1926.552(a)(3): Removing Hoist Wire Rope
Wire rope must be removed from service if hoisting ropes have six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay or three in one strand in one rope lay, wear causing loss of more than one-third of outside wire diameter, heat or electrical damage, or a diameter reduction beyond the listed limits.
Key takeaways
- 1926.552(a)(3) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $14,399 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.552(a) General requirements (144 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.552(a)(3) is one requirement inside 1926.552 Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart N). It includes 4 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
(3) Wire rope shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: 4 citations
(i) In hoisting ropes, six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay or three broken wires in one strand in one rope lay;
(ii) Abrasion, scrubbing, flattening, or peening, causing loss of more than one-third of the original diameter of the outside wires; 3 citations
(iii) Evidence of any heat damage resulting from a torch or any damage caused by contact with electrical wires;
(iv) Reduction from nominal diameter of more than three sixty-fourths inch for diameters up to and including three-fourths inch; one-sixteenth inch for diameters seven-eights to 11⁄8 inches; and three thirty-seconds inch for diameters 11⁄4 to 11⁄2 inches.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.552.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.552(a)(3).
At 10:00 a.m. on June 5, 2024, Employee #1, employed as a laborer, was working on a ladder when he fell. The employee landed on a concrete driveway, sustainingfatal injuries from the fall. Emergency services were called to the scene, but the employee was pronounced…
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.552(a) General requirements 144 citations
- 1926.552(a)(1) 94 citations
- 1926.552(a)(4) 45 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How many broken wires require removal?
Six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or three broken wires in one strand in one rope lay, in hoisting ropes.
Does torch damage require removal?
Yes. Any heat damage from a torch or damage from contact with electrical wires requires removal.
What diameter loss requires removal for a 3/4 inch rope?
A reduction from nominal diameter of more than three sixty-fourths inch for diameters up to and including three-fourths inch.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.552 (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.