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Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Derricks (Construction)
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
29 CFR 1926.1436
29 CFR 1926.1436 sets the supplemental requirements for derricks used in construction: powered lifting devices with a mast or equivalent member held in place by guys or braces, including A-frame, gin pole, guy, breast, Chicago boom, shearleg, and stiffleg derricks. These requirements apply IN ADDITION to the general crane and derrick rules of Subpart CC, covering the design, erection, anchorage, and safe use specific to derricks.
29 CFR 1926.1436 at a glance
What it covers
Derricks in construction (A-frame, gin pole, guy, stiffleg, and more)
What a derrick is
A lifting device with a mast held by guys or braces
Applies with
The general Subpart CC crane and derrick requirements
Key focus
Design, erection, anchorage, and rated capacity
Modern rule
Replaced the old 1926.550 crane/derrick standard (2010)
Max penalty (2026)
$16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
What 29 CFR 1926.1436 requires (plain English)
29 CFR 1926.1436 sets the supplemental requirements for derricks in construction, within Subpart CC (Cranes and Derricks in Construction). A derrick is an apparatus consisting of a mast or equivalent member held at the top by guys or braces, with or without a boom, used with a hoisting mechanism to raise and lower loads: the family includes A-frame, basket, breast, Chicago boom, gin pole, guy, shearleg, and stiffleg derricks.
This section contains SUPPLEMENTAL requirements for derricks; all the other sections of Subpart CC apply to derricks unless specified otherwise. So a derrick must meet both the general Subpart CC requirements (assembly/disassembly, inspection, operation, qualified operators and signal persons, keeping clear of the load, and so on) AND the derrick-specific requirements here. The section addresses design (derricks must be designed by the manufacturer or a qualified person / registered professional engineer), erection and anchorage of the mast, guys, and braces, the construction and use of the derrick, rated capacity, and the specific rigging and stability considerations that derricks present.
Derricks are older technology than modern mobile cranes but remain in use for specific lifting tasks: steel erection, tank and tower work, and load handling where a fixed or semi-fixed device is advantageous. When the 2010 cranes and derricks rule (Subpart CC) replaced the former 1926.550 standard, derricks got these dedicated provisions. Because a derrick's stability depends entirely on proper anchorage of its mast and guys, 1926.1436's design, erection, and capacity requirements are central to keeping them from toppling or failing under load.
What the source requires, in summary
This section contains supplemental requirements for derricks, whether temporarily or permanently mounted; all sections of this subpart apply to derricks unless specified otherwise.
29 CFR 1926.1436(a)Summarized, not quoted: read the source for its operative wording.
Key facts about 29 CFR 1926.1436
1926.1436 sets supplemental requirements for derricks in construction (1926.1436(a)).
A derrick has a mast held by guys or braces, used to raise and lower loads.
Types include A-frame, gin pole, guy, breast, Chicago boom, shearleg, and stiffleg.
The general Subpart CC crane rules also apply to derricks.
Derricks must be designed by the manufacturer or a qualified person/engineer.
Proper anchorage of the mast, guys, and braces is essential to stability.
Subpart CC replaced the former 1926.550 crane and derrick standard in 2010.
Scope: who 29 CFR 1926.1436 applies to
Regulatory framework
Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Citation reference
29 CFR 1926.1436
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 1926.1436
#
Employer obligation
1
Apply the general Subpart CC crane rules plus these derrick-specific ones
2
Erect, dismantle, and use derricks per manufacturer or qualified-engineer requirements
3
Do not exceed the derrick's rated capacity
4
Anchor and support the mast, guys, and braces properly
5
Inspect derricks and use qualified operators and signal persons
Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1926.1436. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.
Common Derricks violations
Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1926.1436 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.
Derrick not designed, erected, or used per the required design provisions (1926.1436).
Inadequate anchorage or support of the mast, guys, or braces (1926.1436).
Exceeding the derrick's rated capacity (1926.1436/1926.1417).
Not applying the general Subpart CC requirements to the derrick (1926.1436(a)).
Unqualified operator or no signal person for derrick operations (1926.1436/1926.1427).
