Jib Cranes & Davit Cranes

Jib cranes and davit cranes are small, fixed lifting devices. A jib crane has a horizontal arm (jib) on a mast or wall mount that carries a hoist. A davit crane has a short boom that swings out over an opening. They look simple, but overloaded or misused jibs and davits drop loads, swing into people and fail at the mounting.

• Maintenance Techs
• Machinists
• Warehouse Workers
• Confined Space Teams
• Marine & Utility Workers

What they are

• Free-standing jib cranes are mounted on a floor base or foundation, with a mast and a rotating arm.
• Wall-mounted and wall-bracket jib cranes are attached to a building wall or column.
• Mast-type and articulating jibs are often used on trucks or in factories for hoisting at stations.
• Davit cranes are small, often portable or base-mounted cranes with a swinging boom used to lift small loads, hoist tools and, with the right system, to lower and rescue workers in manholes, tanks and vessels. See Confined Spaces.
• These devices are covered by OSHA and consensus standards such as the ASME B30 series (for example B30.11 for monorails and underhung cranes and B30.16 for hoists). See ASME B30.

Main hazards

• Overloading: exceeding the rated load, including the weight of the hoist and rigging, which can bend the jib or fail the mounting.
• Structural failure: cracked welds, loose bolts, corroded mast or base, worn bearings and damaged anchor bolts.
• Swing hazards: loads and the arm can swing and strike or trap workers against columns, machines or walls.
• Load drops: bad rigging, damaged hooks, slings or hoists, and hooks without latches. See Rigging Basics and Sling Inspection.
• Pinch and crush points at the mast, pivot and hoist trolley.
• Electrical hazards from hoists, pendants and overhead lines.
• Side pulling and dragging loads, which overloads the jib and can tip a portable base.
• Personnel lifting misuse: using a davit or jib to lift a person without a rated system. See Hoisting Personnel.

Before you use it

• Check the capacity plate and stay within the rated load, including the hoist, hooks and rigging. Check the load at the outer end of the jib since capacity may vary along the arm.
• Do a pre-use inspection: hook and latch, hoist chain or wire rope, brakes, limit switches, controls, pendant, trolley, arm, mast, welds and bolts and rotation. Report and tag out defects. See Chain Hoists & Come-Alongs.
• Make sure periodic and annual inspections by a qualified person are done and documented as your program and the standards require. See Crane Inspections.
• Know the weight of the load and check it's within capacity. See Estimating Load Weight.
• Keep the area clear of workers, clutter and obstructions in the swing path, and mark it with floor lines where useful.
• Use only trained and authorized operators.

Using it safely

• Lift vertically, directly under the hoist. Don't side-pull, drag or tilt loads, and don't pull stuck loads with the hoist.
• Use proper slings and attachments, with hook latches closed, and rig loads so they're balanced. Use tag lines or push poles to control the swing, not your hands on the load.
• Lift slowly, test lift a few inches, and keep the load low when moving. Don't swing the jib quickly, and stop swing before landing the load.
• Stay out from under the load, and don't stand between the load and a fixed object. Never walk under a raised load. See Material Handling & Storage.
• Don't exceed the rated capacity, and don't leave a suspended load unattended.
• Don't modify or add a hoist or attachments without approval and recalculating capacity.
• Use lockout before servicing a powered hoist or trolley. See Group Lockout.

Davit cranes and confined space rescue

• A davit used for entry and retrieval must be set up on a base or socket suitable for the load, with the right winch or hoist and a fall arrest line and harness. Retrieval systems are required for vertical permit-required confined space entries over 5 feet deep where practicable (29 CFR 1910.146(k)). See Tank Cleaning & Vessel Entry.
• Use only davit systems rated for people, typically with a minimum design strength and a self-locking winch or fall arrester, and follow the maker's setup instructions. Don't use a material-handling davit for personnel.
• Keep the davit base and socket clean and inspect them. Anchor the base to a structure that can take the load; don't use makeshift supports.
• Train the attendant and rescuers on the retrieval system and practice before the entry. See Fall Rescue.

Jib and davit checklist

• The load is within the capacity plate rating, including hoist and rigging
• Pre-use inspection of hoist, hook latch, arm, mast and controls is done
• Lifts are vertical with no side pulling, and the swing path is clear
• Nobody is under a suspended load; tag lines control swing
• Davits used for people are rated for personnel with a retrieval system and trained attendants

Last updated: October 5, 2026