1926.1441(c): Crane Operation Procedures and Load Charts
Employers must follow manufacturer procedures for operating the equipment and attachments. If those are unavailable, the employer must develop procedures, with operational control procedures developed by a qualified person and capacity procedures signed by a registered professional engineer. The load chart and operating information must be available to the operator.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1441(c) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC).
- OSHA cited it 2 times in the last 3 years, in 2 inspections, with $16,131 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.1441(c)(2) Unavailable operation procedures (1 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1441(c) ("Operation—procedures") is one requirement inside 1926.1441 Equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart CC). It includes 9 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
(c) Operation—procedures. 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.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1441.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1441(c).
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(c), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1441(c).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1441(c)(2) Unavailable operation procedures 1 citations
- 1926.1441(c)(2)(i) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Who develops capacity procedures if the manufacturer's are unavailable?
A registered professional engineer familiar with the equipment must develop and sign them.
Where must the load chart be?
Available to the operator at the control station.
What if electronic rated capacities fail?
The operator immediately ceases operations or follows safe shut-down procedures until the rated capacities are available.
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 2026-10-19
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.