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The Safety Ordinance for Cranes

(Ordinance of the Ministry of Labour No.34 September 30, 1972)

Chapter II Crane

Section 2 Use and Operation

Article 16 (Providing with Inspection Certificate)

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a crane, provide the craneinspection certificate of the said crane at the place where the said work is carried out.

Article 17 (Limitation of Use)

(1) The employer shall not use a crane, unless it complies with the standard prescribed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare set forth in paragraph (2) of Article 37 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "the standard prescribed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare") (limited to the structural parts of the crane).

Article 17-2 (Loading Condition as to Design Base)

(1) The employer shall, when using a crane, in order to prevent steels, etc., which construct the structural parts of the said crane from deformation, breakage, etc., take into account the number of loading cycle and the mass of lifted loads to be regularly loaded (hereinafter referred to as "loading condition") upon which the design of the said crane is based.

Article 18 (Prevention for Over-winding)

(1) The employer shall, as regards an over-winding preventive device on a crane, adjust the vertical distance between the upper surface of the load-lifting attachment such as a hook and a grab bucket or the upper surface of the hoisting sheave of the said load-lifting attachment and the lower surface of a drum, a sheave, a trolley frame and others which is liable to coming into contact with the said upper surface (excluding an inclined jib), for 0.25 m or more (0.05 m or more for the direct driven type over-winding preventive device).

Article 19

(1) The employer shall, as regards a crane without an over-winding preventive device, take such measures as marking on hoisting wire ropes and installing warning devices in order to prevent workers from dangers due to over-winding of hoisting wire ropes.

Article 20 (Adjustment of Safety Valves)

(1) The employer shall, as regards safety valves for preventing the excessive pressure rise of the water pressure or the oil pressure of a crane which uses the water pressure or the oil pressure as power source, adjust them for being actuated at not more than the pressure corresponding to the water pressure or the hydraulic pressure at which the said cranes are operated with the load corresponding to the rated capacity (for a jib crane, the maximum value of the rated capacity). However, this shall not apply to the case of loading over its rated capacity pursuant to the provision of paragraph (2) of Article 23, or performing the load test or the stability test pursuant to the provision of Article 12, and adjusting the valves for being actuated at the pressure necessary for those cases.

Article 20-2 (Use of Safety Catch)

(1) The employer shall, when lifting a load using a crane equipped with a device for preventing sling wire ropes, etc., from slipping off from a hook (hereinafter referred to as "safety catch"), make use of the said safety catch.

Article 21 (Special Education)

(1) The employer shall, when placing a worker in operation of the cranes listed in the following each item, give the special education for the safety related to the said operation, to the said worker:
- (i) A crane having the lifting capacity of less than 5 tons;
- (ii) A telpher flying over railways having the lifting capacity of 5 tons or more.
(2) The special education set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be conducted on the following subjects:
- (i) Knowledge on cranes;
- (ii) Knowledge on prime movers and the electricity;
- (iii) Knowledge on the dynamics necessary for operation of cranes;
- (iv) Related legislation;
- (v) Operation of cranes;
- (vi) Signals for operation of cranes.
(3) In addition to the matters prescribed in Article 37 and Article 38 of the Safety and Health Ordinance and in the preceding two paragraphs, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare shall prescribe necessary matters related to the special education set forth in paragraph (1).

Article 22 (Limitation on Placement)

(1) The employer shall, as regards the works listed in item (vi) of Article 20 of the Order, place nobody in the said works other than the one who has obtained the crane/derrick operatorfs license. However, as regard the crane operated by an operator, who is staying on a floor and moving simultaneously along with the movement of lifted loads (hereinafter referred to as "floor-operated crane"), the employer may place the person who has completed the skill training course for floor-operated crane operation in the said work.

Article 23 (Limitation on Overload)

(1) The employer shall not use a crane being loaded with the load exceeding its rated capacity.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph, the employer may, in the case of having remarkable difficulty to conform to the provision of the same paragraph due to the unavoidable reason and when taking the following measures, use the crane loaded over its rated capacity up to the load on the load test prescribed in paragraph (3) of Article 6:
- (i) To submit in advance, a crane special case report (Form No.10) to the Chief of the competent Labour Standards Inspection Office;
- (ii) To confirm in advance, that there is no abnormality by performing the load test prescribed in paragraph (3) of Article 6;
- (iii) To designate a person who supervises the operation, and to operate the crane under the direct supervision by the said person.
(3) The employer shall, when having performed the load test pursuant to the provision of item (ii) of the preceding paragraph and used the crane loaded over its rated capacity, record the results and reserve them for three years.

