Powered platforms

Scope

Powered platform installations are permanently dedicated to interior or exterior building maintenance of a specific structure or group of structures. This does not apply to suspended scaffolds (swinging scaffolds) used to service buildings on a temporary basis and covered under Subpart D of this Part, or to suspended scaffolds covered under Subpart L of 29 CFR 1926. Building maintenance includes, but is not limited to, window cleaning, caulking, metal polishing and reglazing.

Regulatory citations

• 29 CFR 1910.66 — Powered platforms for building maintenance

Key definitions

• Building maintenance: Operations such as window cleaning, caulking, metal polishing, reglazing, and general maintenance on building surfaces.
• Cable: A conductor, or group of conductors, enclosed in a weatherproof sheath, that may be used to supply electrical power and/or control current for equipment or to provide voice communication circuits.
• Carriage: A wheeled vehicle used for the horizontal movement and support of other equipment.
• Certification: A written, signed and dated statement confirming the performance of a requirement of this section.
• Competent person: A person who, because of training and experience, is capable of identifying hazardous or dangerous conditions in powered platform installations and of training employees to identify such conditions.
• Hoisting machine: A device intended to raise and lower a suspended or supported unit.
• Hoist rated load: The hoist manufacturer’s maximum allowable operating load.
• Installation: All the equipment and all affected parts of a building which are associated with the performance of building maintenance using powered platforms.
• Platform rated load: The combined weight of workers, tools, equipment and other material which is permitted to be carried by the working platform at the installation, as stated on the load rating plate.
• Primary brake: A brake designed to be applied automatically whenever power to the prime mover is interrupted or discontinued.
• Rated load: The manufacturer’s recommended maximum load.
• Rated strength: The strength of wire rope, as designated by its manufacturer or vendor, based on standard testing procedures or acceptable engineering design practices.
• Rated working load: The combined static weight of men, materials, and suspended or supported equipment.
• Secondary brake: A brake designed to arrest the descent of the suspended or supported equipment in the event of an overspeed condition.
• Self powered platform: A working platform where the hoist(s) used to raise or lower the platform is mounted on the platform.
• Working platform: A suspended or supported equipment intended to provide access to the face of a building and manned by persons engaged in building maintenance.

Summary of requirements

• Permanent installations in existence and/or completed before July 23, 1990, must comply with paragraphs (g), (h), (i), (j) and Appendix C to Subpart I of this part.
• Permanent installations completed after August 27, 1971, and in existence and/or completed before July 23, 1990, must comply with Appendix D of this section.
• Permanent installations in existence and/or completed after July 24, 1990, must comply with all of 1910.66.
• Get proof in writing from the building owner that all installations, new and existing, have been inspected, tested, and maintained.
• Develop and implement a written emergency action plan for each kind of working platform operation. The plan must explain:
  • Emergency procedures which are to be followed in the event of a power failure, equipment failure, or other emergencies.
  • That employees inform themselves about the building emergency escape routes, procedures and alarm systems before operating a platform.
• Provide safe access to and egress from the carriage. If the carriage traverses an elevated area, ensure employees are protected by a guardrail system. Require that any access gate be self-closing and self-latching, or provided with an interlock.
• Do not operate the platform when winds exceed 25 miles per hour except to move it from an operating to a storage position.
• Use only a hoisting machine to raise and lower suspended or supported equipment.
• Require that each suspended unit component, except suspension ropes and guardrail systems, be capable of supporting, without failure, at least four times the maximum intended live load applied or transmitted.
• Provide each suspended platform with a load rating plate, conspicuously located, stating the unit weight and rated load of the suspended unit.
• Provide and secure on all platforms appropriate portable fire extinguishers.
• Inspect and test new building maintenance equipment installations before being placed in initial service. Perform a similar inspection and test following any major alteration to an existing installation.
• Do not subject a hoist to a load in excess of 125 percent of its rated load.
• Perform periodic inspection of related building supporting structures (performed by a competent person) at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
• Inspect all parts of the equipment including control systems (performed by a competent person) at intervals specified by the manufacturer/supplier, but not to exceed 12 months, to determine that they are in safe operating condition. Look for parts subject to wear, such as wire ropes, bearings, gears, and governors to determine that they have not worn to such an extent as to affect the safe operation of the installation.
• Require the building owner to keep a certification record of each inspection and test required. Ensure the certification record includes the date of the inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection, and the number, or other identifier, of the building support structure and equipment which was inspected. This certification record shall be kept readily available for review.
• Inspect working platforms and their components for visible defects before every use and after each occurrence which could affect the platform’s structural integrity.
• Perform a maintenance inspection (done by a competent person) and, where necessary, a test be made of each platform installation every 30 days. Where the work cycle is less than 30 days the inspection and/or test must be made prior to each work cycle. Follow procedures recommended by the manufacturer.
• Require the building owner to keep a certification record of each inspection and test performed. Include the date of the inspection and test, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and/or test, and an identifier for the platform installation which was inspected. Keep the certification record readily available.
• Have a competent person inspect and test governors and secondary brakes at intervals specified by the manufacturer/supplier, but not to exceed every 12 months. Make sure the results of the inspection and test confirm:
  • The initiating device for the secondary braking system operates at the proper overspeed, and
  • The secondary brake is functioning properly.
• If any hoisting machine or initiating device for the secondary brake system is removed from the equipment for testing, then reinspect all reinstalled and directly related components prior to returning the equipment installation to service.
• Test the secondary brake governor and actuation device before each day’s use. Where testing is not feasible, make a visual inspection of the brake instead to ensure that it is free to operate.
• Maintain and use suspension wire rope according to manufacturer’s procedures.
• Have a competent person inspect suspension wire rope for visible defects and gross damage to the rope before every use and after each occurrence which might affect the wire rope’s integrity.
• Inspect once a month all suspension wire ropes in service.
• Require that competent person inspect suspension wire ropes that have been inactive for 30 days or longer before they are placed into service.
• Require the building owner to keep a certification record of each monthly inspection of a suspension wire rope. Ensure the record includes the date of the inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection, and a number, or other identifier, of the wire rope which was inspected. Make the record of inspection available for review.
• Test hoists each day before use in the lifting direction with the intended load to make certain it has sufficient capacity to raise the personnel back to the boarding level.
• Maintain all parts of the equipment, affecting safe operation, in proper working order.
• Train (by a competent person) employees who operate working platforms in the following:
  • Recognition of, and preventive measures for, the safety hazards associated with their individual work tasks.
  • General recognition and prevention of safety hazards associated with the use of working platforms;
  • Emergency action plan procedures;
  • Work procedures; and
  • Personal fall arrest system inspection, care, use and system performance.

Certify that employees have been trained by preparing a certification record which includes the identity of the person trained, the signature of the employer or the person who conducted the training and the date that training was completed. Maintain the certification for the duration of the employee’s employment and keep the certification record readily available for review.