eCFR 29 CFR 1926.453

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
e-CFR data is current as of
February 24, 2020
Title 29 → Subtitle B → Chapter XVII → Part 1926 → Subpart L → §1926.453

Browse Previous | Browse Next
Title 29: Labor
PART 1926—SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
Subpart L—Scaffolds

§1926.453 Aerial lifts.
(a) General requirements. (1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, aerial lifts acquired
for use on or after January 22, 1973 shall be designed and constructed in conformance with the
applicable requirements of the American National Standards for “Vehicle Mounted Elevating
and Rotating Work Platforms,” ANSI A92.2-1969, including appendix. Aerial lifts acquired
before January 22, 1973 which do not meet the requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969, may not be
used after January 1, 1976, unless they shall have been modified so as to conform with the
applicable design and construction requirements of ANSI A92.2-1969. Aerial lifts include the
following types of vehicle-mounted aerial devices used to elevate personnel to job-sites above
ground:
(i) Extensible boom platforms;
(ii) Aerial ladders;
(iii) Articulating boom platforms;
(iv) Vertical towers; and
(v) A combination of any such devices. Aerial equipment may be made of metal, wood,
fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), or other material; may be powered or manually operated; and
are deemed to be aerial lifts whether or not they are capable of rotating about a substantially
vertical axis.
(2) Aerial lifts may be “field modified” for uses other than those intended by the
manufacturer provided the modification has been certified in writing by the manufacturer or by
any other equivalent entity, such as a nationally recognized testing laboratory, to be in
1

conformity with all applicable provisions of ANSI A92.2-1969 and this section and to be at least
as safe as the equipment was before modification.
(b) Specific requirements—(1) Ladder trucks and tower trucks. Aerial ladders shall be
secured in the lower traveling position by the locking device on top of the truck cab, and the
manually operated device at the base of the ladder before the truck is moved for highway travel.
(2) Extensible and articulating boom platforms. (i) Lift controls shall be tested each day
prior to use to determine that such controls are in safe working condition.
(ii) Only authorized persons shall operate an aerial lift.
(iii) Belting off to an adjacent pole, structure, or equipment while working from an aerial
lift shall not be permitted.
(iv) Employees shall always stand firmly on the floor of the basket, and shall not sit or
climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices for a work position.
(v) A body belt shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working
from an aerial lift.
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (b)(2)(v): As of January 1, 1998, subpart M of this part
(§1926.502(d)) provides that body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest
system. The use of a body belt in a tethering system or in a restraint system is acceptable and is
regulated under §1926.502(e).
(vi) Boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded.
(vii) The brakes shall be set and when outriggers are used, they shall be positioned on pads
or a solid surface. Wheel chocks shall be installed before using an aerial lift on an incline,
provided they can be safely installed.
(viii) An aerial lift truck shall 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 (a) (1) and (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.

2

(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
(b)(2)(viii) of this section.
(3) Electrical tests. All electrical tests shall conform to the requirements of ANSI A92.21969 section 5. However equivalent d.c.; voltage tests may be used in lieu of the a.c. voltage
specified in A92.2-1969; d.c. voltage tests which are approved by the equipment manufacturer or
equivalent entity shall be considered an equivalent test for the purpose of this paragraph (b)(3).
(4) Bursting safety factor. The provisions of the American National Standards Institute
standard ANSI A92.2-1969, section 4.9 Bursting Safety Factor shall apply to all critical
hydraulic and pneumatic components. 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 2 to 1.
(5) Welding standards. All welding shall conform to the following standards 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.
NOTE TO §1926.453: Non-mandatory appendix C to this subpart lists examples of national
consensus standards that are considered to provide employee protection equivalent to that
provided through the application of ANSI A92.2-1969, where appropriate. This incorporation by
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the American National Standards
Institute. Copies may be inspected at the Docket Office, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., room N2634,
Washington, DC or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal__register/code__of__federal__regulations/ibr__locations.html.
[61 FR 46116, Aug. 30, 1996; 61 FR 59832, Nov. 25, 1996, as amended at 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9,
2004]

3