Operational Aids and Alternative Measures

Operational aids are devices that provide the operator with information about lifting equipment or automatically take control of a crane function. They help ensure the safe deployment of superstructures used for lifting. §1926.1416 details the operational aids that all equipment must have. The standard divides the aids into Category I and Category II:

• Category I operational aids must be repaired within seven calendar days of the detected deficiency (or at minimum, ordered within seven days, with a receipt of date of order placement).
• Category II operational aids must be repaired within 30 days (or at minimum ordered within 30 days, with receipt of order placement). The repair must be made within 7 days of part receipt.

Should an operational aid stop functioning properly during operations, the operator must cease operations and cannot begin again until an acceptable temporary measure is in place or the operational aid is repaired. For the operational aids listed in the following slides, there are many temporary alternative measures listed for equipment with older manufacture dates. The standard lists these alternatives. Consult §1926.1416 for details.

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