OSHA’s standards for rigging equipment and material handling are in place to protect employees, and they require attention from employers, managers, and supervisors on a daily - and even hourly - basis. For those working in industries like ours - those that involve material handling of any sort - these standards can be the difference between life and death.

OSHA Standards...Did You Know?

OSHA standard 1926.251(a)(1) states that “Rigging equipment for material handling shall be inspected prior to use on each shift and as necessary during its use to ensure that it is safe. Defective rigging equipment shall be removed from service.”

What this means for you…

If you're the boss, this means that you need to be taking these standards seriously. If your company is doing any kind of work that involves material handling, the standards and regulations laid out in this OSHA guideline is essential for a safe and compliant operation.

Some things to know for your lifting operation:

Employers must make sure that all of their equipment has permanently affixed and legible identification markings (as prescribed by the manufacturer of the equipment) that indicate the recommended safe working load.

Employers are responsible to make sure that their lifting equipment not be loaded in excess of the recommended safe working load. Employers need to make sure that any custom or special design grabs, hooks, clamps, or other lifting accessories (for items such as modular panels, prefabricated structures and similar materials) must be marked to indicate their safe working loads and must be proof-tested prior to use to 125 percent of their rated load.

OSHA’s compliance regulations establish safety measures that keep operations moving forward and keep hard working men and women safe.

At Olsen Chain & Cable, we provide training, outreach, education, and assistance for your OSHA compliance. To connect with a rep from Olsen who can help you maintain standards while you protect your people and your operation, click here.