29 Cfr 1926.453

29 CFR 1926.453 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Aerial lifts.

29 CFR 1926.453 (2023-06-05)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 29 —Labor
Subtitle B —Regulations Relating to Labor
Chapter XVII —Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor
Part 1926 —Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
Subpart L —Scaffolds
Authority: 40 U.S.C. 333; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order Nos. 1–90 (55 FR 9033), 5–2007 (72 FR 31159), or
1–2012 (77 FR 3912); and 29 CFR part 1911.
Source: 61 FR 46104, Aug. 30, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
Authority: 40 U.S.C. 3704; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, and 657; and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12–71 (36 FR 8754), 8–76 (41 FR
25059), 9–83 (48 FR 35736), 1–90 (55 FR 9033), 6–96 (62 FR 111), 3–2000 (65 FR 50017), 5–2002 (67 FR 65008), 5–2007
(72 FR 31159), 4–2010 (75 FR 55355), 1–2012 (77 FR 3912), or 8–2020 (85 FR 58393), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911,
unless otherwise noted Sections 1926.58, 1926.59, 1926.60, and 1926.65 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 553 and 29 CFR part
1911. Section 1926.61 also issued under 49 U.S.C. 1801–1819 and 5 U.S.C. 553. See Part 1926 for more
Source: 44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, unless otherwise noted.

Editorial Notes: 1. At 44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979, and corrected at 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, OSHA reprinted
without change the entire text of 29 CFR part 1926 together with certain General Industry Occupational Safety and
Health Standards contained in 29 CFR part 1910, which have been identified as also applicable to construction
work. This republication developed a single set of OSHA regulations for both labor and management forces within
the construction industry.
2. Nomenclature changes to part 1926 appear at 84 FR 21597, May 14, 2019.

§ 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.
29 CFR 1926.453(a)(1)(v) (enhanced display)

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29 CFR 1926.453 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Aerial lifts.

29 CFR 1926.453(a)(2)

(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 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.

29 CFR 1926.453(b)(2)(x) (enhanced display)

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29 CFR 1926.453 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Aerial lifts.

29 CFR 1926.453(b)(2)(xi)

(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 A92.2–1969 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]

29 CFR 1926.453(b)(5)(iv) (enhanced display)

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