OSHA Delays Construction Crane Certification Requirements Until 2018


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has delayed updating crane certification requirements, subsequently impacting the construction market across the United States.


According to Lexology, after the most recent Federal Register notice, OSHA is now attempting to delay its new certification requirements for construction crane operators. The upcoming requirements were originally set to go into effect on November 10, 2017, but OSHA is looking to hold off at least a year.


Many of the construction safety rules might remain unchanged, but it’s still important for crane operators and construction production workers to stay up-to-date with the past, present, and future requirements. One of the long-standing OSHA rules pertaining to construction cranes, for example, is that the cranes must be correctly assembled on firm, completely drained ground, and should also graded sufficiently in conjunction with appropriate supporting materials. The new certification requirements shouldn’t alter many of these already in place regulations, but will certainly change the way a user operates cranes and other construction machinery.


The new requirements are being delayed amidst industry concerns over third-party testing organizations being forced to certify the crane operator for both the type of crane and its lifting capacity. In addition, the delay is being attributed to some industry leaders questioning whether or not the certification requirements are sufficient enough.


Before OSHA can officially delay any of these new rules and requirements, however, the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) must be consulted. The ACCSH has since advised the Secretary of Labor and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA in the formulation of standards affecting the construction industry as a whole, specifically pertaining to policy matters involving the Safety Standards Act, Contract Work Horus, and the OSHA Act of 1970.


Certain materials being used for crane construction could also be considered during the requirement delay process as well. Tungsten, which was discovered 236 years ago and finally put to use throughout various industries in the 1930s, has directly contributed to the construction market. Tungsten carbide has been a common material used during the manufacturing process for these industrial cranes because of its durability.


As it stands, the current crane rule requires its operator to be certified according to the type of crane that is being used, as well as its lifting capacity. The current rule states: “An operator will be deemed qualified to operate a particular piece of equipment if the operator is certified.”


Crane operators will still have to operate the equipment competently and safely, but will now have to wait until at least November 10, 2018 for any updated crane requirements.


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