Article 24 (Limitation of Jib Angle)

(1) The employer shall not use a jib crane, exceeding a range of jib angle stated in the specification of the crane (for a jib crane with the lifting capacity of less than 3 tons, the range of jib angle designated by the manufacturer).

Article 24-2 (Indication, etc., for Rated Capacity)

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a crane, take measures for indications or others so that a crane operator and slingers are always able to confirm the rated capacity of the said crane.

Article 25 (Signals for Operation)

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a crane, set fixed signals for operation of the crane, designate a person who gives the said signals and have the said person give the said signals. However, this shall not apply to when having only a crane operator carry out the work single-handedly.
(2) The person designated pursuant to the preceding paragraph, when engaging in the work set forth in the same paragraph, shall give the signals set forth in the same paragraph.
(3) Workers engaging in the work set forth in paragraph (1) shall follow the signals set forth in the same paragraph.

Article 26 (Restriction on Riding)

(1) The employer shall not carry workers by a crane, nor have workers work being hanged from the crane.

Article 27

(1) The employer may, notwithstanding the provision of the preceding Article, in the unavoidable case due to the nature of the work or in a necessary case to carry out the work safely, provides the exclusive riding equipment fitted with a load-lifting attachment and ride workers on the crane.
(2) The employer shall, as regards the riding equipment set forth in the preceding paragraph, ensure the following matters in order to prevent workers from the dangers due to falling:
- (i) To take measures for preventing the riding equipment from the transposition and the falling;
- (ii) To have workers use safety belts (meaning safety belts set forth in item (xxviii) of paragraph (3) of Article 13 of the Order) and other lifelines (hereinafter referred to as "safety belts, etc.");
- (iii) To make the riding equipment lower by the method of power lowering
(3) Workers shall, when having been instructed to use safety belts, etc. in the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, make use of them.

Article 28 (Prohibition of Entry )

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a cable crane, in order to prevent workers from dangers due to rebounding of a hoisting or a traversing wire rope or flying of a sheave or its fittings caused by damage of the said sheave through which the said hoisting or traversing wire rope reeves or damage of its fittings, not allow workers to enter the area within interior angle of the said wire rope where it is liable to cause the said dangers to workers.

Article 29

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work pertaining to a crane and in the case falling under any of the following each item, not allow workers to enter the place under the lifted load (in the case set forth in item (vi), including load-lifting attachments):
- (i) When a load slung using lifting hooks being suspended;
- (ii) When a load slung using a single clamp being suspended;
- (iii) When a load slung at one position of the load using a wire rope sling, chain sling, fibre rope sling or fibre belt sling (hereinafter and up to the Article 115, referred to as "wire rope sling, etc.") being suspended (excluding the case of slinging a load by reeving the wire rope sling, etc., through an hole or an eye-bolt provided on the load);
- (iv) When plural loads being lifted at a time, and not fixed such as bundled and kept in a box;
- (v) When a load slung using a load-lifting attachment or a sling gear equipped with the magnet system or the vacuum system being suspended;
- (vi) When lowering a load or a load-lifting attachment by methods other than power lowering.

Article 30 (Work of Repairs, etc., on Juxtaposed Cranes)

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work repairing, adjusting, checking, etc., on travelling cranes installed side by side on the same runway, or when carrying out the work on the runway or other places where it is liable to cause dangers to a worker due to contact with the travelling cranes, in order to prevent workers from dangers due to the collision of the travelling cranes each other or having the travelling cranes contact with workers, take such measures as placing a watcher or installing stoppers on the runways.

Article 30-2 (Prohibition of Operation, etc.)

(1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work for checking, repairing, painting, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "checkup work, etc.", in this Article) for overhead travelling cranes or bridge cranes (hereinafter referred to as "overhead cranes, etc.", in this Article), or the building, the machinery, the equipment, etc., close to the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., on crane girders, cantilevers, legs of the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., prohibit to operate the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., and indicate the warning to prohibit operating the said overhead travelling cranes, etc. at the operating station of the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., in order to prevent workers from dangers due to falling, caught-in-between, etc., by unexpected sudden movement of overhead traveling cranes, etc. However, this shall not apply to the case of designating the person who supervises the checkup work, etc., and having the said person supervise the checkup work, etc., and set the method of coordination and signals between workers engaged in the checkup work, etc., on crane girders, cantilevers or legs of the overhead travelling cranes, etc., and operators of the overhead traveling cranes

Article 31 (Prevention of Over-run in Storm)

(1) The employer shall, as regards a travelling crane installed out of doors, when the wind having instantaneous wind velocity of exceeding 30 m/s is expected to blow, take measures such as setting anchoring devices in order to prevent the over-run of the said crane.

