OSHA published the long-delayed updates to its crane operator certification requirements in the Nov. 9 Federal Register.
As was expected, the agency will require certification by type of crane, and will accept certification by crane type and its lifting capacity. OSHA originally sought to certify operators solely by crane type and capacity in 2010.
That certification requirement was supposed to go into effect in 2014, but the agency later discovered that two of the four accredited testing services were issuing certifications for type of crane rather than type and capacity. The new rule specifies that certification/licensing must be accomplished via an accredited testing service, an independently audited employer program, military training, or compliance with qualifying state or local licensing requirements.
Most of the new final rule will go into effect Dec. 9, except for requirements that employers evaluate crane operators and document those evaluations. The latter requirements will take effect Feb. 7, 2019.
Related Stories
| Mar 26, 2014
Better Buildings Initiative leading to tens of millions of dollars in savings annually, says DOE
Facilities across the nation have been able to shave on average about 2.5% of their annual utility costs through efficiency initiatives spurred by the federal Better Buildings Initiative, according to the Department of Energy’s Maria Vargas.
| Mar 26, 2014
Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha fire could prompt building code changes
A dormitory fire at the University of Nebraska at Omaha that displaced with 42 students (but caused no injuries) could trigger local building code changes.
| Mar 26, 2014
Associated Builders and Contractors wary of federal overtime rules changes
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) cautioned that President Obama’s directive to the U.S. Department of Labor to change federal overtime rules could harm its members.
| Mar 19, 2014
Oklahoma City mandates safe rooms in new schools
The move will affect 24 districts that have schools inside Oklahoma City limits.
| Mar 19, 2014
Green building standards can help building become more storm-resistant
Structures built to green standards have added resilience to destructive storms because green buildings are often constructed with stronger, more sustainable materials than traditional buildings.
| Mar 19, 2014
Ohio Senate passes rule to require state agencies use ANSI standards rather than LEED
The resolution specifically mentions LEED v4, and calls for the U.S. Green Building Council to conform to ANSI.
| Mar 19, 2014
Tucson ignores ADA, building code on city-owned property
The city has been operating a downtown dirt parking lot in violation of its own code and the federal law for years.
| Mar 19, 2014
Santa Monica, Calif., may offer LEED alternatives to help promote green construction
With developers in Santa Monica, Calif., looking for ways to build green more inexpensively, the city may consider alternatives to LEED such as Green Globes.
| Mar 18, 2014
Canadian wood industry pushes for ‘wood first’ legislation on mid-rise public projects
The wood lobby is pushing Canadian provinces to pass “wood first” legislation specifying wood framed structures as the default for mid-rise public works projects where warranted.
| Mar 13, 2014
USGBC hits back at Environmental Policy Alliance criticism
The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Policy Alliance has launched a campaign to make the claim that LEED-certified buildings are less energy efficient than other buildings. In response, USGBC told its members: "Don’t be fooled, the Environmental Policy Alliance isn’t the 'EPA' you might think."
