On Nov. 9, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published a final rule that updates its standard for cranes and derricks in construction to ensure crane operators are qualified to safely operate equipment.

The final rule requires employers to train operators as needed to perform assigned crane activities, evaluate them and document successful completion of the evaluations. OSHA clarifies that employers who have already evaluated their operators prior to Dec. 9, 2018, will not have to conduct those evaluations again, but will need to document when they completed the evaluations. 

The rule also requires crane operators to complete certification and receive ongoing training as necessary based on the crane’s type and capacity, or type only, revising a provision of the 2010 rule that specified that crane operator certification must include rated lifting capacity.

The final rule, with the exception of the evaluation and documentation requirements, will become effective on Dec. 9, 2018. The evaluation and documentation requirements will become effective on Feb. 7, 2019. 

REMINDER: OSHA issued guidance on Nov. 5 detailing how employers should comply with crane operator certification requirements until OSHA’s new final rule on operator certification and qualification becomes effective. Read more about OSHA’s guidance in Newsline.