Article 31-2 (Suspension of Work in Strong Wind)

(1) The employer shall suspend the work pertaining to a crane, when the dangers regarding the said work are forecast due to the strong wind.

Article 31-3 (Prevention of Damage in Strong Wind)

(1) The employer shall, when having suspended the work pursuant to the provision of the preceding Article, and in the case that a jib of the jib crane is liable to be damaged, take measures such as fastening the said jib in order to prevent workers from the danger due to damage of the said jib. B

Article 32 (Prohibition of Leaving Cranes Unattended)

(1) The employer shall not have a crane operator leave his operating station while suspending a load.
(2) The operator set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not leave his operating station while suspending a load.

Article 33 (Erection Work, etc.)

(1) The employer shall, when erecting or disassembling a crane, take the following measures:
- (i) To appoint a person who supervises the work and to have workers carry out it under supervision by the said person;
- (ii) To prohibit workers other than those concerning the work from entering the area where works are on-going and display a notice to that effect at a readily visible location;
- (iii) When dangers regarding the implementation of the work are forecast due to bad weather such as strong wind, heavy rain and heavy snow, not to have workers engage in the said work.
(2) The employer shall have the person who supervises the work set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph, carry out the following matters:
- (i) To determine the work method and the placement of workers and supervise the work;
- (ii) To check up defects in materials, the function of instruments and tools, and to remove defective ones;
- (iii) To monitor the use of safety belts, etc., and safety helmets during the work.

<< INDEX
Chapter I
Chapter II
- Section 1
- Section 2
- Section 3
- Section 4
- Section 5
Chapter III
- Section 1
- Section 2
- Section 3
- Section 4
- Section 5
Chapter IV
- Section 1
- Section 2
- Section 3
- Section 4
- Section 5
Chapter V
- Section 1
- Section 2
- Section 3
- Section 4
- Section 5
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
- Section 1
- Section 2
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Supplementary Provisions
Appended Table

