1910.179(b)(8): Only Designated Personnel Operate Cranes
Employers must permit only designated personnel to operate overhead and gantry cranes covered by this section.
Key takeaways
- 1910.179(b)(8) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 11 times in the last 3 years, in 11 inspections, with $48,454 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (3), NY (2), ID (1).
- Related part: 1910.179(b) General requirements (57 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.179(b)(8) ("Designated personnel") is one requirement inside 1910.179 Overhead and gantry cranes, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(8) Designated personnel —Only designated personnel shall be permitted to operate a crane covered by this section. 11 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.179.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.179(b)(8).
At 8:40 a.m. on April 18, 2024, an employee working for a glass and glazing contractor was attempting to maneuver a 3-ton overhead crane to unsecured windowframes. The window frames were staged in for metal fabrication prep in the assembly area. While moving one of…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TX (3), NY (2), ID (1), MA (1), AL (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ARROWALL COMPANY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $12,000 |
| MARMON RETAIL SOLUTIONS | WAGONER, OK | $9,457 |
| HEIDELBERG MATERIALS US CEMENT LLC | CATSKILL, NY | $8,067 |
| MONARCH STEEL OF ALABAMA, INC. | DECATUR, AL | $4,966 |
| MET WELD INTERNATIONAL, LLC | ALTAMONT, NY | $4,840 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.179(b)(8), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.179(b) General requirements 57 citations
- 1910.179(b)(5) Rated load marking 32 citations
- 1910.179(b)(6) Clearance from obstruction 9 citations
- 1910.179(b)(6)(i) 2 citations
- 1910.179(b)(2) New and existing equipment 2 citations
- 1910.179(b)(4) Wind indicators and rail clamps
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Frequently asked questions
Who can operate an overhead crane?
Only designated personnel.
Which cranes does this cover?
Overhead and gantry cranes covered by 1910.179.
Can any trained worker run the crane?
Only if they are designated personnel.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.179 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-22
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.