Personnel Hoists - Washington (DOSH)

On a tall building going up, the question of how the crew gets to the top floor is not left to the schedule in Washington. Once vertical travel from a ground-level access point passes 60 feet, the state requires a personnel hoist for access and egress. Federal rules say how a personnel hoist must be built and tested if you use one. Washington says when you must have one. This Washington Personnel Hoists Toolbox Talk covers that trigger, the construction and test rules for the hoist, and where Washington's elevator law comes in.

Where the boundary of this talk sits#

This talk covers Washington's personnel hoist rule in WAC 296-155-77105, with material hoists only where they touch on who may ride. Chain hoists and winches, and ladders and stairways, belong to their own talks. Crane-suspended personnel platforms are covered under the crane rules.

The anchor#

Here is the distinction that carries this whole talk: in Washington a personnel hoist is not optional on a tall multistory building — personnel hoists must be provided for access and egress on all multistory buildings where vertical travel exceeds 60 feet from a ground-level access point, and once installed the hoist must meet ANSI A10.4, be inspected and tested under a competent person before service, and be inspected and tested at not more than 3-month intervals with records kept for the job — so a crew climbing seven or eight stories of temporary stairs every morning, with no hoist, is not just tired; on a Washington site it may be out of compliance.

The 60-foot trigger#

WAC 296-155-77105(3) says personnel hoists must be provided for access and egress on all multistory buildings where vertical travel exceeds 60 feet (18.3 m) from a ground-level access point.

Three parts of that sentence matter. The rule applies to multistory buildings. It measures vertical travel, not building height on the drawings. And it measures from a ground-level access point, so the count starts at the ground-level entrance the crew uses.

Building the hoist#

The rule requires personnel hoists to be constructed of materials and components that meet the specifications for materials, construction, safety devices, assembly, and structural integrity in American National Standard A10.4-1963, Safety Requirements for Workmen's Hoists. Subsection (1) also requires the employer to comply with the manufacturer's specifications and limitations for the operation of all hoists and elevators. Among the construction requirements in WAC 296-155-77105(3):

• Tower enclosure: hoist towers outside the structure must be enclosed for the full height on the side or sides used for entrance and exit; towers inside the structure must be enclosed on all four sides for the full height.
• Anchoring: towers must be anchored to the structure at intervals not exceeding 30 feet (9.1 m), and in addition to tie-ins, a series of guys must be installed.
• Landing gates: hoistway doors or gates must be at least 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) high, with mechanical locks that cannot be operated from the landing side.
• Car gates: a door or gate at each car entrance must protect the full width and height of the opening, and doors and gates must have electric contacts that prevent the hoist from moving when a door or gate is open.
• Safeties: they must be able to stop and hold the car and its rated load at governor tripping speed.
• Car enclosure: cars must be permanently enclosed on all sides and the top, except the sides used for entrance and exit, which have car gates or doors, and every personnel hoist must have overhead protective covering of 2-inch planking, 3/4-inch plywood, or other solid material of equivalent strength.
• Emergency stop: an emergency stop switch must be provided in the car and marked "stop."
• Data plate: each car must have a capacity and data plate in a conspicuous place on the car or crosshead.
• Attendant: a signal device must be installed in the car and operated only by an attendant, who gives the signals for operation when workers are being transported.

A note on anchoring: the federal rule, 29 CFR 1926.552(c)(3), sets tie-ins at intervals not exceeding 25 feet. The Washington text reads 30 feet. Plan tie-ins to the tighter spacing and never wider than the hoist manufacturer allows.

Don't ride the material hoist#

The same section keeps people and materials apart. Under WAC 296-155-77105(2), operating rules must be posted at the material hoist operator's station, and the car must carry a "No riders allowed" notice. No one may ride a material hoist except for inspection and maintenance. Hoistway entrances must be protected by substantial gates or bars that guard the full width of the landing entrance; bars must be at least 2-by-4-inch wooden bars or the equivalent, located two feet from the hoistway line. Every material hoist cage or platform needs the same overhead covering as a personnel hoist.

When the building passes 60 feet of vertical travel, the answer to "how do we get up there" is the personnel hoist, not a ride on the material hoist.

Inspection and testing#

After assembly and erection, and before the hoist goes into service, an inspection and test of all functions and safety devices must be made under the supervision of a competent person. After that, hoists must be inspected and tested at not more than 3-month intervals, and records must be maintained and kept on file for the duration of the job.

