OSHA advisory committee to host teleconference on proposed crane operator certification delay

Washington – OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health has scheduled a public teleconference for June 20 to discuss OSHA proposing another one-year extension to the compliance deadlines for crane operator and employer certification.

As part of its updated Crane and Derricks in Construction Standard, OSHA mandated that crane operators become certified via an accredited testing service, an independently audited employer’s program, military training, or compliance with qualifying state or local licensing requirements. It also stated that employers needed to ensure crane operators are properly instructed and adequately skilled to safely work on the machinery.

Those requirements were slated to begin in November 2014 but were delayed for three years, largely because of two issues. First, the final rule required certification for both the types of cranes and their capacities. Second, stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the regulatory language – that “certification” doesn’t necessarily mean an operator has the appropriate skills.

The new proposed extension would move the compliance deadline to Nov. 10, 2018, to give OSHA time to address concerns, the agency stated.