DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH  
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE  
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY STANDARDS  
(By authority conferred on the director of the department of labor and economic growth by  
sections 19 and 21 of 1974 PA 154, and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1996-2 and  
2003-18, MCL 408.1019, 408.1021, 445.2001, and 445.2011)  
PART 28 PERSONNEL HOISTING IN STEEL ERECTION  
R 408.42801 Scope.  
Rule 2801. (1) This part sets forth requirements to protect employees from the hazards  
associated with steel erection activities involved in the construction, alteration, or repair  
of single and multistory buildings, bridges, and other structures where steel erection  
occurs.  
History: 2007 AACS.  
R 408.42804 Definitions  
Rule 2804. (1) "Competent person" means a person who is experienced and capable of  
identifying an existing or potential hazard in surroundings, or under working conditions,  
that are hazardous or dangerous to an employee and who has the authority and knowledge  
to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate the hazards.  
(2) "Connector" means an employee who, working with hoisting equipment, is placing  
and connecting structural members or components.  
(3) "Controlled load lowering" means lowering a load by means of a mechanical hoist  
drum device that allows a hoisted load to be lowered with maximum control using the gear  
train or hydraulic components of the hoist mechanism. Controlled load lowering requires  
the use of the hoist drive motor, rather than the load hoist brake, to lower the load.  
(4) "Headache ball" means a solid iron weight, usually spherical, used to keep the loadline  
taut and positioned above the hook.  
(5) "Load line standing platform" means an attachment to the headache ball of a crane  
that provides adequate footing for the safe transport of connectors.  
(6) "Personal fall arrest system" means a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from  
a working level. A personal fall arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body  
harness, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combination  
of these. The use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited.  
(7) "Positioning device system" means a body belt or body harness rigged to allow an  
employee to be supported on an elevated, vertical surface, such as a wall or column, and  
work with both hands free while leaning.  
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(8) "Purlin, in systems-engineered metal buildings," means a "Z" or "C" shaped member  
formed from sheet steel spanning between primary framing and supporting roof material.  
(9) "Steel erection" means the construction, alteration, or repair of steel buildings, bridges,  
and other structures, including the installation of metal decking and all planking used  
during the process of erection.  
History: 2007 AACS.  
R 408.42806 Reference of standards.  
Rule 2806. (1) The following occupational safety and health administrative standards are  
referenced in this standard. Up to 5 copies of these standards may be obtained at no charge  
from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, MIOSHA Standards  
Section, 7150 Harris Drive, P.O. Box 30643, Lansing, Michigan 48909-8143, or via the  
internet at:  
www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards.For quantities greater than 5, the cost, at the time of  
adoption of these rules, is 4 cents per page.  
(a) Construction Safety Standard Part 26. "Steel Erection" being R 408.42601 to R  
408.42655 of the Michigan administrative code.  
(b) Construction Safety Standard Part 45. "Fall Protection," being R 408.44501 to R  
408.44502 of the Michigan administrative code.  
History: 2007 AACS.  
R 408.42809 Personnel hoisting.  
Rule 2809. (1) All the provisions of construction safety standard Part 26. "Steel Erection"  
being R 408.42601 to R 408.42655, which is referenced in R 408.42806, apply to all  
hoisting.  
(2) Riding the headache ball is prohibited except when the work area is inaccessible or  
hazardous to reach by other means, a maximum of 2 connectors may ride the headache ball  
to and from the workstation with the knowledge and consent of the employer or the  
employer's designated representative. The connector or connectors may be lifted to the  
workstation only when all of the following conditions exist:  
(a) Connectors riding a load line standing platform shall be protected from falling by a  
positioning device system or a personal fall arrest system as prescribed in construction  
safety standard Part 45. "Fall Protection," R 408.44501 to R 408.44502 which is referenced  
in R 408.42806.  
(b) The connector or connectors and his or her immediate supervisor, who shall be a  
competent person, and the operator who will perform the lift shall verbally agree and certify  
in writing that using the load line standing platform is the safest alternative. They shall plan  
the lift together to minimize the transport distance. A minimum distance of 20 feet shall be  
maintained between the load line standing platform and the top sheave.  
(c) A load line standing platform shall be a minimum of 3/8 of an inch thick steel plate  
not less than 12 inches nor more than 18 inches in diameter and shall provide means for  
slip resistant footing. The platform shall be secured in such a manner to prevent tipping  
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and shall be placed between the headache ball and the wedge socket.(See figure 1.) As an  
alternative, a shackle rated not less than 25 tons may be used.(See figure 2.)  
(d) No rigging or load shall be attached to the crane or derrick during the use of a load  
line standing platform by the connector or connectors.  
(e) The maximum rate of travel for the connector or connectors riding the load line  
standing platform shall be 100 feet per minute. Free-spooling and live booms are  
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prohibited. Controlled load lowering shall be used when the load line standing platform is  
used to lower the connector or connectors.  
(f) There shall be a communication system between the connector or connectors on a load  
line standing platform and the operator of the crane or derrick. The system may be hand  
signals or a closed 2-way selective frequency radio system. Hand signals shall be followed  
according to appendix A of this part.  
(g) An operator of a crane or derrick shall:  
(i) Not be authorized to raise or lower the connector or connectors on a load line standing  
platform unless the operator is certified by the national commission for the certification of  
crane operators or an equivalent crane certification organization.  
(ii) Be trained in all of the provisions of R 408.42809(2) before being allowed to transport  
the connector or connectors on a load line standing platform.  
(h) When a load line standing platform is in use by the connector or connectors, the  
operator of a crane or derrick shall maintain the minimum distance from an energized  
power transmission or distribution line as required in table 1, as follows:  
VOLTAGE  
Up to 50 kV  
Over 50 kV  
MINUMUM CLEARANCE  
20 feet  
20 feet + 0.8 inch per kV over 50 kV  
(i) The load line of a crane or derrick that is used to raise or lower the connector or  
connectors on a load line standing platform shall have a safety factor of 10 for the  
anticipated load, and be equipped with a swivel to prevent any rotation of the load line  
standing platform. A minimum of 1/2-inch diameter load line shall be used.  
(j) Neither the load line standing platform nor the boom shall be lowered below the point  
where less than 3 full wraps of the wire rope remain on their respective drums.  
(k) A crane or derrick that is used to raise or lower a load line standing platform shall be  
set level according to the crane or derrick manufacturer's specifications. The travel lock  
shall be engaged on a crane when the load line standing platform is in use.  
(l) A crane that is equipped with outriggers shall have the beams and jacks fully extended  
to provide maximum stability and the floats shall have a stable bearing when the load line  
standing platform is in use by the connector or connectors. A crawler crane shall have its  
crawlers fully extended when the load line standing platform is in use.  
(m) Where a crane or derrick will be used to elevate the connector or connectors on the  
load line standing platform to an area where there has been no previous lift of structural  
members, a trial lift shall be performed and consist of positioning the load line standing  
platform to the position it is to be used with an assumed minimum anticipated load of 1,000  
pounds. The operator shall determine that all configurations necessary to reach the work  
location will allow the crane or derrick to remain under the 50% limit of the hoisting  
capacity; that all systems, controls, and safety devices are activated and functioning  
properly; and that interferences do not exist. This will be done at each set-up location of a  
crane or derrick prior to elevating the connector or connectors.  
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History: 2007 AACS.  
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