supporting equipment;
maximum horizontal force for movement of carriages and davits; design of
carriages, hoisting machines, wire rope
and stabilization systems; and design
criteria for electrical wiring and equipment.
(2) Building owners shall base the information required in paragraph (c)(1)
of this section on the results of a field
test of the installation before being
placed into service and following any
major alteration to an existing installation, as required in paragraph (g)(1)
of this section. The assurance shall
also be based on all other relevant
available information, including, but
not limited to, test data, equipment
specifications and verification by a
registered professional engineer.
(3) Building owners of all installations, new and existing, shall inform
the employer in writing that the installation has been inspected, tested
and maintained in compliance with the
requirements of paragraphs (g) and (h)
of this section and that all protection
anchorages meet the requirements of
paragraph (I)(c)(10) of appendix C.
(4) The employer shall not permit
employees to use the installation prior
to receiving assurance from the building owner that the installation meets
the requirements contained in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(3) of this section.

§ 1910.66

(d) Definitions.
Anemometer means an instrument for
measuring wind velocity.
Angulated roping means a suspension
method where the upper point of suspension is inboard from the attachments on the suspended unit, thus
causing the suspended unit to bear
against the face of the building.
Building face roller means a rotating
cylindrical member designed to ride on
the face of the building wall to prevent
the platform from abrading the face of
the building and to assist in stabilizing
the platform.
Building maintenance means operations such as window cleaning, caulking, metal polishing, reglazing, and
general maintenance on building surfaces.
Cable means a conductor, or group of
conductors, enclosed in a weatherproof
sheath, that may be used to supply
electrical power and/or control current
for equipment or to provide voice communication circuits.
Carriage means a wheeled vehicle
used for the horizontal movement and
support of other equipment.
Certification means a written, signed
and dated statement confirming the
performance of a requirement of this
section.
Combination cable means a cable having both steel structural members capable of supporting the platform, and
copper or other electrical conductors
insulated from each other and the
structural members by nonconductive
barriers.
Competent person means a person who,
because of training and experience, is
capable of identifying hazardous or
dangerous conditions in powered platform installations and of training employees to identify such conditions.
Continuous pressure means the need
for constant manual actuation for a
control to function.
Control means a mechanism used to
regulate or guide the operation of the
equipment.
Davit means a device, used singly or
in pairs, for suspending a powered platform from work, storage and rigging
locations on the building being serviced. Unlike outriggers, a davit reacts
its operating load into a single roof
socket or carriage attachment.

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

Equivalent means alternative designs,
materials or methods which the employer can demonstrate will provide an
equal or greater degree of safety for
employees than the methods, materials
or designs specified in the standard.
Ground rigging means a method of
suspending a working platform starting from a safe surface to a point of
suspension above the safe surface.
Ground rigged davit means a davit
which cannot be used to raise a suspended working platform above the
building face being serviced.
Guide button means a building face
anchor designed to engage a guide
track mounted on a platform.
Guide roller means a rotating cylindrical member, operating separately or
as part of a guide assembly, designed to
provide continuous engagement between the platform and the building
guides or guideways.
Guide shoe means a device attached
to the platform designed to provide a
sliding contact between the platform
and the building guides.
Hoisting machine means a device intended to raise and lower a suspended
or supported unit.
Hoist rated load means the hoist manufacturer’s maximum allowable operating load.
Installation means all the equipment
and all affected parts of a building
which are associated with the performance of building maintenance using
powered platforms.
Interlock means a device designed to
ensure that operations or motions
occur in proper sequence.
Intermittent stabilization means a
method of platform stabilization in
which the angulated suspension wire
rope(s) are secured to regularly spaced
building anchors.
Lanyard means a flexible line of rope,
wire rope or strap which is used to secure the body belt or body harness to a
deceleration device, lifeline or anchorage.
Lifeline means a component consisting of a flexible line for connection
to an anchorage at one end to hang
vertically (vertical lifeline), or for connection to anchorages at both ends to
stretch horizontally (horizontal lifeline), and which serves as a means for
connecting other components of a per-

sonal fall arrest system to the anchorage.
Live load means the total static
weight of workers, tools, parts, and
supplies that the equipment is designed
to support.
Obstruction detector means a control
that will stop the suspended or supported unit in the direction of travel if
an obstruction is encountered, and will
allow the unit to move only in a direction away from the obstruction.
Operating control means a mechanism
regulating or guiding the operation of
equipment that ensures a specific operating mode.
Operating device means a device actuated manually to activate a control.
Outrigger means a device, used singly
or in pairs, for suspending a working
platform from work, storage, and rigging locations on the building being
serviced. Unlike davits, an outrigger
reacts its operating moment load as at
least two opposing vertical components
acting into two or more distinct roof
points and/or attachments.
Platform rated load means the combined weight of workers, tools, equipment and other material which is permitted to be carried by the working
platform at the installation, as stated
on the load rating plate.
Poured socket means the method of
providing wire rope terminations in
which the ends of the rope are held in
a tapered socket by means of poured
spelter or resins.
Primary brake means a brake designed
to be applied automatically whenever
power to the prime mover is interrupted or discontinued.
Prime mover means the source of mechanical power for a machine.
Rated load means the manufacturer’s
recommended maximum load.
Rated strength means the strength of
wire rope, as designated by its manufacturer or vendor, based on standard
testing procedures or acceptable engineering design practices.
Rated working load means the combined static weight of men, materials,
and suspended or supported equipment.
Registered professional engineer means
a person who has been duly and currently registered and licensed by an authority within the United States or its

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territories to practice the profession of
engineering.
Roof powered platform means a working platform where the hoist(s) used to
raise or lower the platform is located
on the roof.
Roof rigged davit means a davit used
to raise the suspended working platform above the building face being
serviced. This type of davit can also be
used to raise a suspended working platform which has been ground-rigged.
Rope means the equipment used to
suspend a component of an equipment
installation, i.e., wire rope.
Safe surface means a horizontal surface intended to be occupied by personnel, which is so protected by a fall
protection system that it can be reasonably assured that said occupants
will be protected against falls.
Secondary brake means a brake designed to arrest the descent of the suspended or supported equipment in the
event of an overspeed condition.
Self powered platform means a working platform where the hoist(s) used to
raise or lower the platform is mounted
on the platform.
Speed reducer means a positive type
speed reducing machine.
Stability factor means the ratio of the
stabilizing moment to the overturning
moment.
Stabilizer tie means a flexible line
connecting the building anchor and the
suspension wire rope supporting the
platform.
Supported equipment means building
maintenance equipment that is held or
moved to its working position by
means of attachment directly to the
building or extensions of the building
being maintained.
Suspended equipment means building
maintenance equipment that is suspended and raised or lowered to its
working position by means of ropes or
combination cables attached to some
anchorage above the equipment.
Suspended scaffold (swinging scaffold)
means a scaffold supported on wire or
other ropes, used for work on, or for
providing access to, vertical sides of
structures on a temporary basis. Such
scaffold is not designed for use on a
specific structure or group of structures.

