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Wire-rope knots in material handling

Summary An OSHA regional office asked about a trucking-company wire-rope citation. OSHA quoted the construction rule against securing wire rope by knots, except scraper haul-back lines, and noted a separate restriction on bull-wire eyes. It said these provisions address hazards in hoisting, lowering, or pulling loads.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1976-08-20
Date issued
August 20, 1976
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Wire Rope Material Handling
Source
View the official document

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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.

August 20, 1976

MEMORANDUM FOR: Vernon A. Strahm, Regional Administrator
SUBJECT: Citation under 1926.251(c)(3) of R.C. Williams Trucking Company

This is in response to your memorandum of August 2, 1976, same subject, regarding any comments and/or suggestions we deem appropriate on this citation.

The only comments we have to offer is 29 CFR 1926.251(c)(3), Rigging Equipment for Material Handling, Wire Rope, states that: "Wire rope shall not be secured by knots, except on haul back lines on scrapers." In addition, if this wire rope were used as a bull wire, then 29 CFR 1926.251(c)(4)(iii) requires that eyes in bull wires shall not be formed by knots or wire rope clips. The above standards recognize the hazard of tying knots in wire ropes used for hoisting, lowering, or pulling loads.

Barry J. White
Associate Assistant Secretary
for Regional Programs

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