FactSheet

•	 The annual/comprehensive and monthly inspections must be documented according to 1926.1412(f)(7)

and 1916.1412(e)(3), respectively.

•	 Rope lubricants of the type that hinder inspection must not be used.

•	 All documents produced under this section must be available, during the applicable document retention

period, to all persons who conduct inspections under this section.

Shift Inspection

Shift inspections are visual inspections that a competent person must begin prior to each shift during

which the equipment is used. Shift inspections do not require untwisting (opening) of wire ropes or

booming down. The inspection must consist of observation of wire ropes (running and standing) that are

likely to be in use during the shift for apparent deficiencies, including the following:

Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in

Construction: Wire Rope – Inspection 

This fact sheet describes the inspection requirements of subpart CC – Cranes and 

Derricks in Construction, as specified in 29 CFR 1926.1413. These provisions are 

effective November 8, 2010. This document is intended to assist wire rope inspectors 

and supervisors.

Inspection Trigger Inspection Details Performed by Documentation

Each shift

See list below, visual

inspection must begin

prior to each shift in

which the equipment

is used.

Competent Person Not required

Monthly See details below. Competent Person

Required. Must be signed by the person

who conducted the inspection and

retained for a minimum of 3 months.

Annual See details below. Qualified Person

Required. Must be signed by the person

who conducted the inspection and

retained for a minimum of 12 months.

Apparent Deficiencies – Category I Removal from Service Criteria

•	 Significant distortion of the wire rope structure such

as kinking, crushing, unstranding, birdcaging, signs of

core failure, or steel core protrusion between the outer

strands.

•	 Significant corrosion.

•	 Electric arc damage (from a source other than power

lines) or heat damage.

•	 Improperly applied end connections.

•	 Significantly corroded, cracked, bent, or worn end

connections (such as from severe service).

If a Category I deficiency is identified, the competent

person must immediately determine whether it

constitutes a safety hazard. If the deficiency is

determined to be a safety hazard, all operations

involving use of the wire rope in question must be

prohibited until: 

•	 The wire rope is replaced. (See 1926.1417), or

•	 If the deficiency is localized, the problem is corrected

by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged

portion may continue to be used. Joining lengths

of wire rope by splicing is prohibited. If a rope is

shortened under this paragraph, the employer must

ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire

when the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.
Where a wire rope is required to be removed from service under this section, either the equipment (as a

whole), or the hoist with that wire rope must be tagged-out, in accord with 1926.1417(f)(1), until the wire

rope is repaired or replaced.

Critical Review Items

Particular attention must be given to all of the following:

•	 Rotation-resistant wire rope in use.

•	 Wire rope being used for boom hoists and luffing hoists, particularly at reverse bends.

•	 Wire rope at flange points, crossover points, and repetitive pickup points on drums.

•	 Wire rope at or near terminal ends.

•	 Wire rope in contact with saddles, equalizer sheaves or other sheaves where rope travel is limited.

Monthly Inspection

Each month an inspection must be conducted as stated under “Shift Inspection” above.

In addition to the criteria for shift inspection, monthly inspections require that:

•	 The inspection must include any deficiencies that the qualified person who conducts the annual

inspection determines under 1926.1413(c)(3)(ii) must be monitored.

•	 Wire ropes on equipment must not be used until an inspection under this paragraph demonstrates that

no corrective action under 1926.1413(a)(4) is required.

•	 The inspection must be documented according to 1926.1412(e)(3) (monthly inspection documentation).

Apparent Deficiencies – Category II Removal from Service Criteria

•	 Visible broken wires:

° In running wire ropes: six randomly distributed

broken wires in one rope lay or three broken wires

in one strand in one rope lay, where a rope lay is the

length along the rope in which one strand makes a

complete revolution around the rope.

° In rotation-resistant ropes: two randomly

distributed broken wires in six rope diameters or

four randomly distributed broken wires in 30 rope

diameters.

° In pendants or standing wire ropes: more than two

broken wires in one rope lay located in rope beyond

end connections and/or more than one broken wire

in a rope lay located at an end connection.

•	 A diameter reduction of more than 5% from nominal

diameter.

If a Category II deficiency is identified, operations

involving use of the wire rope in question must be

prohibited until:

•	 Employer complies with the wire rope manufacturer’s

established criterion for removal from service, or with

a different criterion that the wire rope manufacturer

has approved in writing for that specific wire rope.

(See 1926.1417).

•	 The wire rope is replaced. (See 1926.1417), or

•	 If the deficiency is localized, the problem is corrected

by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged

portion may continue to be used. Joining lengths

of wire rope by splicing is prohibited. If a rope is

shortened under this paragraph, the employer must

ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire

when the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.

Apparent Deficiencies – Category III Removal from Service Criteria

•	 In rotation-resistant wire rope, core protrusion or

other distortion indicating core failure.

•	 Prior electrical contact with a power line.

•	 A broken strand.

If a Category III deficiency is identified, operations

involving use of the wire rope in question must be

prohibited until:

•	 The wire rope is replaced. (See 1926.1417), or

•	 If the deficiency (other than power line contact)

is localized, the problem is corrected by severing

the wire rope in two; the undamaged portion may

continue to be used. Joining lengths of wire rope

by splicing is prohibited. Repair of wire rope that

contacted an energized power line is also prohibited.

If a rope is shortened under this paragraph, the

employer must ensure that the drum will still have

two wraps of wire when the load and/or boom is in its

lowest position.
Annual/Comprehensive Inspection

At least every 12 months, wire ropes in use on equipment must be inspected by a qualified person as

stated under “Shift Inspection” above.

In addition to the criteria for shift inspection, annual inspections require that –

•	 The inspection must be complete and thorough, covering the surface of the entire length of the wire

ropes, with particular attention given to all of the following:

° Critical review items from 1926.1413(a)(3)–(see “Critical Review Items” above).

° Those sections that are normally hidden during shift and monthly inspections.

° Wire rope subject to reverse bends.

° Wire rope passing over sheaves.

Exception

In the event an annual inspection under 1926.1413(c)(2) is not feasible due to existing set-up and

configuration of the equipment (such as where an assist crane is needed) or due to site conditions (such as

a dense urban setting), such inspections must be conducted as soon as it becomes feasible, but no longer

than an additional 6 months for running ropes and, for standing ropes, at the time of disassembly.

•	 If a deficiency is determined to constitute a safety hazard, operations involving use of the wire rope in

question must be prohibited until:

° The wire rope is replaced (see 1926.1417), or

° If the deficiency is localized, the problem is corrected by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged

portion may continue to be used. Joining wire rope by splicing is prohibited. If a rope is shortened

under this paragraph, the employer must ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire when

the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.

•	 If a deficiency is identified and the qualified person determines that, though not presently a safety

hazard, the deficiency needs to be monitored, the employer must ensure that the deficiency is checked in

the monthly inspections.

 Additionally

•	 The inspection must be documented according to 1926.1412(f)(7).

•	 Rope lubricants of the type that hinder inspection must not be used.

•	 All documents produced under this section must be available, during the applicable document retention

period, to all persons who conduct inspections under this section.

DOC FS-3635 01/2013

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. 

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.