[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 7]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1918.55]

[Page 264]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1918_SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR LONGSHORING--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart F_Vessel's Cargo Handling Gear
 
Sec. 1918.55  Cranes (See also Sec. 1918.11).

    The following requirements shall apply to the use of cranes forming 
part of a vessel's permanent equipment.
    (a) Defects. Cranes with a visible or known defect that affects safe 
operation shall not be used. Defects shall be reported immediately to 
the officer in charge of the vessel.
    (b) Operator's station. (1) Cranes with missing, broken, cracked, 
scratched, or dirty glass (or equivalent) that impairs operator 
visibility shall not be used.
    (2) Clothing, tools and equipment shall be stored so as not to 
interfere with access, operation or the operator's view.
    (c) Cargo operations. (1) Accessible areas within the swing radius 
of the body of a revolving crane or within the travel of a shipboard 
gantry crane shall be physically guarded or other equally effective 
means shall be taken during operations to prevent an employee from being 
caught between the body of the crane and any fixed structure, or between 
parts of the crane. Verbal warnings to employees to avoid the dangerous 
area do not meet this requirement.
    (2) Limit switch bypass systems shall be secured during all cargo 
operations. Such bypass systems shall not be used except in an emergency 
or during non-cargo handling operations such as stowing cranes or 
derricks or performing repairs. Any time a bypass system is used, it 
shall be done only under the direction of an officer of the vessel.
    (3) Under all operating conditions, at least three full turns of 
rope shall remain on ungrooved drums, and two full turns on grooved 
drums.
    (4) Crane brakes shall be monitored during use. If crane brakes are 
unable to hold the load, the crane shall not be used.
    (5) Cranes shall not be used if control levers operate with 
excessive friction or excessive play.
    (6) When cranes are equipped with power down capability, there shall 
be no free fall of the gear when a load is attached.
    (7) When two or more cranes hoist a load in unison, a designated 
person shall direct the operation and instruct personnel in positioning, 
rigging of the gear and movements to be made.
    (d) Unattended cranes. When cranes are left unattended between work 
periods, Sec. 1918.66(b) (4)(i) through (v) shall apply.