WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
has announced a new
enforcement policy that excludes monorail hoists from the requirements of
Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction, as long as employers meet
other OSHA requirements.
The policy change
was made in response to comments from stakeholders and in recognition that a
monorail hoist – which is attached to a fixed monorail mounted on equipment
such as trucks, trailers, or scaffolding systems – is significantly different
from other cranes and derricks in construction.
Some monorail hoists
can be extended and contracted in only a fixed horizontal direction. They do
not rotate, swing on a hinge, or boom out much farther than the equipment on
which they are mounted. They are often used in construction to hoist precast
concrete components, storage tanks, and mechanical equipment.
Under the new
policy, the agency will not cite employers for failing to meet the requirements
of Subpart CC if they meet the requirements of the overhead hoists and general
training standards. The general industry
requirements for monorail hoists remain intact.
“This enforcement
policy is a commonsense approach to addressing industry concerns while also
ensuring workers are protected,” said Dean McKenzie, director of OSHA’s
Directorate of Construction.
Under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for
providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role
is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by
setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and
assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
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