1926.704: Requirements for Precast Concrete
Precast concrete wall units, structural framing and tilt-up panels must be supported to prevent overturning and collapse until permanent connections are completed. Lifting inserts must support at least two times (tilt-up) or four times (other precast) the maximum intended load, lifting hardware at least five times, and only employees needed for erection may be under members being lifted or tilted.
Key takeaways
- 1926.704 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $11,292 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most-cited part: 1926.704(a) (1 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.704, "Requirements for precast concrete", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Q). It has 5 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 1926.704 (5 paragraphs)
(a) Precast concrete wall units, structural framing, and tilt-up wall panels shall be adequately supported to prevent overturning and to prevent collapse until permanent connections are completed. Open (a) 1 citations
(b) Lifting inserts which are embedded or otherwise attached to tilt-up precast concrete members shall be capable of supporting at least two times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to them.
(c) Lifting inserts which are embedded or otherwise attached to precast concrete members, other than the tilt-up members, shall be capable of supporting at least four times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to them.
(d) Lifting hardware shall be capable of supporting at least five times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to the lifting hardware.
(e) No employee shall be permitted under precast concrete members being lifted or tilted into position except those employees required for the erection of those members. Open (e)
[53 FR 22643, June 16, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 41088, Oct. 5, 1989]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.704.
At 3:00 p.m. on June 6, 2024, an employee working as a construction laborer for a precast concrete manufacturer had positioned his aerial boom lift beside a 5-story precast concrete panel. The employee staged in that location while waiting for instructions to rig the panel…
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether a multiple lift of pre-cast concrete members is permissible. (2009-04-03)
- Revision of the applicability of the steel erection standard to pre-cast concrete erection work interpretation. (2005-08-23)
- Lift-slab Bridge Construction (1991-11-25)
- Spacing of guardrail brackets used on flying forms. (1986-04-17)
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.704(a) 1 citations
- 1926.704(e)
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Frequently asked questions
How long must precast members be supported?
Until permanent connections are completed.
How strong must lifting hardware be?
Capable of supporting at least five times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it.
Who may be under precast members being lifted?
Only employees required for the erection of those members.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.704 (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.