OSHA Extends Certification Deadline For Cranes and Derricks

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is extending the deadline for certification of cranes and derricks operators to November 10, 2017. This rule was previously scheduled to take effect on November 9. After receiving criticism from construction employers, however, OSHA has decided to push this date back an additional three years, offering  crane operators ample time to receive their certifications.

So, why  is OSHA giving crane and derricks operators three additional years to receive their certification? According to the administration, the extension will result in cost-savings for employers. If operators are forced to obtain their certification on short notice, it will likely force some operators to take days off work. Each day an operator takes off work is money lost for the company. OSHA acknowledged the importance of certifications for operators of cranes and derricks, but it also understands the need for employers to keep their businesses up and running.

"Extending the compliance date for operator certification results in estimated cost savings that exceed the estimated new costs for employers to continue to assess crane operators to ensure their competent operation of the equipment in accordance with 1926.1427(k). The detailed final economic analysis is in the "Agency Determinations" section of this preamble," wrote OSHA.

OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking earlier this year, proposing to extend the deadlines for both operator certification as well as the employer duty to ensure crane and derricks operators are certified. However, numerous parties stepped forward to express concerns over the proposed rule, some of whom claimed that certification by type and capacity wasn't sufficient in ensuring operators were qualified to safely operator cranes.

After analyzing comments and attending a hearing testimony, OSHA officials made the decision to extend the operator certification deadline and employer duty by an additional three years. The new rule is set to take effect November 17, 2017, at which point employers must ensure that all crane operators are certified according to OSHA's rule. If an employee doesn't have the necessary certification, the employer is responsible for training him or her before the employee is allowed to operator the crane.

In addition to pushing back the certification deadline for operators, OSHA also released a new ruling on the inspection of cranes and derricks. Some of the new requirements include checking the ground on which cranks and derricks operate, check for signs of repairs made to cranks and derricks, and identify overhead power lines.