1926.552(a): Hoist and Elevator General Requirements
Employers must follow the manufacturer's specifications and limits for operating all construction hoists and elevators, or a competent professional engineer's limits if specifications are not available. Rated loads, speeds and hazard warnings must be posted on cars and platforms, damaged wire rope must be removed from service under listed conditions, and live booms on hoists and endless belt-type manlifts are prohibited.
Key takeaways
- 1926.552(a) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 144 times in the last 3 years, in 139 inspections, with $324,439 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: GA (54), NC (14), IL (12).
- Related part: 1926.552(a)(1) (94 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.552(a) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1926.552 Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart N). It includes 10 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
(a) General requirements. 144 citations
(1) The employer shall comply with the manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of all hoists and elevators. Where manufacturer's specifications are not available, the limitations assigned to the equipment shall be based on the determinations of a professional engineer competent in the field. Open (a)(1) 94 citations
(2) Rated load capacities, recommended operating speeds, and special hazard warnings or instructions shall be posted on cars and platforms. 1 citations
(3) Wire rope shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: Open (a)(3) 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.
(4) Hoisting ropes shall be installed in accordance with the wire rope manufacturers' recommendations. Open (a)(4) 45 citations
(5) The installation of live booms on hoists is prohibited.
(6) The use of endless belt-type manlifts on construction shall be prohibited.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.552.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.552(a).
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…
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 | 12 |
| 2024 | 59 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 27 |
Top states: GA (54), NC (14), IL (12), NH (12), NJ (9)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| NJ BEST CONSTRUCTION LLC | ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ | $32,265 |
| J WAMAN CONSTRUCTION, INC. | TEANECK, NJ | $21,876 |
| LUIS ALBERTO-REYNA AVILA, AKA LUIS REYNA AVILA | SCRANTON, PA | $16,550 |
| TWO BROTHERS CONTRACTING, INC. | RICHMOND, VA | $15,992 |
| JM EXTERIOR SIDING CORPORATION | TEWKSBURY, MA | $14,564 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.552(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.552(a)(1) 94 citations
- 1926.552(a)(4) 45 citations
- 1926.552(a)(3) 4 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What if the manufacturer's specifications for a hoist are not available?
The equipment's limits must be based on the determinations of a professional engineer competent in the field.
When must hoisting wire rope be taken out of service?
When listed conditions exist, such as six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay or three broken wires in one strand in one rope lay, heat or electrical damage, or excess wear.
Are endless belt manlifts allowed on construction sites?
No. The use of endless belt-type manlifts on construction is prohibited.
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 2026-10-19
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.