1926.1431(e): Crane Personnel Platform Design
A qualified person familiar with structural design must design crane personnel platforms. The platform must stay within 10 degrees of level, resist tipping, hold its own weight plus at least five times the maximum intended load, be welded by a certified welder, and have a guardrail, enclosure from toeboard to mid-rail, an inside grab rail, and access gates that do not swing outward except where infeasible.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1431(e) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC).
- OSHA cited it 13 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $16,634 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PR (4), SD (3), TN (3).
- Related part: 1926.1431(e)(6) (1 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1431(e) ("Personnel platform criteria") is one requirement inside 1926.1431 Hoisting personnel, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart CC). It includes 14 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
(e) Personnel platform criteria. 13 citations
(1) A qualified person familiar with structural design must design the personnel platform and attachment/suspension system used for hoisting personnel. 4 citations
(2) The system used to connect the personnel platform to the equipment must allow the platform to remain within 10 degrees of level, regardless of boom angle.
(3) The suspension system must be designed to minimize tipping of the platform due to movement of employees occupying the platform.
(4) The personnel platform itself (excluding the guardrail system and personal fall arrest system anchorages), must be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least five times the maximum intended load. 1 citations
(5) All welding of the personnel platform and its components must be performed by a certified welder familiar with the weld grades, types and material specified in the platform design.
(6) The personnel platform must be equipped with a guardrail system which meets the requirements of subpart M of this part, and must be enclosed at least from the toeboard to mid-rail with either solid construction material or expanded metal having openings no greater than 1⁄2 inch (1.27 cm). Points to which personal fall arrest systems are attached must meet the anchorage requirements in subpart M of this part. Open (e)(6) 1 citations
(7) A grab rail must be installed inside the entire perimeter of the personnel platform except for access gates/doors. 1 citations
(8) Access gates/doors. If installed, access gates/doors of all types (including swinging, sliding, folding, or other types) must:
(i) Not swing outward. If due to the size of the personnel platform, such as a 1-person platform, it is infeasible for the door to swing inward and allow safe entry for the platform occupant, then the access gate/door may swing outward.
(ii) Be equipped with a device that prevents accidental opening.
(9) Headroom must be sufficient to allow employees to stand upright in the platform.
(10) In addition to the use of hard hats, employees must be protected by overhead protection on the personnel platform when employees are exposed to falling objects. The platform overhead protection must not obscure the view of the operator or platform occupants (such as wire mesh that has up to 1⁄2 inch openings), unless full protection is necessary. Open (e)(10) 1 citations
(11) All edges exposed to employee contact must be smooth enough to prevent injury.
(12) The weight of the platform and its rated capacity must be conspicuously posted on the platform with a plate or other permanent marking. 5 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1431.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: PR (4), SD (3), TN (3), PA (2), CO (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CHARLES BLALOCK & SONS, INC. | GATLINBURG, TN | $6,000 |
| JM CARIBBEAN BUILDERS CORPORATION | PONCE, PR | $5,356 |
| ALPHA DEMOLITIONS, INC | SAN JUAN, PR | $3,570 |
| A&K CONSTRUCTION, LLC | PLANKINTON, SD | $1,708 |
| NORTHLAND CONCRETE AND MASONRY COMPANY, LLC | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $0 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Protection of employees by overhead protection on a personnel platform, being lifted by a crane, when employees are exposed to falling objects (2014-04-21)
- Evaluation of a personal platform enclosure panel. (2004-08-10)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1431(e)(6) 1 citations
- 1926.1431(e)(10) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How much must a personnel platform support?
Its own weight and at least five times the maximum intended load, without failure.
How level must the platform stay?
Within 10 degrees of level, regardless of boom angle.
Who may weld the platform?
A certified welder familiar with the weld grades, types and material in the design.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1431 (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 2026-10-19
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.