Personnel hoists used in bridge tower construction have added rules, including weekly inspection and maintenance.

Where the elevator law comes in#

WAC 296-155-77105 points to chapter 296-96 WAC, Washington's safety regulations and fees for elevators and other conveyances, for additional information on personnel hoists. Subsection (4) requires all elevators, manlifts, or other lifting devices to be installed and maintained in conformity with the Washington elevator laws and regulations adopted by L&I's elevator section. Before a personnel hoist goes up, check with the L&I elevator program on what permits and inspections apply to the specific installation.

Washington versus federal#

The federal rule, 29 CFR 1926.552(c), sets the construction, testing, and ANSI A10.4 requirements for personnel hoists that are used, including inspection before service and at intervals not exceeding 3 months. It does not require a personnel hoist at any building height. Washington adds the 60-foot trigger and ties hoists and elevators to the state elevator program.

Where the duty sits#

WAC 296-155-77105 sets general manufacturer compliance (1); material hoists (2); personnel hoists, including the 60-foot requirement, enclosures, anchoring, gates and interlocks, safeties, data plates, attendant, ANSI A10.4, and inspection and testing (3); and elevators and the state elevator law (4). For contrast, federal 29 CFR 1926.552(c).

What can go wrong?#

• A 10-story job relies on temporary stairs with no personnel hoist.
• A landing gate lock can be opened from the landing side.
• The car moves with the gate open because an interlock was bypassed.
• The 3-month inspection is overdue and there's no record on file.
• Someone rides the material hoist to save a trip up the stairs.
• Tie-ins are spaced to the widest number anyone remembers.

How do we manage this properly?#

• Measure the travel — from the ground-level access point; over 60 feet means a hoist.
• Gates closed, interlocks working — the car must not move with a gate open.
• Landing gates lock from the car side only.
• Inspect and test — before service and at least every 3 months, with records on file.
• Attendant runs the car — when workers are riding.
• Check the elevator program — before the hoist goes up.

Before you start#

Check the hoist's last inspection date and record. Make sure every landing gate you use is closed and locked behind you, and ride only with the attendant.

Talk it over#

• How many feet of vertical travel does this building have from our ground access point?
• When was the hoist last inspected and tested?
• What do you do if a landing gate won't lock?

The bottom line#

Washington requires a personnel hoist for access and egress on multistory buildings once vertical travel exceeds 60 feet from a ground-level access point. The hoist must meet ANSI A10.4 and the manufacturer's specifications, with enclosed towers, locked landing gates, interlocked car gates, working safeties, a data plate, and an attendant. It is inspected and tested before service and at least every 3 months, with records kept for the job, and elevators and lifting devices must conform to the state elevator law.

Frequently asked questions about Washington personnel hoists#

When is a personnel hoist required on a Washington construction site?

Under WAC 296-155-77105(3), personnel hoists must be provided for access and egress on all multistory buildings where vertical travel exceeds 60 feet from a ground-level access point. The federal rule sets construction and testing requirements but no height at which a hoist is required.

Download the Washington personnel hoists toolbox talk PDF#

Download this Washington Personnel Hoists Toolbox Talk as a printable PDF in English and Spanish, and review it before the building passes 60 feet.

Related toolbox talks#

• Hoist and Winch Safety
• Fall Protection
• Dropped Objects
• Crane Lifting

Sources#

• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-155-77105 — Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators ((1) manufacturer's specifications; (2) material hoists: posted rules, no riders, gates or bars, overhead covering; (3) personnel hoists required where vertical travel exceeds 60 ft from a ground-level access point; enclosures; towers anchored at intervals not exceeding 30 ft plus guys; 6 ft 6 in landing gates locked from the car side; car gates and electric contacts; car enclosure and overhead covering; emergency stop; safeties; data plate; attendant; ANSI A10.4-1963; inspection and test before service and at not more than 3-month intervals with records kept for the job; bridge tower hoists weekly; chapter 296-96 WAC reference; (4) elevators under state elevator law; WSR 16-09-085, effective 5/20/16): https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/WACPDF/WAC%20296%20%20TITLE/WAC%20296%20-155%20%20CHAPTER/WAC%20296%20-155%20-77105.pdf
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.552(c) (personnel hoists; towers anchored at intervals not exceeding 25 ft; inspection before service and at intervals not exceeding 3 months; ANSI A10.4-1963): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.552

Written by FieldSafetyTalk's safety professional — a CSP, ASP, CHST and OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.

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