Derricks follow BOTH the general Subpart CC rules and these derrick-specific ones
A common gap is treating a derrick as outside the crane standard, or applying only the general crane rules. 1926.1436 makes clear it contains SUPPLEMENTAL requirements: all the other sections of Subpart CC apply to derricks UNLESS specified otherwise. So a derrick must meet the general Subpart CC requirements (inspection, qualified operator and signal person, keeping clear of the load, and more) AND the derrick-specific design, erection, anchorage, and capacity requirements in 1926.1436. A derrick's stability comes entirely from proper anchorage of its mast and guys or braces: get that wrong, overload it, or skip the general crane requirements, and the derrick can topple or the mast can fail. Both layers of requirements apply together.
What OSHA inspectors look for
A compliance officer checks that a derrick is erected, anchored, and used per manufacturer or qualified-engineer requirements, that its mast, guys, and braces are properly supported, that rated capacity is not exceeded, and that the general Subpart CC requirements (inspection, qualified operators, signal persons) are also met. Improperly guyed or overloaded derricks are the findings.
Example: how a violation is cited
A gin pole derrick is rigged with inadequate guy anchorage and overloaded; the mast fails and the load and derrick collapse. OSHA cites 1926.1436 for failing to erect and use the derrick per the required design and anchorage provisions, with penalties from $16,550.
Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.
Derricks compliance checklist
Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1926.1436. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.
Confirm the derrick is designed by the manufacturer or a qualified person/engineer.
Erect and anchor the mast, guys, and braces per the design.
Do not exceed the derrick's rated capacity.
Apply the general Subpart CC requirements (inspection, qualified operators, signal persons).
Inspect the derrick and its rigging.
Keep workers clear of the load and the derrick's failure zone.
2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1926.1436
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)
Derrick violations are cited under Subpart CC. 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 Derricks compliance
Derricks lift heavy loads using a mast held up only by guys, braces, or a stiffleg, if the anchorage, rigging, or load exceeds what the design allows, the whole derrick can topple or the mast can fail, dropping the load and the structure. 1926.1436 adds the derrick-specific requirements (proper design, erection, anchorage, and rated-capacity limits) on top of the general Subpart CC crane rules, so these older but still-used lifting devices are set up and operated safely.
A derrick is a lifting apparatus with a mast or equivalent member held at the top by guys or braces, with or without a boom, used with a hoisting mechanism to raise and lower loads. Under 1926.1436, the family includes A-frame, basket, breast, Chicago boom, gin pole, guy, shearleg, and stiffleg derricks. The section sets supplemental Subpart CC requirements for them.
Do the general crane rules apply to derricks?
Yes. 1926.1436 contains supplemental requirements for derricks, and it states that all sections of Subpart CC apply to derricks unless specified otherwise. So a derrick must meet both the general Subpart CC requirements (inspection, operation, qualified operators and signal persons, keeping clear of the load) and the derrick-specific design, erection, and anchorage requirements.
Why is derrick anchorage so important?
Because a derrick's stability depends entirely on the proper anchorage and support of its mast, guys, and braces. Unlike a mobile crane that carries its own counterweight and outriggers, a derrick's mast is held up by its guys or braces, if those are inadequately anchored, or the derrick is overloaded, the mast can fail or the derrick can topple, dropping the load. 1926.1436's design and erection requirements target exactly this.
What replaced the old 1926.550 cranes and derricks standard?
OSHA's comprehensive Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard, Subpart CC (1926.1400–1926.1442), effective November 8, 2010, replaced the former 1926.550. Derricks specifically are addressed in 1926.1436, which supplements the general Subpart CC crane requirements with derrick-specific design, erection, anchorage, and use provisions.
Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1926.1436
Derricks were given dedicated provisions in 1926.1436 when OSHA issued the comprehensive Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard (Subpart CC) effective November 8, 2010 (75 FR 47906), which replaced the former 1926.550. The section supplements the general Subpart CC requirements with the design, erection, and anchorage rules specific to derricks.
Related glossary terms
Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1926.1436, each with a full plain-English explainer.
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.