1926.1403: Crane Assembly and Disassembly Procedures
When assembling or disassembling cranes or attachments, employers must follow all applicable manufacturer prohibitions and either manufacturer procedures or employer procedures. Employer procedures may be used only when the employer can show they meet 1926.1406, and manufacturer procedures must be followed when synthetic slings are used in assembly or disassembly rigging.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1403 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC).
- OSHA cited it 3 times in the last 3 years, in 3 inspections, with $26,418 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most-cited part: 1926.1403(a) (3 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1403, "Assembly/Disassembly—selection of manufacturer or employer procedures", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart CC). It has 2 numbered 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
Show the full text of 1926.1403 (2 paragraphs)
When assembling or disassembling equipment (or attachments), the employer must comply with all applicable manufacturer prohibitions and must comply with either:
(a) Manufacturer procedures applicable to assembly and disassembly, or Open (a) 3 citations
(b) Employer procedures for assembly and disassembly. Employer procedures may be used only where the employer can demonstrate that the procedures used meet the requirements in § 1926.1406.
The employer must follow manufacturer procedures when an employer uses synthetic slings during assembly or disassembly rigging. (See § 1926.1404(r).)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1403.
At 9:00 a.m. on October 23, 2023, employees were attempting to disassemble the crawler crane. The employees removed the pins in an incorrect order and without proper blocking. The boom section collapsed onto an employee. The employee was fatally injured. The employee was struck by…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1403, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Regarding Assembly/Disassembly and set-up used in Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard (2014-10-15)
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.1403(a) 3 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What procedures can be used?
Manufacturer procedures, or employer procedures that meet 1926.1406.
Must manufacturer prohibitions be followed?
Yes, all applicable manufacturer prohibitions must be followed.
What if synthetic slings are used?
The employer must follow manufacturer procedures.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1403 (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 2026-10-20
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.