1910.179(g): Overhead Crane Electrical Equipment
Employers must make sure overhead crane wiring meets subpart S, control circuit voltage does not exceed 600 volts, and pendant push-button voltage does not exceed 150 volts a.c. or 300 volts d.c. Pendant boxes must prevent shock and be clearly marked, live parts must be enclosed or guarded, and controllers must prevent unexpected restarts.
Key takeaways
- 1910.179(g) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 62 times in the last 3 years, in 57 inspections, with $157,816 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (6), KY (5), MD (5).
- Related part: 1910.179(g)(1) General (54 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.179(g) ("Electric equipment") is one requirement inside 1910.179 Overhead and gantry cranes, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). It includes 32 sub-paragraphs. 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
(g) Electric equipment — 62 citations
(1) General. Open (g)(1) 54 citations
(i) Wiring and equipment shall comply with subpart S of this part. Open (g)(1)(i) 2 citations
(ii) The control circuit voltage shall not exceed 600 volts for a.c. or d.c. current.
(iii) The voltage at pendant push-buttons shall not exceed 150 volts for a.c. and 300 volts for d.c.
(iv) Where multiple conductor cable is used with a suspended pushbutton station, the station must be supported in some satisfactory manner that will protect the electrical conductors against strain. 4 citations
(v) Pendant control boxes shall be constructed to prevent electrical shock and shall be clearly marked for identification of functions. Open (g)(1)(v) 48 citations
(2) Equipment. Open (g)(2) 6 citations
(i) Electrical equipment shall be so located or enclosed that live parts will not be exposed to accidental contact under normal operating conditions. Open (g)(2)(i) 3 citations
(ii) Electric equipment shall be protected from dirt, grease, oil, and moisture. 3 citations
(iii) Guards for live parts shall be substantial and so located that they cannot be accidently deformed so as to make contact with the live parts.
(3) Controllers. 1 citations
(i) Cranes not equipped with spring-return controllers or momentary contact pushbuttons shall be provided with a device which will disconnect all motors from the line on failure of power and will not permit any motor to be restarted until the controller handle is brought to the “off” position, or a reset switch or button is operated.
(ii) Lever operated controllers shall be provided with a notch or latch which in the “off” position prevents the handle from being inadvertently moved to the “on” position. An “off” detent or spring return arrangement is acceptable.
(iii) The controller operating handle shall be located within convenient reach of the operator.
(iv) As far as practicable, the movement of each controller handle shall be in the same general directions as the resultant movements of the load.
(v) The control for the bridge and trolley travel shall be so located that the operator can readily face the direction of travel.
(vi) For floor-operated cranes, the controller or controllers if rope operated, shall automatically return to the “off” position when released by the operator.
(vii) Pushbuttons in pendant stations shall return to the “off” position when pressure is released by the crane operator.
(viii) Automatic cranes shall be so designed that all motions shall fail-safe if any malfunction of operation occurs.
(ix) Remote-operated cranes shall function so that if the control signal for any crane motion becomes ineffective the crane motion shall stop. 1 citations
(4) Resistors.
(i) Enclosures for resistors shall have openings to provide adequate ventilation, and shall be installed to prevent the accumulation of combustible matter too near to hot parts.
(ii) Resistor units shall be supported so as to be as free as possible from vibration.
(iii) Provision shall be made to prevent broken parts or molten metal falling upon the operator or from the crane.
(5) Switches. 1 citations
(i) The power supply to the runway conductors shall be controlled by a switch or circuit breaker located on a fixed structure, accessible from the floor, and arranged to be locked in the open position.
(ii) On cab-operated cranes a switch or circuit breaker of the enclosed type, with provision for locking in the open position, shall be provided in the leads from the runway conductors. A means of opening this switch or circuit breaker shall be located within easy reach of the operator.
(iii) On floor-operated cranes, a switch or circuit breaker of the enclosed type, with provision for locking in the open position, shall be provided in the leads from the runway conductors. This disconnect shall be mounted on the bridge or footwalk near the runway collectors. One of the following types of floor-operated disconnects shall be provided:
(a) Nonconductive rope attached to the main disconnect switch.
(b) An undervoltage trip for the main circuit breaker operated by an emergency stop button in the pendant pushbutton in the pendant pushbutton station.
(c) A main line contactor operated by a switch or pushbutton in the pendant pushbutton station.
(iv) The hoisting motion of all electric traveling cranes shall be provided with an overtravel limit switch in the hoisting direction. 1 citations
(v) All cranes using a lifting magnet shall have a magnet circuit switch of the enclosed type with provision for locking in the open position. Means for discharging the inductive load of the magnet shall be provided.
(6) Runway conductors. Conductors of the open type mounted on the crane runway beams or overhead shall be so located or so guarded that persons entering or leaving the cab or crane footwalk normally could not come into contact with them.
(7) Extension lamps. If a service receptacle is provided in the cab or on the bridge of cab-operated cranes, it shall be a grounded three-prong type permanent receptacle, not exceeding 300 volts.
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(g).
At 9:00 p.m. on December 8, 2023, an employee working as a laser machine operator for a sheet metal manufacturer was operating an Amada Model LC4020F1NT Carbon Dioxide Laser Cutter. The employee was operating the machine with the door open, which was accomplished using an…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 15 |
Top states: TX (6), KY (5), MD (5), VA (4), NC (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACS MANUFACTURING, INC. | DENISON, TX | $17,679 |
| INTERNATIONAL MOTORS LLC. | SPRINGFIELD, OH | $16,550 |
| AMSTED RAIL | KEOKUK, IA | $10,000 |
| 67167 - JOE LEASURE - SONS INC | MADISONVILLE, KY | $9,800 |
| KAISER ALUMINUM WARRICK LLC | NEWBURGH, IN | $7,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.179(g), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Covering for Grounded Contact Conductors on Overhead Traveling Crane Systems (Patrick E. Wall/DEP/GIE/Harvey/26611) (2015-06-29)
- "Normal operating conditions" for overhead and gantry cranes include maintenance activity. (1977-09-27)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.179(g)(1) General 54 citations
- 1910.179(g)(1)(v) 48 citations
- 1910.179(g)(2) Equipment 6 citations
- 1910.179(g)(2)(i) 3 citations
- 1910.179(g)(1)(i) 2 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum pendant push-button voltage?
150 volts for a.c. and 300 volts for d.c.
Must pendant controls be labeled?
Yes. Pendant control boxes must prevent electrical shock and be clearly marked for identification of functions.
What happens on power failure?
Cranes without spring-return controllers or momentary pushbuttons need a device that disconnects all motors and will not allow restart until the controller is brought to off or a reset is operated.
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.