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The Safety Ordinance for Cranes (Ordinance of the Ministry of Labour No.34 September 30, 1972) Chapter II Crane Section 2 Use and Operation Article 16 (Providing with Inspection Certificate) (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a crane, provide the craneinspection certificate of the said crane at the place where the said work is carried out. Article 17 (Limitation of Use) (1) The employer shall not use a crane, unless it complies with the standard prescribed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare set forth in paragraph (2) of Article 37 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "the standard prescribed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare") (limited to the structural parts of the crane). Article 17-2 (Loading Condition as to Design Base) (1) The employer shall, when using a crane, in order to prevent steels, etc., which construct the structural parts of the said crane from deformation, breakage, etc., take into account the number of loading cycle and the mass of lifted loads to be regularly loaded (hereinafter referred to as "loading condition") upon which the design of the said crane is based. Article 18 (Prevention for Over-winding) (1) The employer shall, as regards an over-winding preventive device on a crane, adjust the vertical distance between the upper surface of the load-lifting attachment such as a hook and a grab bucket or the upper surface of the hoisting sheave of the said load-lifting attachment and the lower surface of a drum, a sheave, a trolley frame and others which is liable to coming into contact with the said upper surface (excluding an inclined jib), for 0.25 m or more (0.05 m or more for the direct driven type over-winding preventive device). Article 19 (1) The employer shall, as regards a crane without an over-winding preventive device, take such measures as marking on hoisting wire ropes and installing warning devices in order to prevent workers from dangers due to over-winding of hoisting wire ropes. Article 20 (Adjustment of Safety Valves) (1) The employer shall, as regards safety valves for preventing the excessive pressure rise of the water pressure or the oil pressure of a crane which uses the water pressure or the oil pressure as power source, adjust them for being actuated at not more than the pressure corresponding to the water pressure or the hydraulic pressure at which the said cranes are operated with the load corresponding to the rated capacity (for a jib crane, the maximum value of the rated capacity). However, this shall not apply to the case of loading over its rated capacity pursuant to the provision of paragraph (2) of Article 23, or performing the load test or the stability test pursuant to the provision of Article 12, and adjusting the valves for being actuated at the pressure necessary for those cases. Article 20-2 (Use of Safety Catch) (1) The employer shall, when lifting a load using a crane equipped with a device for preventing sling wire ropes, etc., from slipping off from a hook (hereinafter referred to as "safety catch"), make use of the said safety catch. Article 21 (Special Education) (1) The employer shall, when placing a worker in operation of the cranes listed in the following each item, give the special education for the safety related to the said operation, to the said worker: (i) A crane having the lifting capacity of less than 5 tons; (ii) A telpher flying over railways having the lifting capacity of 5 tons or more. (2) The special education set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be conducted on the following subjects: (i) Knowledge on cranes; (ii) Knowledge on prime movers and the electricity; (iii) Knowledge on the dynamics necessary for operation of cranes; (iv) Related legislation; (v) Operation of cranes; (vi) Signals for operation of cranes. (3) In addition to the matters prescribed in Article 37 and Article 38 of the Safety and Health Ordinance and in the preceding two paragraphs, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare shall prescribe necessary matters related to the special education set forth in paragraph (1). Article 22 (Limitation on Placement) (1) The employer shall, as regards the works listed in item (vi) of Article 20 of the Order, place nobody in the said works other than the one who has obtained the crane/derrick operatorfs license. However, as regard the crane operated by an operator, who is staying on a floor and moving simultaneously along with the movement of lifted loads (hereinafter referred to as "floor-operated crane"), the employer may place the person who has completed the skill training course for floor-operated crane operation in the said work. Article 23 (Limitation on Overload) (1) The employer shall not use a crane being loaded with the load exceeding its rated capacity. (2) Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph, the employer may, in the case of having remarkable difficulty to conform to the provision of the same paragraph due to the unavoidable reason and when taking the following measures, use the crane loaded over its rated capacity up to the load on the load test prescribed in paragraph (3) of Article 6: (i) To submit in advance, a crane special case report (Form No.10) to the Chief of the competent Labour Standards Inspection Office; (ii) To confirm in advance, that there is no abnormality by performing the load test prescribed in paragraph (3) of Article 6; (iii) To designate a person who supervises the operation, and to operate the crane under the direct supervision by the said person. (3) The employer shall, when having performed the load test pursuant to the provision of item (ii) of the preceding paragraph and used the crane loaded over its rated capacity, record the results and reserve them for three years. Article 24 (Limitation of Jib Angle) (1) The employer shall not use a jib crane, exceeding a range of jib angle stated in the specification of the crane (for a jib crane with the lifting capacity of less than 3 tons, the range of jib angle designated by the manufacturer). Article 24-2 (Indication, etc., for Rated Capacity) (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a crane, take measures for indications or others so that a crane operator and slingers are always able to confirm the rated capacity of the said crane. Article 25 (Signals for Operation) (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a crane, set fixed signals for operation of the crane, designate a person who gives the said signals and have the said person give the said signals. However, this shall not apply to when having only a crane operator carry out the work single-handedly. (2) The person designated pursuant to the preceding paragraph, when engaging in the work set forth in the same paragraph, shall give the signals set forth in the same paragraph. (3) Workers engaging in the work set forth in paragraph (1) shall follow the signals set forth in the same paragraph. Article 26 (Restriction on Riding) (1) The employer shall not carry workers by a crane, nor have workers work being hanged from the crane. Article 27 (1) The employer may, notwithstanding the provision of the preceding