§ 1910.66

Tail line means the nonsupporting
end of the wire rope used to suspend
the platform.
Tie-in guides means the portion of a
building that provides continuous positive engagement between the building
and a suspended or supported unit during its vertical travel on the face of the
building.
Traction hoist means a type of hoisting machine that does not accumulate
the suspension wire rope on the hoisting drum or sheave, and is designed to
raise and lower a suspended load by the
application of friction forces between
the suspension wire rope and the drum
or sheave.
Transportable outriggers means outriggers designed to be moved from one
work location to another.
Trolley carriage means a carriage suspended from an overhead track structure.
Verified means accepted by design,
evaluation, or inspection by a registered professional engineer.
Weatherproof means so constructed
that exposure to adverse weather conditions will not affect or interfere with
the proper use or functions of the
equipment or component.
Winding drum hoist means a type of
hoisting machine that accumulates the
suspension wire rope on the hoisting
drum.
Working platform means suspended or
supported equipment intended to provide access to the face of a building and
manned by persons engaged in building
maintenance.
Wrap means one complete turn of the
suspension wire rope around the surface of a hoist drum.
(e) Powered platform installations—Affected parts of buildings—(1) General requirements. The following requirements
apply to affected parts of buildings
which utilize working platforms for
building maintenance.
(i) Structural supports, tie-downs,
tie-in guides, anchoring devices and
any affected parts of the building included in the installation shall be designed by or under the direction of a
registered professional engineer experienced in such design;
(ii) Exterior installations shall be capable of withstanding prevailing climatic conditions;

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29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

(iii) The building installation shall
provide safe access to, and egress from,
the equipment and sufficient space to
conduct necessary maintenance of the
equipment;
(iv) The affected parts of the building
shall have the capability of sustaining
all the loads imposed by the equipment; and,
(v) The affected parts of the building
shall be designed so as to allow the
equipment to be used without exposing
employees to a hazardous condition.
(2) Tie-in guides. (i) The exterior of
each building shall be provided with
tie-in guides unless the conditions in
paragraph (e)(2)(ii) or (e)(2)(iii) of this
section are met.
NOTE: See Figure 1 in appendix B of this
section for a description of a typical continuous stabilization system utilizing tie-in
guides.

(ii) If angulated roping is employed,
tie-in guides required in paragraph
(e)(2)(i) of this section may be eliminated for not more than 75 feet (22.9 m)
of the uppermost elevation of the
building, if infeasible due to exterior
building design, provided an angulation
force of at least 10 pounds (44.4 n) is
maintained under all conditions of
loading.
(iii) Tie-in guides required in paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section may be
eliminated if one of the guide systems
in paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A), (e)(2)(iii)(B)
or (e)(2)(iii)(C) of this section is provided, or an equivalent.
(A) Intermittent stabilization system. The system shall keep the equipment in continuous contact with the
building facade, and shall prevent sudden horizontal movement of the platform. The system may be used together
with continuous positive building guide
systems using tie-in guides on the
same building, provided the requirements for each system are met.
(1) The maximum vertical interval
between building anchors shall be three
floors or 50 feet (15.3 m), whichever is
less.
(2) Building anchors shall be located
vertically so that attachment of the
stabilizer ties will not cause the platform suspension ropes to angulate the
platform horizontally across the face of
the building. The anchors shall be positioned horizontally on the building

face so as to be symmetrical about the
platform suspension ropes.
(3) Building anchors shall be easily
visible to employees and shall allow a
stabilizer tie attachment for each of
the platform suspension ropes at each
vertical interval. If more than two suspension ropes are used on a platform,
only the two building-side suspension
ropes at the platform ends shall require
a stabilizer attachment.
(4) Building anchors which extend beyond the face of the building shall be
free of sharp edges or points. Where cables, suspension wire ropes and lifelines
may be in contact with the building
face, external building anchors shall
not interfere with their handling or operation.
(5) The intermittent stabilization
system building anchors and components shall be capable of sustaining
without failure at least four times the
maximum anticipated load applied or
transmitted to the components and anchors. The minimum design wind load
for each anchor shall be 300 (1334 n)
pounds, if two anchors share the wind
load.
(6) The building anchors and stabilizer ties shall be capable of sustaining anticipated horizontal and
vertical loads from winds specified for
roof storage design which may act on
the platform and wire ropes if the platform is stranded on a building face. If
the building anchors have different
spacing than the suspension wire rope
or if the building requires different suspension spacings on one platform, one
building anchor and stabilizer tie shall
be capable of sustaining the wind loads.
NOTE: See Figure 2 in appendix B of this
section for a description of a typical intermittent stabilization system.

(B) Button guide stabilization system.
(1) Guide buttons shall be coordinated with platform mounted equipment of paragraph (f)(5)(vi) of this section.
(2) Guide buttons shall be located
horizontally on the building face so as
to allow engagement of each of the
guide tracks mounted on the platform.
(3) Guide buttons shall be located in
vertical rows on the building face for
proper engagement of the guide tracks
mounted on the platform.

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(4) Two guide buttons shall engage
each guide track at all times except for
the initial engagement.
(5) Guide buttons which extend beyond the face of the building shall be
free of sharp edges or points. Where cables, ropes and lifelines may be in contact with the building face, guide buttons shall not interfere with their handling or operation.
(6) Guide buttons, connections and
seals shall be capable of sustaining
without damage at least the weight of
the platform, or provision shall be
made in the guide tracks or guide
track connectors to prevent the platform and its attachments from transmitting the weight of the platform to
the guide buttons, connections and
seals. In either case, the minimum design load shall be 300 pounds (1334 n)
per building anchor.
NOTE: See paragraph (f)(5)(vi) of this section for relevant equipment provisions.
NOTE: See Figure 3 in appendix B of this
section for a a description of a typical button guide stabilization system.

(C) System utilizing angulated roping
and building face rollers. The system
shall keep the equipment in continuous
contact with the building facade, and
shall prevent sudden horizontal movement of the platform. This system is
acceptable only where the suspended
portion of the equipment in use does
not exceed 130 feet (39.6 m) above a safe
surface or ground level, and where the
platform maintains no less than 10
pounds (44.4 n) angulation force on the
building facade.
(iv) Tie-in guides for building interiors (atriums) may be eliminated
when a registered professional engineer
determines that an alternative stabilization system, including systems in
paragraphs (e)(2)(iii) (A), (B) and (C), or
a platform tie-off at each work station
will provide equivalent safety.
(3) Roof guarding. (i) Employees
working on roofs while performing
building maintenance shall be protected by a perimeter guarding system
which meets the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of § 1910.23 of this part.
(ii) The perimeter guard shall not be
more than six inches (152 mm) inboard
of the inside face of a barrier, i.e. the
parapet wall, or roof edge curb of the
building being serviced; however, the

