1926.1441: Cranes Rated 2,000 Pounds or Less
Employers using equipment with a maximum rated hoisting or lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less must follow listed parts of the crane rule, including ground conditions, assembly/disassembly, power line safety, wire rope, signals, fall protection and keeping clear of the load. For assembly, components and configuration that affect capacity or safe operation must follow manufacturer instructions, or a registered professional engineer's approval when those are unavailable.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1441 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 3 inspections, with $32,262 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most-cited part: 1926.1441(c) Operation—procedures (2 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1441, "Equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart CC). It has 29 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 1926.1441 (29 paragraphs)
The following paragraphs of this section specify requirements for employers using equipment with a maximum rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less.
(a) The employer using this equipment must comply with the following provisions of this subpart: § 1926.1400 (Scope); § 1926.1401 (Definitions); § 1926.1402 (Ground conditions); § 1926.1403 (Assembly/disassembly—selection of manufacturer or employer procedures); § 1926.1406 (Assembly/disassembly—employer procedures); §§ 1926.1407 through 1926.1411 (Power line safety); § 1926.1412(c) (Post-assembly); §§ 1926.1413 through 1926.1414 (Wire rope); § 1926.1418 (Authority to stop operation); §§ 1926.1419 through 1926.1422 (Signals); § 1926.1423 (Fall protection); § 1926.1425 (Keeping clear of the load) (except for § 1926.1425(c)(3) (qualified rigger)); § 1926.1426 (Free fall and controlled load lowering); § 1926.1432 (Multiple crane/derrick lifts—supplemental requirements); § 1926.1434 (Equipment modifications); § 1926.1435 (Tower cranes); § 1926.1436 (Derricks); § 1926.1437 (Floating cranes/derricks and land cranes/derricks on barges); § 1926.1438 (Overhead & gantry cranes).
(b) Assembly/disassembly.
(1) In addition to compliance with §§ 1926.1403 (Assembly/disassembly—selection of manufacturer or employer procedures) and 1926.1406 (Assembly/disassembly—employer procedures), the employer must also comply with § 1926.1441(b)(2)-(3).
(2) Components and configuration. The employer must ensure that:
(i) The selection of components, and the configuration of the equipment, that affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment complies with either the:
(A) Manufacturer instructions, recommendations, limitations, and specifications. When these documents and information are unavailable, a registered professional engineer familiar with the type of equipment involved must approve, in writing, the selection and configuration of components; or
(B) Approved modifications that meet the requirements of § 1926.1434 (Equipment modifications).
(ii) Post-assembly inspection. Upon completion of assembly, the equipment is inspected to ensure that it is in compliance with paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section (see § 1926.1412(c) for post-assembly inspection requirements).
(3) Manufacturer prohibitions. The employer must comply with applicable manufacturer prohibitions.
(c) Operation—procedures. Open (c) 2 citations
(1) The employer must comply with all manufacturer procedures applicable to the operational functions of the equipment, including its use with attachments.
(2) Unavailable operation procedures. The employer must: Open (c)(2) 1 citations
(i) When the manufacturer's procedures are unavailable, develop, and ensure compliance with, all procedures necessary for the safe operation of the equipment and attachments. Open (c)(2)(i) 1 citations
(ii) Ensure that procedures for the operational controls are developed by a qualified person.
(iii) Ensure that procedures related to the capacity of the equipment are developed and signed by a registered professional engineer familiar with the equipment.
(3) Accessibility. The employer must ensure that: 1 citations
(i) The load chart is available to the operator at the control station;
(ii) Procedures applicable to the operation of the equipment, recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, instructions, and operator's manual are readily available for use by the operator. 1 citations
(iii) When rated capacities are available at the control station only in electronic form and a failure occurs that makes the rated capacities inaccessible, the operator immediately ceases operations or follows safe shut-down procedures until the rated capacities (in electronic or other form) are available.
(d) Safety devices and operational aids. 1 citations
(1) The employer must ensure that safety devices and operational aids that are part of the original equipment are maintained in accordance with manufacturer procedures.
(2) Anti two-blocking. The employer must ensure that equipment covered by this section manufactured more than one year after November 8, 2010 have either an anti two-block device that meets the requirements of § 1926.1416(d)(3), or is designed so that, in the event of a two-block situation, no damage or load failure will occur (for example, by using a power unit that stalls in response to a two-block situation). 1 citations
(e) Operator qualifications. The employer must train each operator, prior to operating the equipment, on the safe operation of the type of equipment the operator will be using.
(f) Signal person qualifications. The employer must train each signal person in the proper use of signals applicable to the use of the equipment. Open (f) 1 citations
(g) [Reserved]
(h) Inspections. The employer must ensure that equipment is inspected in accordance with manufacturer procedures.
(i) [Reserved]
(j) Hoisting personnel. The employer must ensure that equipment covered by this section is not used to hoist personnel.
(k) Design. The employer must ensure that the equipment is designed by a qualified engineer.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1441.
At 2:47 p.m. on July 10, 2024, Employee #1, employed by a construction company, was removing debris from a construction debris tarp on the ground level. Afterward, the empty tarp was hoisted back to the roof level. The employee was pulled up by the hoist…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1441, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether handling of stones for foundation work is considered a construction activity; Clarification of whether a crane can be derated based on the load being lifted. (2016-07-14)
- Whether qualified rigger required when lifting a load below 2000 lbs or less (2014-03-05)
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.1441(c) Operation—procedures 2 citations
- 1926.1441(c)(2) Unavailable operation procedures 1 citations
- 1926.1441(c)(2)(i) 1 citations
- 1926.1441(f) Signal person qualifications 1 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
What capacity does 1926.1441 cover?
Equipment with a maximum rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less.
Do power line safety rules apply to small cranes?
Yes. Sections 1926.1407 through 1926.1411 (Power line safety) are listed.
What guides component selection and configuration?
Manufacturer instructions, recommendations, limitations, and specifications, or a registered professional engineer when those are unavailable.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1441 (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.
