Working under suspended equipment

[IFRs]

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.

 

[humanfactoreng123]

Within your description of equipment being suspended by
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

 

[IFRs]

humanfactoreng123 -
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.

 

[conduit]

You offer an interesting question.

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.

 

[chicopee]

IF EQUIPMENT IS NOT FREELY SUSPENDED THEN REGULATION FOR SUSPENDED LOADS SHOULD NOT APPLY

 

[IFRs]

chicopee -
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 ??

 

[chicopee]

THE ISSUE OF WORKING UNDER FREELY SUSPENDED LOADS RELATES TO MATERIAL 1)HOISTED WITH CRANES AND DERRICKS 2)LIFTED W/ AND W./O. SLINGS BY FORKLIFTS, BUCKET LOADERS, OR BY OTHER MACHINERY. IF SUCH SUSPENDED, HOISTED OR LIFTED MATERIAL CAN BE SAFELY BLOCKED OR SECURED FROM FALLING DUE TO BREAKAGE, LOOSE LOADS, LOSS OF HYDRAULIC OR PNEUMATICS FROM THE EQUIPMENT USED THAN THERE SHOULD BE NO SAFETY ISSUE.