General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Manlifts

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1910.68

29 CFR 1910.68 covers manlifts: the powered devices with steps and handholds on a continuously moving vertical belt that carry workers between floors in some industrial buildings. It applies to the construction, maintenance, inspection, and operation of manlifts in relation to accident hazards, setting requirements for handholds and steps, brakes and limit stops, floor openings and guards, and periodic inspection.

29 CFR 1910.68 at a glance

What it is: Belt-and-step continuously moving vertical lifts for personnel
What it covers: Construction, maintenance, inspection, and operation for accident hazards
Key safeguards: Handholds and steps, brakes, and upper/lower limit stops
Openings: Guarding of floor openings and the landings
Inspection: Periodic inspection required
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful

What 29 CFR 1910.68 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1910.68 covers manlifts: devices consisting of steps or platforms and handholds attached to an endless belt that moves continuously in one direction, carrying workers up and down between the floors of a building. Once common in multi-story industrial buildings, they are now less widespread but still in use, and their continuous motion makes them a distinctive hazard.

The standard applies to the construction, maintenance, inspection, and operation of manlifts in relation to accident hazards. It sets requirements for the handholds and steps riders use to get on and off the moving belt; the brakes and the upper and lower limit stops that must halt the belt at the ends of travel; guarding of floor openings the belt passes through and of the top and bottom landings; illumination; and signage. Because the belt never stops on its own, the stops, brakes, and guards are critical.

1910.68 also requires periodic inspection of manlifts by a competent, designated person, with records, because worn belts, failing brakes, or defective limit stops on a continuously moving lift are exactly the failures that carry a rider over the top or let someone fall through an opening. The standard's construction, safeguard, and inspection requirements together address the fall, caught-in, and carried-over hazards unique to these lifts.

What the source requires, in summary

This section applies to the construction, maintenance, inspection, and operation of manlifts in relation to accident hazards.

29 CFR 1910.68(b)(1)Summarized, not quoted: read the source for its operative wording.

Key facts about 29 CFR 1910.68

1910.68 covers construction, maintenance, inspection, and operation of manlifts (1910.68(b)(1)).
Manlifts are continuously moving belts with steps and handholds.
Handholds and steps must let riders get on and off safely.
Brakes and upper/lower limit stops must halt the belt at the ends of travel.
Floor openings and landings must be guarded.
Periodic inspection by a designated competent person is required.
The continuous motion makes stops, brakes, and guards critical.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1910.68 applies to

Regulatory framework: General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1910.68
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1910.68

#	Employer obligation
1	Inspect manlifts regularly
2	Limit speed per manufacturer specifications
3	Post operating instructions
4	Provide emergency stops
5	Train operators

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1910.68. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Manlifts violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1910.68 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

Non-functional or missing upper or lower limit stops (1910.68(c)).
Defective brakes on a manlift (1910.68(c)).
Unguarded floor openings or landings (1910.68(c)).
No periodic inspection of the manlift (1910.68(e)).
Damaged or missing handholds or steps (1910.68(c)).

A manlift never stops on its own: the limit stops, brakes, and guards are the whole safety system

The defining feature of a manlift is that the belt moves CONTINUOUSLY: it does not stop when you reach your floor; you step off while it moves. That makes the safety devices essential in a way that is easy to underappreciate: the UPPER and LOWER LIMIT STOPS must halt the belt if a rider fails to step off at the top or bottom, the BRAKES must stop it reliably, and the FLOOR-OPENING and landing GUARDS must prevent falls where the belt passes through. If any of these fail, a rider can be carried over the top or fall through an opening. 1910.68 therefore requires these safeguards AND periodic inspection to keep them working: treating a manlift like an ordinary elevator, or skipping the inspections, misses that its continuous motion leaves no margin for a failed stop.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer checks manlift handholds and steps, the emergency and limit stops and brakes, guarding of floor openings and the top and bottom landings, and the required periodic inspections. Missing or defective stops and unguarded openings are the key findings on these continuously moving lifts.

Example: how a violation is cited

A worker rides a manlift whose upper limit stop and brake are not functioning; the belt carries him toward the top without stopping. OSHA cites 1910.68 for the defective limit stop and brake and lack of inspection, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Manlifts compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1910.68. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Maintain functioning upper and lower limit stops and brakes.
Keep handholds and steps in good condition for safe boarding and exit.
Guard floor openings the belt passes through and the top and bottom landings.
Provide adequate illumination and required signage.
Perform and record the required periodic inspections by a designated competent person.
Remove a manlift from service if a safety device is defective.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1910.68

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Manlift violations are cited in the older industrial facilities that still use them. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Manlifts compliance

A manlift is a continuously moving belt with steps: riders must step on and off while it moves, and the machine must stop reliably at the top and bottom. If the limit stops, brakes, or guards fail, a rider can be carried over the top, fall through an opening, or be caught at a landing. 1910.68's construction, guard, stop, and inspection requirements are what keep these unusual, always-moving lifts safe.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1910.68

Weekly Site Safety Inspection Job Hazard Analysis Builder Pre-Task Plan Generator

Manlifts penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1910.68.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1910.68

What is a manlift under OSHA 1910.68?

A manlift is a device with steps or platforms and handholds attached to a continuously moving endless belt that carries workers up and down between building floors. 1910.68 covers the construction, maintenance, inspection, and operation of manlifts in relation to accident hazards, including handholds, brakes, limit stops, guarding of openings, and periodic inspection.

How is a manlift different from an elevator?

A manlift's belt moves continuously and does not stop at each floor: riders step on and off while it is moving, using steps and handholds. An elevator stops at floors and encloses the rider. Because a manlift never stops on its own, 1910.68 puts heavy emphasis on limit stops, brakes, and floor-opening guards to prevent riders from being carried over the top or falling.

Do manlifts require inspection?

Yes. Under 1910.68, manlifts must be inspected periodically by a designated competent person, with records kept. Because the belt runs continuously and riders depend on the limit stops, brakes, and guards working, regular inspection to catch worn belts, failing brakes, or defective stops is a core requirement for keeping these lifts safe.

What are the main hazards of a manlift?

The main hazards are being carried over the top or bottom if a limit stop or brake fails, falling through a floor opening the belt passes through, and being injured while stepping on or off the moving belt. 1910.68 addresses these with required limit stops, brakes, handholds and steps, guarding of openings and landings, and periodic inspection.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1910.68

The manlift standard (1910.68) was adopted from an established national consensus standard (the ANSI A90.1 manlift safety code) when OSHA began in 1971. Its limit-stop, brake, guard, and periodic-inspection requirements reflect the particular hazards of a continuously moving belt-and-step lift, which riders must board and exit while it is in motion.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1910.68, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Fall Protection Struck-By Hazardous Energy Competent Person

Related guides & articles

Fall Protection in Construction: OSHA Guide 2026 OSHA Safety Training Requirements 2026

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29 CFR 1910.142

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29 CFR 1910.144

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29 CFR 1910.145

Safety Signs & Tags

Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.

Serious Violation

$16,550

per violation (max)

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