US and Canada cross-border certification moves closer

The British Columbia Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) has received official WorkSafe BC approval to move ahead with the Pilot Phase of a reciprocal certification programme with US crane operator and rigger certification providers, the US-based Crane Institute Certification (CIC) has announced.

"Over the year, CIC worked closely with BCACS to establish a crane operator certification that meets both British Columbia and OSHA requirements, thereby opening up cross-border employment opportunities for crane operators," said Debbie Dickinson, executive director of CIC.

According to Fraser Cocks, executive director of BCACS, British Columbia employers will voluntarily participate in the pilot and may offer employment opportunities to qualified US crane operators of mobile cranes, lattice boom friction cranes, and lattice boom hydraulic cranes.

The pilot will complete March 31, 2014.