---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 C.F.R. § 1917.124"
title: "29"
number: "1917.124"
heading: "Dockboards (car and bridge plates)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/29/1917.124"
---

# §1917.124. Dockboards (car and bridge plates).

- (a) **General.** The employer shall provide safe means of passage between different surface levels and across openings.
- (b) [Reserved]
- (c) **Dockboards (car and bridge plates).**
  - (1) Dockboards shall be strong enough to support the loads imposed on them.
  - (2) Portable dockboards shall be anchored in position or be equipped with devices to prevent their movement.
  - (3) Hand holds or other effective means shall be provided on portable dockboards to permit safe handling.
  - (4) Positive means shall be used to prevent railcars or highway vehicles from being moved while dockboards or bridge plates are in position.
  - (5) **Be designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent vehicles from running off the edge.** 10
  - (6) Dockboards shall be well maintained.
- (d) **Ramps.**
  - (1) Ramps shall be strong enough to support the loads imposed on them and be designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent vehicles from running off the edge. 11
  - (2) Ramps shall be equipped with a guardrail meeting the requirement of [§ 1917.112(c)(1)](/cfr/29/1917.112.md?p=c-1) if the slope is more than 20 degrees to the horizontal or if employees could fall more than 4 feet (1.22 m).
  - (3) Ramps shall have slip-resistant surfaces.
  - (4) When necessary to prevent displacement by vehicle wheels, steel plates or similar devices used to temporarily bridge or cover uneven surfaces or tracks, shall be anchored.
  - (5) Ramps shall be well maintained.

## Notes

### Amendments

[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 62 FR 40201, July 25, 1997; 65 FR 40942, June 30, 2000]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 941; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), 8-2020 (85 FR 58393), or 7-2025 (90 FR 27878), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911. Sections 1917.28 and 1917.31 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 553. Section 1917.29 also issued under 49 U.S.C. 1801-1819 and 5 U.S.C. 553.

### Source

Source: 48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 62 FR 40201, July 25, 1997; 65 FR 40942, June 30, 2000]