Key Takeaways from OSHA’s New Crane Standard
For crane and derrick workers, the long-anticipated updates to OSHA’s final rule for operator qualification couldn’t come quick enough.
The final rule will reduce compliance burdens while still maintaining safety and health protections for workers.
Under OSHA’s new crane final rule, employers are required to train operators as needed to perform assigned crane activities, evaluate them, and document successful completion of the evaluations - by December 9th. The requirements for employers to evaluate crane operators and document those evaluations will go into effect on February 7, 2019, per (OSHA).
The new final rule revises a 2010 requirement that crane operator certification must specify the rated lifting capacity of cranes for which the operator is certified.
OSHA created the final rule to clarify requirements and ensure the capability of crane operators through training, certification or licensing, and evaluation on November 9, 2018. The rule maintains the employer’s duty to ensure that crane operators can safely operate the equipment and maintain safety and health.
Be ready to identify certified crane workers by December 9, 2018.
Who needs to be certified or qualified?
Per OSHA, any person engaged in a construction activity who is operating a crane covered by the new cranes and derricks rule, except:
What are the new requirements for crane workers?
New OSHA requirements for crane and derrick operators include but are not limited to:
5. Employer’s duty to evaluate its operators. Operator evaluations (assessments) administered prior to December 9, 2018, will not be required to undergo a new evaluation of existing knowledge and skill.
The new rule simply removed the requirement that certifications include the lifting capacity of cranes for which the operator is certified, but did not change the effective date for when operators must be certified.
For more information visit:
https://www.osha.gov/doc/accsh/ACCSHmeeting06-20-17CraneOperatorExtensionFAQs.pdf
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