§ 1910.66

perimeter guard location shall not exceed an 18 inch (457 mm) setback from
the exterior building face.
(4) Equipment stops. Operational areas
for trackless type equipment shall be
provided with structural stops, such as
curbs, to prevent equipment from traveling outside its intended travel areas
and to prevent a crushing or shearing
hazard.
(5) Maintenance access. Means shall be
provided to traverse all carriages and
their suspended equipment to a safe
area for maintenance and storage.
(6) Elevated track. (i) An elevated
track system which is located four feet
(1.2 m) or more above a safe surface,
and traversed by carriage supported
equipment, shall be provided with a
walkway and guardrail system; or
(ii) The working platform shall be capable of being lowered, as part of its
normal operation, to the lower safe
surface for access and egress of the personnel and shall be provided with a safe
means of access and egress to the lower
safe surface.
(7) Tie-down anchors. Imbedded tiedown anchors, fasteners, and affected
structures shall be resistant to corrosion.
(8) Cable stabilization. (i) Hanging lifelines and all cables not in tension shall
be stabilized at each 200 foot (61 m) interval of vertical travel of the working
platform beyond an initial 200 foot (61
m) distance.
(ii) Hanging cables, other than suspended wire ropes, which are in constant tension shall be stabilized when
the vertical travel exceeds an initial
600 foot (183 m) distance, and at further
intervals of 600 feet (183 m) or less.
(9) Emergency planning. A written
emergency action plan shall be developed and implemented for each kind of
working platform operation. This plan
shall explain the emergency procedures
which are to be followed in the event of
a power failure, equipment failure or
other emergencies which may be encountered. The plan shall also explain
that employees inform themselves
about the building emergency escape
routes, procedures and alarm systems
before operating a platform. Upon initial assignment and whenever the plan
is changed the employer shall review
with each employee those parts of the

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29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

plan which the employee must know to
protect himself or herself in the event
of an emergency.
(10) Building maintenance. Repairs or
major maintenance of those building
portions that provide primary support
for the suspended equipment shall not
affect the capability of the building to
meet the requirements of this standard.
(11) Electrical requirements. The following electrical requirements apply to
buildings which utilize working platforms for building maintenance.
(i) General building electrical installations shall comply with §§ 1910.302
through 1910.308 of this part, unless
otherwise specified in this section;
(ii) Building electrical wiring shall be
of such capacity that when full load is
applied to the equipment power circuit
not more than a five percent drop from
building service-vault voltage shall
occur at any power circuit outlet used
by equipment regulated by this section;
(iii) The equipment power circuit
shall be an independent electrical circuit that shall remain separate from
all other equipment within or on the
building, other than power circuits
used for hand tools that will be used in
conjunction with the equipment. If the
building is provided with an emergency
power system, the equipment power
circuit may also be connected to this
system;
(iv) The power circuit shall be provided with a disconnect switch that
can be locked in the ‘‘OFF’’ and ‘‘ON’’
positions. The switch shall be conveniently located with respect to the primary operating area of the equipment
to allow the operators of the equipment access to the switch;
(v) The disconnect switch for the
power circuit shall be locked in the
‘‘ON’’ position when the equipment is
in use; and
(vi) An effective two-way voice communication system shall be provided
between the equipment operators and
persons stationed within the building
being serviced. The communications
facility shall be operable and shall be
manned at all times by persons stationed within the building whenever
the platform is being used.

(f) Powered platform installations—
Equipment—(1) General requirements.
The following requirements apply to
equipment which are part of a powered
platform installation, such as platforms, stabilizing components, carriages, outriggers, davits, hoisting machines, wire ropes and electrical components.
(i) Equipment installations shall be
designed by or under the direction of a
registered professional engineer experienced in such design;
(ii) The design shall provide for a
minimum live load of 250 pounds (113.6
kg) for each occupant of a suspended or
supported platform;
(iii) Equipment that is exposed to
wind when not in service shall be designed to withstand forces generated
by winds of at least 100 miles per hour
(44.7 m/s) at 30 feet (9.2 m) above grade;
and
(iv) Equipment that is exposed to
wind when in service shall be designed
to withstand forces generated by winds
of at least 50 miles per hour (22.4 m/s)
for all elevations.
(2) Construction requirements. Bolted
connections shall be self-locking or
shall otherwise be secured to prevent
loss of the connections by vibration.
(3) Suspension methods. Elevated
building maintenance equipment shall
be suspended by a carriage, outriggers,
davits or an equivalent method.
(i) Carriages. Carriages used for suspension of elevated building maintenance equipment shall comply with the
following:
(A) The horizontal movement of a
carriage shall be controlled so as to ensure its safe movement and allow accurate positioning of the platform for
vertical travel or storage;
(B) Powered carriages shall not exceed a traversing speed of 50 feet per
minute (0.3 m/s);
(C) The initiation of a traversing
movement for a manually propelled
carriage on a smooth level surface
shall not require a person to exert a
horizontal force greater than 40 pounds
(444.8 n);
(D) Structural stops and curbs shall
be provided to prevent the traversing
of the carriage beyond its designed limits of travel;

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(E) Traversing controls for a powered
carriage shall be of a continuous pressure weatherproof type. Multiple controls when provided shall be arranged
to permit operation from only one control station at a time. An emergency
stop device shall be provided on each
end of a powered carriage for interrupting power to the carriage drive motors;
(F) The operating controls(s) shall be
so connected that in the case of suspended equipment, traversing of a carriage is not possible until the suspended portion of the equipment is located at its uppermost designed position for traversing; and is free of contact with the face of the building or
building guides. In addition, all protective devices and interlocks are to be in
the proper position to allow traversing
of the carriage;
(G) Stability for underfoot supported
carriages shall be obtained by gravity,
by an attachment to a structural support, or by a combination of gravity
and a structural support. The use of
flowing counterweights to achieve stability is prohibited.
(1) The stability factor against overturning shall not be less than two for
horizontal traversing of the carriage,
including the effects of impact and
wind.
(2) The carriages and their anchorages shall be capable of resisting accidental over-tensioning of the wire
ropes suspending the working platform,
and this calculated value shall include
the effect of one and one-half times the
stall capacity of the hoist motor. All
parts of the installation shall be capable of withstanding without damage to
any part of the installation the forces
resulting from the stall load of the
hoist and one half the wind load.
(3) Roof carriages which rely on having tie-down devices secured to the
building to develop the required stability against overturning shall be provided with an interlock which will prevent vertical platform movement unless the tie-down is engaged;
(H) An automatically applied braking
or locking system, or equivalent, shall
be provided that will prevent unintentional traversing of power traversed or
power assisted carriages;

§ 1910.66

(I) A manual or automatic braking or
locking system or equivalent, shall be
provided that will prevent unintentional traversing of manually propelled
carriages;
(J) A means to lock out the power
supply for the carriage shall be provided;
(K) Safe access to and egress from
the carriage shall be provided from a
safe surface. If the carriage traverses
an elevated area, any operating area on
the carriage shall be protected by a
guardrail system in compliance with
the provisions of paragraph (f)(5)(i)(F)
of this section. Any access gate shall
be self-closing and self-latching, or provided with an interlock;
(L) Each carriage work station position shall be identified by location
markings and/or position indicators;
and
(M) The motors shall stall if the load
on the hoist motors is at any time in
excess of three times that necessary for
lifting the working platform with its
rated load.
(ii)
Transportable
outriggers.
(A)
Transportable outriggers may be used
as a method of suspension for ground
rigged working platforms where the
point of suspension does not exceed 300
feet (91.5 m) above a safe surface. Tiein guide system(s) shall be provided
which meet the requirements of paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
(B) Transportable outriggers shall be
used only with self-powered, ground
rigged working platforms.
(C) Each transportable outrigger
shall be secured with a tie-down to a
verified anchorage on the building during the entire period of its use. The anchorage shall be designed to have a stability factor of not less than four
against overturning or upsetting of the
outrigger.
(D) Access to and egress from the
working platform shall be from and to
a safe surface below the point of suspension.
(E) Each transportable outrigger
shall be designed for lateral stability
to prevent roll-over in the event an accidental lateral load is applied to the
outrigger. The accidental lateral load
to be considered in this design shall be
not less than 70 percent of the rated
load of the hoist.

