Wire-rope fittings and OSHA product approval

October 5, 1977

Mr. Michael T. Kenney
Sales Manager
York Engineering, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Kenney:

This is in response to your correspondence of September 19, 1977, regarding the Occuptional Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) acceptance of CASTLOK Bend-Master, a wire rope fitting.

OSHA in administering the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 does not approve, list, certify, or designate a particular brand name product as acceptable. Where an employee is exposed to a product, the product is required to meet the applicable standards or the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the Act.

If the Bend-Master is used in the construction industry, 29 CFR Part 1926, Construction safety and Health Regulation would apply. The pertinent standards in Part 1926 relating to wire rope fittings are:

29 CFR 1926.251(c)(1) Rigging equipment for material handling, Wire rope, in part, requires the safe working load recommended by the manufacturer for specific, identifiable procucts shall be followed, provided that a safety factor of not less than 5 is maintained.
29 CFR 1926.251(c)(4)(i) states: An eye splice made in any wire rope shall have not less than three full tucks. However, this requirement shall not operate to preclude the use of another form of splice or commection which can be shown to be as efficient and which is not otherwise prohibited.

The employer is responsible for complying with standards that are applicable to wire rope fittings.

Thank you for your continuing concern and interest in occuptional safety and health.

Sincerely,
John K. Barto, Chief
Division of Occupational
Safety Programming