1. A. An employer may not hoist employees on a personnel platform until the following prooftesting requirements are satisfied.
2. B. The platform and rigging shall be prooftested to 125 percent of the platform's rated capacity.
3. C. Prooftesting shall be performed by holding the platform in a suspended position for 5 minutes with the test load evenly distributed on the platform.

4. D. After prooftesting:

   1. (1) A competent designated person shall inspect the platform and rigging; and

   2. (2) If any deficiency is found, then before employees are hoisted:

      1. (a) It shall be corrected, and
      2. (b) Another prooftest shall be conducted.

5. E. The platform and rigging shall be prooftested:

   1. (1) Before the first use to lift personnel;
   2. (2) Annually after that; and
   3. (3) After any repair or modification.
6. F. The prooftesting may be performed concurrently with any trial lift conducted at a time set forth in Regulation .08A, B, or C of this chapter.

Authority: Labor and Employment Article, §§2-106(b)(4) and 5-312, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: May 14, 1990 (17:9 Md. R. 1089)