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

(F) Each transportable outrigger
shall be designed to support an ultimate load of not less than four times
the rated load of the hoist.
(G) Each transportable outrigger
shall be so located that the suspension
wire ropes for two point suspended
working platforms are hung parallel.
(H) A transportable outrigger shall
be tied-back to a verified anchorage on
the building with a rope equivalent in
strength to the suspension rope.
(I) The tie-back rope shall be installed parallel to the centerline of the
outrigger.
(iii) Davits. (A) Every davit installation, fixed or transportable, rotatable
or non-rotatable shall be designed and
installed to insure that it has a stability factor against overturning of not
less than four.
(B) The following requirements apply
to roof rigged davit systems:
(1) Access to and egress from the
working platform shall be from a safe
surface. Access or egress shall not require persons to climb over a building’s
parapet or guard railing; and
(2) The working platform shall be
provided with wheels, casters or a carriage for traversing horizontally.
(C) The following requirements apply
to ground rigged davit systems:
(1) The point of suspension shall not
exceed 300 feet (91.5 m) above a safe
surface. Guide system(s) shall be provided which meet the requirements of
paragraph (e)(2) of this section;
(2) Access and egress to and from the
working platform shall only be from a
safe surface below the point of suspension.
(D) A rotating davit shall not require
a horizontal force in excess of 40
pounds (177.9 n) per person to initiate a
rotating movement.
(E) The following requirements shall
apply to transportable davits:
(1) A davit or part of a davit weighing
more than 80 pounds (36 kg) shall be
provided with a means for its transport, which shall keep the center of
gravity of the davit at or below 36
inches (914 mm) above the safe surface
during transport;
(2) A davit shall be provided with a
pivoting socket or with a base that will
allow the insertion or removal of a
davit at a position of not more than 35

degrees above the horizontal, with the
complete davit inboard of the building
face being serviced; and
(3) Means shall be provided to lock
the davit to its socket or base before it
is used to suspend the platform.
(4) Hoisting machines. (i) Raising and
lowering of suspended or supported
equipment shall be performed only by a
hoisting machine.
(ii) Each hoisting machine shall be
capable of arresting any overspeed descent of the load.
(iii) Each hoisting machine shall be
powered only by air, electric or hydraulic sources.
(iv) Flammable liquids shall not be
carried on the working platform.
(v) Each hoisting machine shall be
capable of raising or lowering 125 percent of the rated load of the hoist.
(vi) Moving parts of a hoisting machine shall be enclosed or guarded in
compliance with paragraphs (a)(1) and
(2) of § 1910.212 of this part.
(vii) Winding drums, traction drums
and sheaves and directional sheaves
used in conjunction with hoisting machines shall be compatible with, and
sized for, the wire rope used.
(viii) Each winding drum shall be
provided with a positive means of attaching the wire rope to the drum. The
attachment shall be capable of developing at least four times the rated load
of the hoist.
(ix) Each hoisting machine shall be
provided with a primary brake and at
least one independent secondary brake,
each capable of stopping and holding
not less than 125 percent of the lifting
capacity of the hoist.
(A) The primary brake shall be directly connected to the drive train of
the hoisting machine, and shall not be
connected
through
belts,
chains,
clutches, or set screw type devices. The
brake shall automatically set when
power to the prime mover is interrupted.
(B)(1) The secondary brake shall be
an automatic emergency type of brake
that, if actuated during each stopping
cycle, shall not engage before the hoist
is stopped by the primary brake.
(2) When a secondary brake is actuated, it shall stop and hold the platform within a vertical distance of 24
inches (609.6 mm).

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(x) Any component of a hoisting machine which requires lubrication for its
protection and proper functioning shall
be provided with a means for that lubrication to be applied.
(5) Suspended equipment—(i) General
requirements. (A) Each suspended unit
component, except suspension ropes
and guardrail systems, shall be capable
of supporting, without failure, at least
four times the maximum intended live
load applied or transmitted to that
component.
(B) Each suspended unit component
shall be constructed of materials that
will withstand anticipated weather
conditions.
(C) Each suspended unit shall be provided with a load rating plate, conspicuously located, stating the unit
weight and rated load of the suspended
unit.
(D) When the suspension points on a
suspended unit are not at the unit
ends, the unit shall be capable of remaining continuously stable under all
conditions of use and position of the
live load, and shall maintain at least a
1.5 to 1 stability factor against unit
upset.
(E) Guide rollers, guide shoes or
building face rollers shall be provided,
and shall compensate for variations in
building dimensions and for minor horizontal out-of-level variations of each
suspended unit.
(F) Each working platform of a suspended unit shall be secured to the
building facade by one or more of the
following methods, or by an equivalent
method:
(1) Continuous engagement to building anchors as provided in paragraph
(e)(2)(i) of this section;
(2) Intermittent engagement to building anchors as provided in paragraph
(e)(2)(iii)(A) of this section;
(3) Button guide engagement as provided in paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(B) of this
section; or
(4) Angulated roping and building
face rollers as provided in paragraph
(e)(2)(iii)(C) of this section.
(G) Each working platform of a suspended unit shall be provided with a
guardrail system on all sides which
shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The system shall consist of a top
guardrail, midrail, and a toeboard;

§ 1910.66

(2) The top guardrail shall not be less
than 36 inches (914 mm) high and shall
be able to withstand at least a 100pound (444 n) force in any downward or
outward direction;
(3) The midrail shall be able to withstand at least a 75-pound (333 n) force
in any downward or outward direction;
and
(4) The areas between the guardrail
and toeboard on the ends and outboard
side, and the area between the midrail
and toeboard on the inboard side, shall
be closed with a material that is capable of withstanding a load of 100 pounds
(45.4 KG.) applied horizontally over any
area of one square foot (.09 m2). The
material shall have all openings small
enough to reject passage of life lines
and potential falling objects which
may be hazardous to persons below.
(5) Toeboards shall be capable of
withstanding, without failure, a force
of at least 50 pounds (222 n) applied in
any downward or horizontal direction
at any point along the toeboard.
(6) Toeboards shall be three and onehalf inches (9 cm) minimum in length
from their top edge to the level of the
platform floor.
(7) Toeboards shall be securely fastened in place at the outermost edge of
the platform and have no more than
one-half inch (1.3 cm) clearance above
the platform floor.
(8) Toeboards shall be solid or with
an opening not over one inch (2.5 cm)
in the greatest dimension.
(ii) Two and four-point suspended
working platforms. (A) The working
platform shall be not less than 24
inches (610 mm) wide and shall be provided with a minimum of a 12 inch (305
mm) wide passage at or past any obstruction on the platform.
(B) The flooring shall be of a slip-resistant type and shall contain no opening that would allow the passage of life
lines, cables and other potential falling
objects. If a larger opening is provided,
it shall be protected by placing a material under the opening which shall prevent the passage of life lines, cables
and potential falling objects.
(C) The working platfrom shall be
provided with a means of suspension

