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Counterweights on the carrier of a maritime crane

Summary A wharf company sought a variance for counterweights on the truck portion of its mobile cranes. OSHA said the cited restriction concerned the crane, not the truck or carrier, so the described arrangement did not require a variance. The archived letter’s own date is unreadable.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1975-05-09
Date issued
May 9, 1975
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1918 Cranes Variances
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

(Date Unreadable)

R. H. Maul,
Vice President
Crescent Wharf and Warehouse Co.
[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. Maul:

Assistant Secretary John H. Stender has asked me to respond to your letter dated May 9, 1975, requesting a permanent variance from Section 1918.74(a)(6) Cranes and Derricks Other Than Vessel's Gear of the Maritime Safety and Health Regulations.

The requirements of the above standard are that no counterweights in excess of manufacturer's (or design) specifications shall be fitted. All equipment shall be used in accordance with manufacturer's (or design) specifications and recommendations.

You have stated that you are operating mobile cranes with counterweights attached to the truck or carrier portion of the assembly but not on the crane portion. The need for these counterweights is to stabilize the assembly when traveling with the boom attached.

A careful study has been made of your request and we have concluded that the requirements of the standard apply to the crane and not to the truck or carrier. The purpose of the prohibition in this standard is to insure that the manufacturer's (or design) load limits are not exceeded. It would appear that your use of counterweights on the truck is not within the scope of Section 1918.74(a)(6), therefore, a variance is not required.

No further action will be taken on your request for variance.

Sincerely,
Barry J. White
Associate Assistant Secretary for
Regional Programs

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