1926.605: Marine Operations and Equipment in Construction
Construction employers doing material handling on vessels must follow part 1918, and must provide safe access to barges: strong, well-kept vehicle ramps with side boards, a ramp or safe walkway when employees cannot step safely, double rung or flat tread Jacob's ladders that hang without slack or are pulled up, steps with a hand rail of about 33 inches at bulwarks, clear and lit gangways, and access located so loads do not pass over employees where possible.
Key takeaways
- 1926.605 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 11 times in the last 3 years, in 7 inspections, with $43,751 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (4), FL (3), NH (2).
- Most-cited part: 1926.605(d) First-aid and lifesaving equipment (6 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.605, "Marine operations and equipment", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart O). It has 21 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 1926.605 (21 paragraphs)
(a) Material handling operations. Open (a)
(1) Operations fitting the definition of “material handling” shall be performed in conformance with applicable requirements of part 1918, “Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring” of this chapter. The term “longshoring operations” means the loading, unloading, moving, or handling of construction materials, equipment and supplies, etc. into, in, on, or out of any vessel from a fixed structure or shore-to-vessel, vessel-to-shore or fixed structure or vessel-to-vessel.
(b) Access to barges. Open (b) 5 citations
(1) Ramps for access of vehicles to or between barges shall be of adequate strength, provided with side boards, well maintained, and properly secured.
(2) Unless employees can step safely to or from the wharf, float, barge, or river towboat, either a ramp, meeting the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, or a safe walkway, shall be provided. Open (b)(2) 5 citations
(3) Jacob's ladders shall be of the double rung or flat tread type. They shall be well maintained and properly secured.
(4) A Jacob's ladder shall either hang without slack from its lashings or be pulled up entirely.
(5) When the upper end of the means of access rests on or is flush with the top of the bulwark, substantial steps properly secured and equipped with at least one substantial hand rail approximately 33 inches in height, shall be provided between the top of the bulwark and the deck.
(6) Obstructions shall not be laid on or across the gangway.
(7) The means of access shall be adequately illuminated for its full length.
(8) Unless the structure makes it impossible, the means of access shall be so located that the load will not pass over employees.
(c) Working surfaces of barges.
(1) Employees shall not be permitted to walk along the sides of covered lighters or barges with coamings more than 5 feet high, unless there is a 3-foot clear walkway, or a grab rail, or a taut handline is provided.
(2) Decks and other working surfaces shall be maintained in a safe condition.
(3) Employees shall not be permitted to pass fore and aft, over, or around deckloads, unless there is a safe passage.
(4) Employees shall not be permitted to walk over deckloads from rail to coaming unless there is a safe passage. If it is necessary to stand at the outboard or inboard edge of the deckload where less than 24 inches of bulwark, rail, coaming, or other protection exists, all employees shall be provided with a suitable means of protection against falling from the deckload.
(d) First-aid and lifesaving equipment. Open (d) 6 citations
(1) Provisions for rendering first aid and medical assistance shall be in accordance with subpart D of this part. Open (d)(1) 1 citations
(2) The employer shall ensure that there is in the vicinity of each barge in use at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved 30-inch lifering with not less than 90 feet of line attached, and at least one portable or permanent ladder which will reach the top of the apron to the surface of the water. If the above equipment is not available at the pier, the employer shall furnish it during the time that he is working the barge. Open (d)(2) 2 citations
(3) Employees walking or working on the unguarded decks of barges shall be protected with U.S. Coast Guard-approved work vests or buoyant vests. Open (d)(3) 3 citations
(e) Commercial diving operations. Commercial diving operations shall be subject to subpart T of part 1910, §§ 1910.401-1910.441, of this chapter.
[39 FR 22801, June 24, 1974, as amended at 42 FR 37674, July 22, 1977]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.605.
At 1:30 p.m. on January 9, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a construction laborer for a civil engineering firm and was refueling gas canisters. A coworkerwas operating a Link Belt 250X4 LF hydraulic excavator on the transfer barge during a dredging operation. Employee #1…
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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TX (4), FL (3), NH (2), PR (1), VA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WATERMARK MARINE SYSTEMS, LLC | MEREDITH, NH | $12,975 |
| LONGVIEW BRIDGE AND ROAD, LTD. | ORE CITY, TX | $7,052 |
| HC CARPENTRY INC. | PUNTA GORDA, FL | $6,810 |
| SHORELINE FOUNDATION, INC. | JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL | $6,410 |
| DEL VALLE GROUP, LLC. | SAN JUAN, PR | $4,316 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.605, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.53, Guidelines for First Aid Training Programs. (1997-08-21)
- Standards applicable to a barge-mounted stiffleg derrick engaged in the repair and maintenance of a dam site. (1996-04-17)
- "Material handling" operations in "longshoring operations". (1984-06-21)
- Clarification on the applicability of 1915.115(a) and 1918.13(a) in marine construction. (1982-06-14)
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.605(d) First-aid and lifesaving equipment 6 citations
- 1926.605(b) Access to barges 5 citations
- 1926.605(b)(2) 5 citations
- 1926.605(d)(3) 3 citations
- 1926.605(d)(2) 2 citations
- 1926.605(d)(1) 1 citations
- 1926.605(a) Material handling operations
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Frequently asked questions
What rules apply to construction material handling on vessels?
Part 1918, Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring.
What type of Jacob's ladder is allowed?
Double rung or flat tread type, well maintained and properly secured, hanging without slack or pulled up entirely.
Must the means of access be lit?
Yes. It must be adequately illuminated for its full length.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.605 (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.