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

that will restrict the platform’s inboard to outboard roll about its longitudinal axis to a maximum of 15 degrees from a horizontal plane when
moving the live load from the inboard
to the outboard side of the platform.
(D) Any cable suspended from above
the platform shall be provided with a
means for storage to prevent accumulation of the cable on the floor of the
platform.
(E) All operating controls for the
vertical travel of the platform shall be
of the continuous-pressure type, and
shall be located on the platform.
(F) Each operating station of every
working platform shall be provided
with a means of interrupting the power
supply to all hoist motors to stop any
further powered ascent or descent of
the platform.
(G) The maximum rated speed of the
platform shall not exceed 50 feet per
minute (0.3 ms) with single speed
hoists, nor 75 feet per minute (0.4 ms)
with multi-speed hoists.
(H) Provisions shall be made for securing all tools, water tanks, and other
accessories to prevent their movement
or accumulation on the floor of the
platform.
(I) Portable fire extinguishers conforming to the provisions of § 1910.155
and § 1910.157 of this part shall be provided and securely attached on all
working platforms.
(J) Access to and egress from a working platfrom, except for those that land
directly on a safe surface, shall be provided by stairs, ladders, platforms and
runways conforming to the provisions
of subpart D of this part. Access gates
shall be self-closing and self-latching.
(K) Means of access to or egress from
a working platform which is 48 inches
(1.2 m) or more above a safe surface
shall be provided with a guardrail system or ladder handrails that conform
to the provisions of subpart D of this
part.
(L) The platform shall be provided
with a secondary wire rope suspension
system if the platform contains overhead structures which restrict the
emergency egress of employees. A horizontal lifeline or a direct connection
anchorage shall be provided, as part of
a fall arrest system which meets the

requirements of appendix C, for each
employee on such a platform.
(M) A vertical lifeline shall be provided as part of a fall arrest system
which meets the requirements of appendix C, for each employee on a working platform suspended by two or more
wire ropes, if the failure of one wire
rope or suspension attachment will
cause the platform to upset. If a secondary wire rope suspension is used,
vertical lifelines are not required for
the fall arrest system, provided that
each employee is attached to a horizontal lifeline anchored to the platform.
(N) An emergency electric operating
device shall be provided on roof powered platforms near the hoisting machine for use in the event of failure of
the normal operating device located on
the working platform, or failure of the
cable connected to the platform. The
emergency electric operating device
shall be mounted in a secured compartment, and the compartment shall be labeled with instructions for use. A
means for opening the compartment
shall be mounted in a break-glass
receptable located near the emergency
electric operating device or in an
equivalent secure and accessible location.
(iii) Single point suspended working
platforms. (A) The requirements of
paragraphs (f)(5)(ii) (A) through (K) of
this section shall also apply to a single
point working platform.
(B) Each single point suspended
working platform shall be provided
with a secondary wire rope suspension
system, which will prevent the working
platform from falling should there be a
failure of the primary means of support, or if the platform contains overhead structures which restrict the
egress of the employees. A horizontal
life line or a direct connection anchorage shall be provided, as part of a fall
arrest system which meets the requirements of appendix C, for each employee
on the platform.
(iv) Ground-rigged working platforms.
(A) Groundrigged working platforms
shall comply with all the requirements
of paragraphs (f)(5)(ii) (A) through (M)
of this section.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(B) After each day’s use, the power
supply within the building shall be disconnected from a ground-rigged working platform, and the platform shall be
either disengaged from its suspension
points or secured and stored at grade.
(v) Intermittently stabilized platforms.
(A) The platform shall comply with
paragraphs (F)(5)(ii) (A) through (M) of
this section.
(B) Each stabilizer tie shall be
equipped with a ‘‘quick connect-quick
disconnect’’ device which cannot be
accidently disengaged, for attachment
to the building anchor, and shall be resistant to adverse environmental conditions.
(C) The platform shall be provided
with a stopping device that will interrupt the hoist power supply in the
event the platform contacts a stabilizer tie during its ascent.
(D) Building face rollers shall not be
placed at the anchor setting if exterior
anchors are used on the building face.
(E) Stabilizer ties used on intermittently stabilized platforms shall allow
for the specific attachment length
needed to effect the predetermined angulation of the suspended wire rope.
The specific attachment length shall
be maintained at all building anchor
locations.
(F) The platform shall be in continuous contact with the face of the building during ascent and descent.
(G) The attachment and removal of
stabilizer ties shall not require the horizontal movement of the platform.
(H) The platform-mounted equipment
and its suspension wire ropes shall not
be physically damaged by the loads
from the stabilizer tie or its building
anchor. The platform, platform mounted equipment and wire ropes shall be
able to withstand a load that is at least
twice the ultimate strength of the stabilizer tie.
NOTE: See Figure II in appendix B of this
section for a description of a typical intermittent stabilization system.

(vi) Button-guide stabilized platforms.
(A) The platform shall comply with
paragraphs (f)(5)(ii) (A) through (M) of
this section.
(B) Each guide track on the platform
shall engage a minimum of two guide
buttons during any vertical travel of

§ 1910.66

the platform following the initial button engagement.
(C) Each guide track on a platform
that is part of a roof rigged system
shall be provided with a storage position on the platform.
(D) Each guide track on the platform
shall be sufficiently maneuverable by
platform occupants to permit easy engagement of the guide buttons, and
easy movement into and out of its storage position on the platform.
(E) Two guide tracks shall be mounted on the platform and shall provide
continuous contact with the building
face.
(F) The load carrying components of
the button guide stabilization system
which transmit the load into the platform shall be capable of supporting the
weight of the platform, or provision
shall be made in the guide track connectors or platform attachments to
prevent the weight of the platform
from being transmitted to the platform
attachments.
NOTE: See Figure III in appendix B of this
section for a description of a typical button
guide stabilization system.

(6) Supported equipment. (i) Supported
equipment shall maintain a vertical
position in respect to the face of the
building by means other than friction.
(ii) Cog wheels or equivalent means
shall be incorporated to provide climbing traction between the supported
equipment and the building guides. Additional guide wheels or shoes shall be
incorporated as may be necessary to
ensure that the drive wheels are continuously held in positive engagement
with the building guides.
(iii) Launch guide mullions indexed
to the building guides and retained in
alignment with the building guides
shall be used to align drive wheels entering the building guides.
(iv) Manned platforms used on supported equipment shall comply with
the
requirements
of
paragraphs
(f)(5)(ii)(A), (f)(5)(ii)(B), and (f)(5)(ii) (D)
through (K) of this section covering
suspended equipment.
(7) Suspension wire ropes and rope connections. (i) Each specific installation
shall use suspension wire ropes or combination cable and connections meeting the specification recommended by

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

the manufacturer of the hoisting machine used. Connections shall be capable of developing at least 80 percent of
the rated breaking strength of the wire
rope.
(ii) Each suspension rope shall have a
‘‘Design Factor’’ of at least 10. The
‘‘Design Factor’’ is the ratio of the
rated strength of the suspension wire
rope to the rated working load, and
shall be calculated using the following
formula:

S(N)
F =
W
Where:
F = Design factor
S = Manufacturer’s rated strength of one
suspension rope
N = Number of suspension ropes under load
W = Rated working load on all ropes at any
point of travel

