Working under suspended equipment
Working under suspended equipment
(OP)
Does anyone know of any OSHA regulations that covers working on or under cable suspended equipment? These are not scaffolds or moving loads, but permenant structures whose sole method of support are cables from above rather than support columns from underneath. The applications are in every US state as well as worldwide.





RE: Working under suspended equipment
cable, that OSHA reference is: 29 CFR 1910.184 - Slings -
Subpart N - MATERIALS HANDLING AND STORAGE.
Also, one should read the OSHA 3072, "Sling Safety" booklet current date issued: 1995 (Revised).
See the following web site URL:
http://www.uins.com/index71.html
JOHN HEYWOOD, P.E., CSP
SENIOR SAFETY ENGINEER
RE: Working under suspended equipment
Thanks for the post. However, there are no slings, cranes, hoists or moving loads involved. This is a large permenant structure, similar to a mezzanine, inside another permenant structure, that is suspended several yards above the "first floor" by stainless steel cables. My question is not how to design the cable suspension system, but whether or not OSHA has regulations regarding workers on top of or under the suspended structure. Picture a warehouse with a mezzanine where the mezzanine is suspended from the ceiling of the warehouse by cables rather than supported by columns or posts.
RE: Working under suspended equipment
I don't think you will find an OSHA regulation
for that. I think your answer may be found in
the building codes of your community. I would think
that you need a Professional Engineer to certified
that the structure is sound for the intended use. Personally, I think that psychologically I don't think that
I would like working under that.
RE: Working under suspended equipment
RE: Working under suspended equipment
You hit on a grey area. The cables suspend equipment that completely covers the working area right up to the walls, BUT it is not bolted to the walls. It rests against the walls with a rubber gasket between the equipment and the walls. The rubber gasket seals a 9 inch gap between the equipment and the walls. The equipment and walls are on average 100 feet across.
What constitutes "freely suspended" in this case ??
RE: Working under suspended equipment