DOB Advisory Notice April 12, 2001

MAY 1, 2001:
NEW RIGGING SAFETY REGULATIONS GO INTO EFFECT

The Department of Buildings is implementing new regulations to protect the safety of the public, and people who work on scaffolds, hoists and rigging equipment.

Section 9-03 of the Department of Buildings rules governing rigging operations becomes effective on May 1, 2001. It requires that licensed riggers and licensed sign hangers employ only those individuals who have received acceptable training to work on such equipment.

Workers must now complete an approved training course or pass an approved test before they can work on a scaffold, hoist or rigging equipment. The licensed rigger or sign hanger must examine the worker's credentials (Certificate of Completion or Scaffold Safety Challenge Exam Certificate) and, if the worker has received the required training, issue a "Certificate of Fitness." This Certificate of Fitness must be on site and available for review upon request by City inspectors.

The licensed rigger or sign hanger remains fully responsible for the safe operation of all aspects of hoist and rigging work, including but not limited to the actions and behavior of his/her employee. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the issuance of violations and or other appropriate enforcement actions including stop work orders.

Section 9-03 applies to the use of all suspended scaffolds during construction, renovation or maintenance of a building exterior. It is not applicable to pipe scaffolds, mast climbing work platforms, temporary "floats" used by iron-workers, multi-point suspension scaffolds not utilizing powered winches (i.e., bricklayer scaffolds using manual cranks), or any apparatus under the jurisdiction of the City's Elevator Division.

For more details on the new requirements, please review  Section 9-03 (266 kb) of the rigging rule.  Also available are  Section 9-01 (225 kb) and  Section 9-02 (197 kb), in effect since March 1, 2000.