(iii) Suspension wire rope grade shall
be at least improved plow steel or
equivalent.
(iv) Suspension wire ropes shall be
sized to conform with the required design factor, but shall not be less than 5/
16 inch (7.94 mm) in diameter.
(v) No more than one reverse bend in
six wire rope lays shall be permitted.
(vi) A corrosion-resistant tag shall be
securely attached to one of the wire
rope fastenings when a suspension wire
rope is to be used at a specific location
and will remain in that location. This
tag shall bear the following wire rope
data:
(A) The diameter (inches and/or mm);
(B) Construction classification;
(C)
Whether
non-preformed
or
preformed;
(D) The grade of material;
(E)
The
manufacturer’s
rated
strength;
(F) The manufacturer’s name;
(G) The month and year the ropes
were installed; and
(H) The name of the person or company which installed the ropes.
(vii) A new tag shall be installed at
each rope renewal.
(viii) The original tag shall be
stamped with the date of the
resocketing, or the original tag shall
be retained and a supplemental tag
shall be provided when ropes are

resocketed. The supplemental tag shall
show the date of resocketing and the
name of the person or company that
resocketed the rope.
(ix) Winding drum type hoists shall
contain at least three wraps of the suspension wire rope on the drum when
the suspended unit has reached the
lowest possible point of its vertical
travel.
(x) Traction drum and sheave type
hoists shall be provided with a wire
rope of sufficient length to reach the
lowest possible point of vertical travel
of the suspended unit, and an additional length of the wire rope of at
least four feet (1.2 m).
(xi) The lengthening or repairing of
suspension wire ropes is prohibited.
(xii) Babbitted fastenings for suspension wire rope are prohibited.
(8) Control circuits, power circuits and
their components. (i) Electrical wiring
and equipment shall comply with subpart S of this part, except as otherwise
required by this section.
(ii) Electrical runway conductor systems shall be of a type designed for use
in exterior locations, and shall be located so that they do not come into
contact with accumulated snow or
water.
(iii) Cables shall be protected against
damage resulting from overtensioning
or from other causes.
(iv) Devices shall be included in the
control system for the equipment
which will provide protection against
electrical overloads, three phase reversal and phase failure. The control system shall have a separate method,
independent of the direction control
circuit, for breaking the power circuit
in case of an emergency or malfunction.
(v) Suspended or supported equipment shall have a control system
which will require the operator of the
equipment to follow predetermined
procedures.
(vi) The following requirements shall
apply to electrical protection devices:
(A) On installations where the carriage does not have a stability factor of
at least four against overturning, electrical contact(s) shall be provided and
so connected that the operating devices
for the suspended or supported equipment shall be operative only when the

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
carriage is located and mechanically
retained at an established operating
point.
(B) Overload protection shall be provided in the hoisting or suspension system to protect against the equipment
operating in the ‘‘up’’ direction with a
load in excess of 125 percent of the
rated load of the platform; and
(C) An automatic detector shall be
provided for each suspension point that
will interrupt power to all hoisting motors for travel in the ‘‘down’’ direction,
and apply the primary brakes if any
suspension wire rope becomes slack. A
continuous-pressure
rigging-bypass
switch designed for use during rigging
is permitted. This switch shall only be
used during rigging.
(vii) Upper and lower directional
switches designed to prevent the travel
of suspended units beyond safe upward
and downward levels shall be provided.
(viii) Emergency stop switches shall
be provided on remote controlled, roofpowered manned platforms adjacent to
each control station on the platform.
(ix) Cables which are in constant tension shall have overload devices which
will prevent the tension in the cable
from interfering with the load limiting
device
required
in
paragraph
(f)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, or with the
platform roll limiting device required
in paragraph (f)(5)(ii)(C) of this section.
The setting of these devices shall be coordinated with other overload settings
at the time of design of the system,
and shall be clearly indicated on or
near the device. The device shall interrupt the equipment travel in the
‘‘down’’ direction.
(g) Inspection and tests—(1) Installations and alterations. All completed
building maintenance equipment installations shall be inspected and tested in the field before being placed in
initial service to determine that all
parts of the installation conform to applicable requirements of this standard,
and that all safety and operating
equipment is functioning as required. A
similar inspection and test shall be
made following any major alteration to
an existing installation. No hoist in an
installation shall be subjected to a load
in excess of 125 percent of its rated
load.

§ 1910.66

(2) Periodic inspections and tests. (i)
Related building supporting structures
shall undergo periodic inspection by a
competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
(ii) All parts of the equipment including control systems shall be inspected,
and, where necessary, tested by a competent person at intervals specified by
the manufacturer/supplier, but not to
exceed 12 months, to determine that
they are in safe operating condition.
Parts subject to wear, such as wire
ropes, bearings, gears, and governors
shall be inspected and/or tested to determine that they have not worn to
such an extent as to affect the safe operation of the installation.
(iii) The building owner shall keep a
certification record of each inspection
and test required under paragraphs
(g)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section. The certification record shall include the date
of the inspection, the signature of the
person who performed the inspection,
and the number, or other identifier, of
the building support structure and
equipment which was inspected. This
certification record shall be kept readily available for review by the Assistant Secretary of Labor or the Assistant
Secretary’s representative and by the
employer.
(iv) Working platforms and their
components shall be inspected by the
employer for visible defects before
every use and after each occurrence
which could affect the platform’s structural integrity.
(3) Maintenance inspections and tests.
(i) A maintenance inspection and,
where necessary, a test shall be made
of each platform installation every 30
days, or where the work cycle is less
than 30 days such inspection and/or
test shall be made prior to each work
cycle. This inspection and test shall
follow procedures recommended by the
manufacturer, and shall be made by a
competent person.
(ii) The building owner shall keep a
certification record of each inspection
and test performed under paragraph
(g)(3)(i) of this section. The certification record shall include the date of
the inspection and test, the signature
of the person who performed the inspection and/or test, and an identifier
for the platform installation which was

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

inspected. The certification record
shall be kept readily available for review by the Assistant Secretary of
Labor or the Assistant Secretary’s representative and by the employer.
(4) Special inspection of governors and
secondary brakes. (i) Governors and secondary brakes shall be inspected and
tested at intervals specified by the
manufacturer/supplier but not to exceed every 12 months.
(ii) The results of the inspection and
test shall confirm that the initiating
device for the secondary braking system operates at the proper overspeed.
(iii) The results of the inspection and
test shall confirm that the secondary
brake is functioning properly.
(iv) If any hoisting machine or initiating device for the secondary brake
system is removed from the equipment
for testing, all reinstalled and directly
related components shall be reinspected prior to returning the equipment installation to service.
(v) Inspection of governors and secondary brakes shall be performed by a
competent person.
(vi) The secondary brake governor
and actuation device shall be tested before each day’s use. Where testing is
not feasible, a visual inspection of the
brake shall be made instead to ensure
that it is free to operate.
(5) Suspension wire rope maintenance,
inspection and replacement. (i) Suspension wire rope shall be maintained and
used in accordance with procedures
recommended by the wire rope manufacturer.
(ii) Suspension wire rope shall be inspected by a competent person for visible defects and gross damage to the
rope before every use and after each occurrence which might affect the wire
rope’s integrity.
(iii) A thorough inspection of suspension wire ropes in service shall be made
once a month. Suspension wire ropes
that have been inactive for 30 days or
longer shall have a thorough inspection
before they are placed into service.
These thorough inspections of suspension wire ropes shall be performed by a
competent person.
(iv) The need for replacement of a
suspension wire rope shall be determined by inspection and shall be based
on the condition of the wire rope. Any

