1926.453(b)(2): Boom lift (aerial lift) operating rules
On extensible and articulating boom platforms, lift controls must be tested each day before use, and only authorized persons may operate the lift. Workers must not belt off to an adjacent pole, structure or equipment, must stand firmly on the basket floor, and must not sit or climb on the basket edge or use planks or ladders to gain height. A body belt or harness lanyard must be attached to the boom or basket (body belts may not be used for fall arrest since 1998). Load limits must not be exceeded, brakes must be set, outriggers placed on pads or solid ground, and the truck must not be moved with the boom raised and workers in the basket unless designed for it.
Key takeaways
- 1926.453(b)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 1,879 times in the last 3 years, in 1,704 inspections, with $6,420,878 in current penalties.
- 7 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (245), FL (148), NJ (118).
- Related part: 1926.453(b) Specific requirements (1,879 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.453(b)(2) ("Extensible and articulating boom platforms") is one requirement inside 1926.453 Aerial lifts, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart L). It includes 12 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
(2) Extensible and articulating boom platforms. 1,879 citations
(i) Lift controls shall be tested each day prior to use to determine that such controls are in safe working condition. Open (b)(2)(i) 4 citations
(ii) Only authorized persons shall operate an aerial lift. Open (b)(2)(ii) 27 citations
(iii) Belting off to an adjacent pole, structure, or equipment while working from an aerial lift shall not be permitted. Open (b)(2)(iii) 1 citations
(iv) Employees shall always stand firmly on the floor of the basket, and shall not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices for a work position. Open (b)(2)(iv) 212 citations
(v) A body belt shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift. Open (b)(2)(v) 1,608 citations
As of January 1, 1998, subpart M of this part (§ 1926.502(d)) provides that body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system. The use of a body belt in a tethering system or in a restraint system is acceptable and is regulated under § 1926.502(e).
(vi) Boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded. Open (b)(2)(vi) 9 citations
(vii) The brakes shall be set and when outriggers are used, they shall be positioned on pads or a solid surface. Wheel chocks shall be installed before using an aerial lift on an incline, provided they can be safely installed. Open (b)(2)(vii) 3 citations
(viii) An aerial lift truck shall not be moved when the boom is elevated in a working position with men in the basket, except for equipment which is specifically designed for this type of operation in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section. Open (b)(2)(viii) 12 citations
(ix) Articulating boom and extensible boom platforms, primarily designed as personnel carriers, shall have both platform (upper) and lower controls. Upper controls shall be in or beside the platform within easy reach of the operator. Lower controls shall provide for overriding the upper controls. Controls shall be plainly marked as to their function. Lower level controls shall not be operated unless permission has been obtained from the employee in the lift, except in case of emergency. Open (b)(2)(ix) 3 citations
(x) Climbers shall not be worn while performing work from an aerial lift. Open (b)(2)(x)
(xi) The insulated portion of an aerial lift shall not be altered in any manner that might reduce its insulating value. Open (b)(2)(xi)
(xii) Before moving an aerial lift for travel, the boom(s) shall be inspected to see that it is properly cradled and outriggers are in stowed position except as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(viii) of this section. Open (b)(2)(xii)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.453.
Injuries linked to this rule
7 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.453(b)(2).
At 9:30 a.m. on December 28, 2024, Employee #1 was transporting material to the third floor of a hotel using a Genie S-85 aerial lift (Serial Number S8514-11869). While attempting to unpin the man basket after it became pinned against the side of the building,…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 167 |
| 2024 | 683 |
| 2025 | 687 |
| 2026 | 342 |
Top states: TX (245), FL (148), NJ (118), IL (106), VA (106)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | FOREST, VA | $142,691 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | ROANOKE, VA | $130,000 |
| LOREDO CONSTRUCTION LLC | ROANOKE, VA | $75,000 |
| SCHMIDT STEEL, INC. | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $41,706 |
| JOZEF KOSICKY | JACKSON, NJ | $32,265 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.453(b)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification on the use of safety monitors as a method of fall protection on a low-slope roof. (2012-04-20)
- Fall protection on aerial lifts during construction activities. (2011-08-22)
- Whether OSHA standards require employees to be tied off while working over water on an aerial lift. (2010-03-20)
- Whether a manufacturer-stipulated minimum anchor point elevation of 18 feet precludes the use of a shock absorbing lanyard in an aerial lift. (2009-01-14)
- Request to expand the application of the "de minimis" policy regarding Section 1926.453(b)(2)(iii) and the use of the "Wishbone" fall protection device beyond the parameters described in OSHA's February 2, 2004 letter to Mr. Michael Kurtgis. (2005-02-15)
- Permissibility of attaching welding leads to an occupied aerial lift bucket and using an external lifeline to anchor fall arrest equipment. (2004-02-23)
- Compliance of an aerial lift fall protection device connected with a releasable tether and a non-releasable tether. (2004-02-02)
- Use of aerial lift or scissor lift guardrails as a work or scaffold platform. (2002-10-23)
- Safety Standards regulating the stability of mobile scaffolds, scissor lifts, and aerial work platforms. (2002-06-10)
- Standards applicable to aerial lifts; acceptable uses of body belts as restraint systems and positioning devices. (2001-05-11)
- Use of aerial lifts to transport workers to elevated workstations; scissor lifts are not covered by the aerial lift provisions. (2001-05-03)
- Fall protection for various lift-devices; restraint, positioning, fall arrest and rescue requirements; maintenance vs. construction examples. (2000-08-14)
- Fall protection, training, inspection and design requirements of aerial lifts and scissor lifts/scaffolds. (2000-02-23)
- Anchoring of fall arrest system to aerial lifts; fall arrest vs. restraint systems. (1999-02-18)
- Suspended personnel platforms. (1993-02-17)
- Use of an aerial basket to lift employees to an elevation to climb to a higher elevation. (1973-04-17)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.453(b) Specific requirements 1,879 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(v) 1,608 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(iv) 212 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(ii) 27 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(viii) 12 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(vi) 9 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(i) 4 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(ix) 3 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(vii) 3 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(iii) 1 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(xii)
- 1926.453(b)(2)(xi)
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Frequently asked questions
Do you have to tie off in a boom lift?
Yes. A lanyard must be attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift. Body belts are not acceptable for fall arrest, so a harness is used for that purpose.
Can you tie off to a nearby beam from the basket?
No. Belting off to an adjacent pole, structure or equipment while working from an aerial lift is not permitted.
How often must lift controls be tested?
Each day before use.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.453 (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.