OSHA removes capacity requirement

The US Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has removed from its rule the requirement for crane operators to be certified according to the capacity of the crane. This decision was supported by the overwhelming majority of industry stakeholders at meetings hosted by OSHA and others since the rule was first published in 2010.

In its Proposed Rule Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator Qualification 29 CFR Part 1926, published on 18 May, OSHA said it ”proposes to update its standard for cranes and derricks in construction by permanently extending and clarifying each employer’s duty to ensure the competency of crane operators through required training, certification or licensing, and evaluation. OSHA is also proposing to remove an existing provision that requires different levels of certification based on rated lifting capacity of equipment.”

The proposed rule also says it “would clarify that while testing organizations are not required to issue certifications distinguished by rated capacities, they are permitted to do so. Finally, it would establish minimum requirements for determining operator competency.”

Other areas OSHA addresses in the Proposed Rule include: qualifications for trainers; who must pay for certification (the employer); whether duty cycle cranes or cranes in the 5,000 - 35,000 pound (2.3 to 15.9 metric ton) capacity range should be excluded (no); requirements for operators-in-training; and whether there should be (yet) another extension if the Final Rule is not published until after July.

OSHA has invited comments on its proposals. Electronic submissions should be made on docket OSHA-2007-0066 at www.regulations.gov on or before June 20. Full details, including the meeting history and details of submitting comments, for example by fax, are here: Federal Register notice