of the following conditions or combination of conditions will be cause for removal of the wire rope:
(A) Broken wires exceeding three
wires in one strand or six wires in one
rope lay;
(B) Distortion of rope structure such
as would result from crushing or
kinking;
(C) Evidence of heat damage;
(D) Evidence of rope deterioration
from corrosion;
(E) A broken wire within 18 inches
(460.8 mm) of the end attachments;
(F) Noticeable rusting and pitting;
(G) Evidence of core failure (a lengthening of rope lay, protrusion of the
rope core and a reduction in rope diameter suggests core failure); or
(H) More than one valley break (broken wire).
(I) Outer wire wear exceeds one-third
of the original outer wire diameter.
(J) Any other condition which the
competent person determines has significantly affected the integrity of the
rope.
(v) The building owner shall keep a
certification record of each monthly
inspection of a suspension wire rope as
required in paragraph (g)(5)(iii) of this
section. The record shall include the
date of the inspection, the signature of
the person who performed the inspection, and a number, or other identifier,
of the wire rope which was inspected.
This record of inspection shall be made
available for review by the Assistant
Secretary of Labor or the Assistant
Secretary’s representative and by the
employer.
(6) Hoist inspection. Before lowering
personnel below the top elevation of
the building, the hoist shall be tested
each day in the lifting direction with
the intended load to make certain it
has sufficient capacity to raise the personnel back to the boarding level.
(h) Maintenance—(1) General maintenance. All parts of the equipment affecting safe operation shall be maintained in proper working order so that
they may perform the functions for
which they were intended. The equipment shall be taken out of service
when it is not in proper working order.
(2) Cleaning. (i) Control or power
contactors and relays shall be kept
clean.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(ii) All other parts shall be kept
clean if their proper functioning would
be affected by the presence of dirt or
other contaminants.
(3) Periodic resocketing of wire rope fastenings. (i) Hoisting ropes utilizing
poured socket fastenings shall be
resocketed at the non-drum ends at intervals not exceeding 24 months. In
resocketing the ropes, a sufficient
length shall be cut from the end of the
rope to remove damaged or fatigued
portions.
(ii) Resocketed ropes shall conform
to the requirements of paragraph (f)(7)
of this section.
(iii) Limit switches affected by the
resocketed ropes shall be reset, if necessary.
(4) Periodic reshackling of suspension
wire ropes. The hoisting ropes shall be
reshackled at the nondrum ends at intervals not exceeding 24 months. When
reshackling the ropes, a sufficient
length shall be cut from the end of the
rope to remove damaged or fatigued
portions.
(5) Roof systems. Roof track systems,
tie-downs, or similar equipment shall
be maintained in proper working order
so that they perform the function for
which they were intended.
(6) Building face guiding members. Trails, indented mullions, or equivalent
guides located in the face of a building
shall be maintained in proper working
order so that they perform the functions for which they were intended.
Brackets for cable stabilizers shall
similarly be maintained in proper
working order.
(7) Inoperative safety devices. No person shall render a required safety device or electrical protective device inoperative, except as necessary for
tests, inspections, and maintenance.
Immediately upon completion of such
tests, inspections and maintenance, the
device shall be restored to its normal
operating condition.
(i) Operations—(1) Training. (i) Working platforms shall be operated only by
persons who are proficient in the operation, safe use and inspection of the
particular working platform to be operated.
(ii) All employees who operate working platforms shall be trained in the
following:

§ 1910.66

(A) Recognition of, and preventive
measures for, the safety hazards associated with their individual work tasks.
(B) General recognition and prevention of safety hazards associated with
the use of working platforms, including
the provisions in the section relating
to the particular working platform to
be operated.
(C) Emergency action plan procedures required in paragraph (e)(9) of
this section.
(D) Work procedures required in
paragraph (i)(1)(iv) of this section.
(E) Personal fall arrest system inspection, care, use and system performance.
(iii) Training of employees in the operation and inspection of working platforms shall be done by a competent
person.
(iv) Written work procedures for the
operation, safe use and inspection of
working platforms shall be provided for
employee training. Pictorial methods
of instruction, may be used, in lieu of
written work procedures, if employee
communication is improved using this
method. The operating manuals supplied by manufacturers for platform
system components can serve as the
basis for these procedures.
(v) The employer shall certify that
employees have been trained in operating and inspecting a working platform by preparing a certification
record which includes the identity of
the person trained, the signature of the
employer or the person who conducted
the training and the date that training
was
completed.
The
certification
record shall be prepared at the completion of the training required in paragraph (i)(1)(ii) of this section, and shall
be maintained in a file for the duration
of the employee’s employment. The
certification record shall be kept readily available for review by the Assistant Secretary of Labor or the Assistant
Secretary’s representative.
(2) Use. (i) Working platforms shall
not be loaded in excess of the rated
load, as stated on the platform load
rating plate.
(ii) Employees shall be prohibited
from working on snow, ice, or other
slippery material covering platforms,
except for the removal of such materials.

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

(iii) Adequate precautions shall be
taken to protect the platform, wire
ropes and life lines from damage due to
acids or other corrosive substances, in
accordance with the recommendations
of the corrosive substance producer,
supplier, platform manufacturer or
other equivalent information sources.
Platform members which have been exposed to acids or other corrosive substances shall be washed down with a
neutralizing solution, at a frequency
recommended by the corrosive substance producer or supplier.
(iv) Platform members, wire ropes
and life lines shall be protected when
using a heat producing process. Wire
ropes and life lines which have been
contacted by the heat producing process shall be considered to be permanently damaged and shall not be used.
(v) The platform shall not be operated in winds in excess of 25 miles per
hour (40.2 km/hr) except to move it
from an operating to a storage position. Wind speed shall be determined
based on the best available information, which includes on-site anemometer readings and local weather forecasts which predict wind velocities for
the area.
(vi) On exterior installations, an anemometer shall be mounted on the platform to provide information of on-site
wind velocities prior to and during the
use of the platform. The anemometer
may be a portable (hand held) unit
which is temporarily mounted during
platform use.
(vii) Tools, materials and debris not
related to the work in progress shall
not be allowed to accumulate on platforms. Stabilizer ties shall be located
so as to allow unencumbered passage
along the full length of the platform
and shall be of such length so as not to
become entangled in rollers, hoists or
other machinery.
(j) Personal fall protection. Employees
on working platforms shall be protected by a personal fall arrest system
meeting the requirements of appendix
C, section I, of this standard, and as
otherwise provided by this standard.
APPENDIX A TO § 1910.66, GUIDELINES
(ADVISORY)
1. Use of the Appendix. Appendix A provides
examples of equipment and methods to assist
the employer in meeting the requirements of

