ECI – Engineers Construction

Tag lines consist of ropes to control a load being picked by a crane or other hoisting equipment, including excavator lifts.  OSHA’s requirements are scattered throughout the standards (Crane, Power Transmission & Distribution, Shipbuilding/Shipbreaking).  The requirements are very general in nature and do not require a tag line for every situation:

From the Power Transmission & Distribution Standard:

1926.953(d)

Tag line. Where hazards to employees exist tag lines or other suitable devices shall be used to control loads being handled by hoisting equipment.

In general, using a tag line is good lifting practice.  As a general guide, consider the following:

• The purpose of a tag line is to control the load while staying away from the load.  If the tag line doesn’t serve these purposes, then consider a different way of controlling the load.
• Tag lines only work in tension.   Complete control of a load would require more than one tag line.
• Direct handling of a load may be appropriate and even more effective than a tag line – provided that the load does not a hazard to the man.
• Tag lines are particularly important on large objects that can catch a lot of wind and cause the load to rotate.
• If tag lines must be non-conductive.
• Never work under the load.  Stay clear until the load is at work level.
• Some lifts typically don’t use a tag line – for example a concrete bucket which has built-in  handles and will not rotate in a way to be a hazard.
• Always walk forward when controlling the load with a tag line.
• Never wrap the tag line around your hand or body.  Make sure that you cannot get tangled in the tag line if the load moves suddenly.