Article, in the unavoidable case due to the nature of the work or in a necessary case to carry out the work safely, provides the exclusive riding equipment fitted with a load-lifting attachment and ride workers on the crane. (2) The employer shall, as regards the riding equipment set forth in the preceding paragraph, ensure the following matters in order to prevent workers from the dangers due to falling: (i) To take measures for preventing the riding equipment from the transposition and the falling; (ii) To have workers use safety belts (meaning safety belts set forth in item (xxviii) of paragraph (3) of Article 13 of the Order) and other lifelines (hereinafter referred to as "safety belts, etc."); (iii) To make the riding equipment lower by the method of power lowering (3) Workers shall, when having been instructed to use safety belts, etc. in the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, make use of them. Article 28 (Prohibition of Entry ) (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work using a cable crane, in order to prevent workers from dangers due to rebounding of a hoisting or a traversing wire rope or flying of a sheave or its fittings caused by damage of the said sheave through which the said hoisting or traversing wire rope reeves or damage of its fittings, not allow workers to enter the area within interior angle of the said wire rope where it is liable to cause the said dangers to workers. Article 29 (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work pertaining to a crane and in the case falling under any of the following each item, not allow workers to enter the place under the lifted load (in the case set forth in item (vi), including load-lifting attachments): (i) When a load slung using lifting hooks being suspended; (ii) When a load slung using a single clamp being suspended; (iii) When a load slung at one position of the load using a wire rope sling, chain sling, fibre rope sling or fibre belt sling (hereinafter and up to the Article 115, referred to as "wire rope sling, etc.") being suspended (excluding the case of slinging a load by reeving the wire rope sling, etc., through an hole or an eye-bolt provided on the load); (iv) When plural loads being lifted at a time, and not fixed such as bundled and kept in a box; (v) When a load slung using a load-lifting attachment or a sling gear equipped with the magnet system or the vacuum system being suspended; (vi) When lowering a load or a load-lifting attachment by methods other than power lowering. Article 30 (Work of Repairs, etc., on Juxtaposed Cranes) (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work repairing, adjusting, checking, etc., on travelling cranes installed side by side on the same runway, or when carrying out the work on the runway or other places where it is liable to cause dangers to a worker due to contact with the travelling cranes, in order to prevent workers from dangers due to the collision of the travelling cranes each other or having the travelling cranes contact with workers, take such measures as placing a watcher or installing stoppers on the runways. Article 30-2 (Prohibition of Operation, etc.) (1) The employer shall, when carrying out the work for checking, repairing, painting, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "checkup work, etc.", in this Article) for overhead travelling cranes or bridge cranes (hereinafter referred to as "overhead cranes, etc.", in this Article), or the building, the machinery, the equipment, etc., close to the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., on crane girders, cantilevers, legs of the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., prohibit to operate the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., and indicate the warning to prohibit operating the said overhead travelling cranes, etc. at the operating station of the said overhead travelling cranes, etc., in order to prevent workers from dangers due to falling, caught-in-between, etc., by unexpected sudden movement of overhead traveling cranes, etc. However, this shall not apply to the case of designating the person who supervises the checkup work, etc., and having the said person supervise the checkup work, etc., and set the method of coordination and signals between workers engaged in the checkup work, etc., on crane girders, cantilevers or legs of the overhead travelling cranes, etc., and operators of the overhead traveling cranes Article 31 (Prevention of Over-run in Storm) (1) The employer shall, as regards a travelling crane installed out of doors, when the wind having instantaneous wind velocity of exceeding 30 m/s is expected to blow, take measures such as setting anchoring devices in order to prevent the over-run of the said crane. Article 31-2 (Suspension of Work in Strong Wind) (1) The employer shall suspend the work pertaining to a crane, when the dangers regarding the said work are forecast due to the strong wind. Article 31-3 (Prevention of Damage in Strong Wind) (1) The employer shall, when having suspended the work pursuant to the provision of the preceding Article, and in the case that a jib of the jib crane is liable to be damaged, take measures such as fastening the said jib in order to prevent workers from the danger due to damage of the said jib. B Article 32 (Prohibition of Leaving Cranes Unattended) (1) The employer shall not have a crane operator leave his operating station while suspending a load. (2) The operator set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not leave his operating station while suspending a load. Article 33 (Erection Work, etc.) (1) The employer shall, when erecting or disassembling a crane, take the following measures: (i) To appoint a person who supervises the work and to have workers carry out it under supervision by the said person; (ii) To prohibit workers other than those concerning the work from entering the area where works are on-going and display a notice to that effect at a readily visible location; (iii) When dangers regarding the implementation of the work are forecast due to bad weather such as strong wind, heavy rain and heavy snow, not to have workers engage in the said work. (2) The employer shall have the person who supervises the work set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph, carry out the following matters: (i) To determine the work method and the placement of workers and supervise the work; (ii) To check up defects in materials, the function of instruments and tools, and to remove defective ones; (iii) To monitor the use of safety belts, etc., and safety helmets during the work. << INDEX Chapter I Chapter II Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Chapter III Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Chapter IV Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Chapter V Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Chapter VI Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Chapter VII Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Chapter VIII Section 1 Section 2 Chapter IX Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Chapter X Supplementary Provisions Appended Table top Home \| Sitemap \| Disclaimer Copyright (C) 1999- JICOSH All Right Reserved.