1926.1404(d): Crane Assembly Crew Instructions
Before crane assembly or disassembly starts, the A/D director must make sure crew members understand their tasks, the hazards of those tasks, and the hazardous positions or locations to avoid. The same must be done before a crew member takes on a different task or when new personnel are added during the work.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1404(d) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC).
- OSHA cited it 5 times in the last 3 years, in 5 inspections, with $60,503 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.1404(d)(1) (4 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1404(d) ("Crew instructions") is one requirement inside 1926.1404 Assembly/Disassembly—general requirements (applies to all assembly and disassembly operations), an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart CC). It includes 5 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
(d) Crew instructions. 5 citations
(1) Before commencing assembly/disassembly operations, the A/D director must ensure that the crew members understand all of the following: Open (d)(1) 4 citations
(i) Their tasks. 1 citations
(ii) The hazards associated with their tasks.
(iii) The hazardous positions/locations that they need to avoid.
(2) During assembly/disassembly operations, before a crew member takes on a different task, or when adding new personnel during the operations, the requirements in paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (d)(1)(iii) of this section must be met. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1404.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1404(d).
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 1926.1404(d), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1404(d).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1404(d)(1) 4 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must crew members understand before assembly/disassembly begins?
Their tasks, the hazards associated with their tasks, and the hazardous positions or locations they need to avoid.
Who is responsible for instructing the crew?
The A/D director.
What if someone joins the crew partway through?
The same instructions must be given before new personnel are added or before a crew member takes on a different task.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1404 (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.