the indicated provision of the standard. Employers may use other equipment or procedures which conform to the requirements of
the standard. This appendix neither adds to
nor detracts from the mandatory requirements set forth in § 1910.66.
2. Assurance. Paragraph (c) of the standard
requires the building owner to inform the
employer in writing that the powered platform installation complies with certain requirements of the standard, since the employer may not have the necessary information to make these determinations. The employer, however, remains responsible for
meeting these requirements which have not
been set off in paragraph (c)(1).
3. Design Requirements. The design requirements for each installation should be based
on the limitations (stresses, deflections,
etc.), established by nationally recognized
standards as promulgated by the following
organizations, or to equivalent standards:
AA—The Aluminum Association, 818 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Washington, DC,
20006
Aluminum Construction Manual
Specifications For Aluminum Structures
Aluminum Standards and Data
AGMA—American Gear Manufacturers Association, 101 North Fort Meyer Dr., Suite
1000, Arlington, VA 22209
AISC—American Institute of Steel Construction, 400 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
ANSI—American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, NY
10018
ASCE—American Society of Civil Engineers,
345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017
ASME—American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 East 47th Street, New York,
NY 10017
ASTM—American Society for Testing and
Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
AWS—American Welding Society, Inc., Box
351040, 550 NW. LeJeunne Road, Miami,
FL 33126
JIC—Joint Industrial Council, 2139 Wisconsin
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20007
NEMA—National Electric Manufacturers Association, 2101 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037
4. Tie-in-guides. Indented mullions, T-rails
or other equivalent guides are acceptable as
tie-in guides in a building face for a continuous stabilization system. Internal guides
are embedded in other building members
with only the opening exposed (see Figure 1
of appendix B). External guides, however, are
installed external to the other building
members and so are fully exposed. The minimum opening for tie-in guides is three-quarters of an inch (19 mm), and the minimum inside dimensions are one-inch (25 mm) deep
and two inches (50 mm) wide.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
Employers should be aware of the hazards
associated with tie-in guides in a continuous
stabilization system which was not designed
properly. For example, joints in these track
systems may become extended or discontinuous due to installation or building settlement. If this alignment problem is not corrected, the system could jam when a guide
roller or guide shoe strikes a joint and this
would cause a hazardous situation for employees. In another instance, faulty design
will result in guide rollers being mounted in
a line so they will jam in the track at the
slightest misalignment.
5. Building anchors (intermittent stabilization
system). In the selection of the vertical distance between building anchors, certain factors should be given consideration. These
factors include building height and architectural design, platform length and weight,
wire rope angulation, and the wind velocities
in the building area. Another factor to consider is the material of the building face,
since this material may be adversely affected by the building rollers.
External or indented type building anchors
are acceptable. Receptacles in the building
facade used for the indented type should be
kept clear of extraneous materials which
will hinder their use. During the inspection
of the platform installation, evidence of a
failure or abuse of the anchors should be
brought to the attention of the employer.
6. Stabilizer tie length. A stabilizer tie
should be long enough to provide for the
planned angulation of the suspension cables.
However, the length of the tie should not be
excessive and become a problem by possibly
becoming entangled in the building face rollers or parts of the platform machinery.
The attachment length may vary due to
material elongation and this should be considered when selecting the material to be
used. Consideration should also be given to
the use of ties which are easily installed by
employees, since this will encourage their
use.
7. Intermittent stabilization system. Intermittent stabilization systems may use different
equipment, tie-in devices and methods to restrict the horizontal movement of a powered
platform with respect to the face of the
building. One acceptable method employs
corrosion-resistant building anchors secured
in the face of the building in vertical rows
every third floor or 50 feet (15.3 m), whichever is less. The anchors are spaced horizontally to allow a stabilization attachment
(stabilizer tie) for each of the two platform
suspension wire ropes. The stabilizer tie consists of two parts. One part is a quick connect-quick disconnect device which utilizes a
corrosion-resistant yoke and retainer spring
that is designed to fit over the building anchors. The second part of the stabilizer tie is
a lanyard which is used to maintain a fixed

§ 1910.66

distance between the suspension wire rope
and the face of the building.
In this method, as the suspended powered
platform descends past the elevation of each
anchor, the descent is halted and each of the
platform occupants secures a stabilizer tie
between a suspension wire rope and a building anchor. The procedure is repeated as
each elevation of a building anchor is
reached during the descent of the powered
platform.
As the platform ascends, the procedure is
reversed; that is, the stabilizer ties are removed as each elevation of a building anchor
is reached. The removal of each stabilizer tie
is assured since the platform is provided
with stopping devices which will interrupt
power to its hoist(s) in the event either stopping device contacts a stabilizer during the
ascent of the platform.
Figure 2 of appendix B illustrates another
type of acceptable intermittent stabilization
system which utilizes retaining pins as the
quick connect-quick disconnect device in the
stabilizer tie.
8. Wire Rope Inspection. The inspection of
the suspension wire rope is important since
the rope gradually loses strength during its
useful life. The purpose of the inspection is
to determine whether the wire rope has sufficient integrity to support a platform with
the required design factor.
If there is any doubt concerning the condition of a wire rope or its ability to perform
the required work, the rope should be replaced. The cost of wire rope replacement is
quite small if compared to the cost in terms
of human injuries, equipment down time and
replacement.
No listing of critical inspection factors,
which serve as a basis for wire rope replacement in the standard, can be a substitute for
an experienced inspector of wire rope. The
listing serves as a user’s guide to the accepted standards by which ropes must be judged.
Rope life can be prolonged if preventive
maintenance is performed regularly. Cutting
off an appropriate length of rope at the end
termination before the core degrades and
valley breaks appear minimizes degradation
at these sections.
9. General Maintenance. In meeting the general maintenance requirement in paragraph
(h)(1) of the standard, the employer should
undertake the prompt replacement of broken, worn and damaged parts, switch contacts, brushes, and short flexible conductors
of electrical devices. The components of the
electrical service system and traveling cables should be replaced when damaged or significantly abraded. In addition, gears, shafts,
bearings, brakes and hoisting drums should
be kept in proper alignment.
10. Training. In meeting the training requirement of paragraph (i)(1) of the standard,

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§ 1910.66

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

employers should use both on the job training and formal classroom training. The written work procedures used for this training
should be obtained from the manufacturer, if
possible, or prepared as necessary for the employee’s information and use.
Employees who will operate powered platforms with intermittent stabilization systems should receive instruction in the specific ascent and descent procedures involving
the assembly and disassembly of the stabilizer ties.
An acceptable training program should
also include employee instruction in basic
inspection procedures for the purpose of determining the need for repair and replacement of platform equipment. In addition, the
program should cover the inspection, care
and use of the personal fall protection equipment required in paragraph (j)(1) of the
standard.
In addition, the training program should
also include emergency action plan elements. OSHA brochure #1B3088 (Rev.) 1985,
‘‘How to Prepare for Workplace Emergencies,’’ details the basic steps needed to
prepare to handle emergencies in the workplace.
Following the completion of a training
program, the employee should be required to
demonstrate competency in operating the
equipment safely. Supplemental training of

the employee should be provided by the employer, as necessary, if the equipment used
or other working conditions should change.
An employee who is required to work with
chemical products on a platform should receive training in proper cleaning procedures,
and in the hazards, care and handling of
these products. In addition, the employee
should be supplied with the appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves
and eye and face protection.
11. Suspension and Securing of Powered Platforms (Equivalency). One acceptable method
of demonstrating the equivalency of a method of suspending or securing a powered platform, as required in paragraphs (e)(2)(iii),
(f)(3) and (f)(5)(i)(F), is to provide an engineering analysis by a registered professional
engineer. The analysis should demonstrate
that the proposed method will provide an
equal or greater degree of safety for employees than any one of the methods specified in
the standard.
APPENDIX B TO § 1910.66—EXHIBITS (ADVISORY)
The three drawings in appendix B illustrate typical platform stabilization systems
which are addressed in the standard. The
drawings are to be used for reference purposes only, and do not illustrate all the mandatory requirements for each system.

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