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Crane Operator Final Rule

Posted By IAMU, Monday, December 10, 2018

Now that November 10, 2018 has come and gone, the technical skills and knowledge provisions of the crane operator certification in 1926 Subpart CC is now a regulatory requirement. Several revisions and clarifications have taken place with the publication of OSHA’s final rule, Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator Qualifications, effective December 10, 2018. One purpose of these revisions is to change the requirement that crane operator certification be based on equipment type and capacity and instead now permits certification be based on type OR type and capacity. OSHA found no statistics or research that proved an additional safety benefit for certifying by anything other than type. In fact, OSHA believes that it restricts the potential for some crane operators to obtain certification. Certification criteria, which requires a written certification test and a practical test, remains unchanged.

OSHA has also revised the two additional sections of the crane standard that address operator training and competency. However, OSHA still requires that operators re-certify every 5 years and that accrediting bodies have a re-certifying component to their program that allows for operators to be tested to ensure that they have retained safety knowledge and they are up to speed with the latest regulatory and technical developments. The certification issuing entity (like NCCER) must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (such as ANSI or ASME) so as to be sure that industry-recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment, and personnel have been met. By meeting such protocol and upon completing a successful audit, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities was certified as an Accredited Assessment Center through NCCER.

Another change in the final rule of the crane standard is the clarification of the employer’s obligation to evaluate the competency of the operator and their ability to work safely. Just as an employee’s driver’s license does not guarantee the employee’s ability to drive all vehicles safely in all conditions of the employee’s workplace, certification does not ensure that the crane operator has sufficient knowledge and skill to operate all cranes and other lifting equipment safely. The employer evaluation of a crane operator’s ability, experience and competency is a fundamental part of workplace safety. This evaluation part of the rule goes into effect on February 7, 2019 and states that employers must conduct an evaluation of each operator to ensure that they are qualified by a demonstration of the skills and knowledge necessary to operate the equipment safely and the ability to recognize and avert risks associated with that operation. The evaluation must also include the operator’s ability to perform the hoisting activities required for the work that they are assigned, including blind lifts, personnel hoisting and multiple lifts.

Skills and knowledge, as addressed by OSHA, include those types of safety devices, operational aids and software the crane is equipped with. The evaluation must also take into account the size and configuration of the crane as the manufacturer has designed it to function; including lifting capacity, boom length and radius, attachments and counterweight configuration. The evaluation must be documented and must include the printed names and signatures of the operator and the evaluator, the date of the evaluation and the make, model and configuration of the crane used in the evaluation. Re-evaluations are required whenever you provide retraining to an operator but should only focus on the areas which the retraining covered. You must retrain an operator whenever you believe it’s necessary based on an operator’s performance or an evaluation of the operator’s knowledge.

OSHA’s final rule now clarifies restrictions for operators-in-training. Those employees must be provided with sufficient training, through a combination of formal and practical instruction, to ensure that they develop the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and avert risk necessary to operate the equipment safely for assigned work. These employees may operate cranes but they must be continuously monitored by their trainer. There are, however, restrictions on the duties in which operators-in-training who are not yet certified are not allowed to operate cranes:

(1) If any part of the crane, load line, or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), if operated up to the crane’s maximum working radius in the work zone could get within 20 feet of a power line that is up to 350 kV, or within 50 feet of a power line that is over 350 kV.

(2)  Hoisting personnel.

(3)  Multi-crane lifts.

(4)  Over a shaft, cofferdam, or in a tank farm.

(5)  Multiple-lift rigging operations (unless the operator’s trainer determines that the operator-in-training’s skills are sufficient).

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 February 7, 2019.

IAMU has two mobile crane operator examination and certification classes during the weeks of January 7th and February 11th, 2019. Go to this LINK to register for either class.

Tags:  Mobile Crane  OSHA 

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What You Need to Know About Mobile Crane Operations

Posted By IAMU, Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Most of us are now aware that the crane regulation in Construction was updated in 2010 and many needed changes were made from the original 1971 regulation, which was based on a 40-year-old standard. The new regulation is designed to prevent most common cause of fatalities; electrocution, struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn. It also clarifies host employer responsibilities and the elements of crane operator certification.

Mobile cranes are defined as equipment that can hoist, lower and move horizontally a suspended load. There are certain pieces of equipment that are exempt from having to meet standard requirements as long as the equipment is used in the manner in which it was designed.

Read the full article here.

Tags:  Mobile Crane  Safety Services 

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What You Need to Know About Mobile Crane Operations

Posted By IAMU, Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Most of us are now aware that the crane regulation in Construction was updated in 2010 and many needed changes were made from the original 1971 regulation, which was based on a 40-year-old standard. The new regulation is designed to prevent most common cause of fatalities; electrocution, struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn. It also clarifies host employer responsibilities and the elements of crane operator certification.

Mobile cranes are defined as equipment that can hoist, lower and move horizontally a suspended load. There are certain pieces of equipment that are exempt from having to meet standard requirements as long as the equipment is used in the manner in which it was designed.

Read the full article here.

Tags:  Mobile Crane  Safety Services 

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IAMU Mobile Crane Operator Certification Classes & Exams - 2018

Posted By IAMU, Wednesday, March 14, 2018

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Safety Services department will be holding mobile crane certification and examination classes for digger derrick, service truck, and mobile crane operators.  OSHA’s updated crane standard REQUIRES that operators of lifting equipment be trained, evaluated and tested in order to obtain certification.

Background Information:

Although the new standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, specifically exempts the digger derrick and the operator from meeting the requirements of the standard, the exemption applies only when it is used for work within the provisions of the power generation, transmission and distribution standards, or for construction work within the telecommunications standard.  The exemption does not apply if the digger derrick is used for lifting materials or to operate in working environments outside the scope of the standard because the equipment is essentially being used as a mobile crane.  For example, unloading materials from a truck, lifting a motor from a pump house to assist your water department, or providing assistance to any other city department will mean that the exemption no longer applies.  When equipment is used as a mobile crane, all provisions of the standard apply, including the operator certification rule.  OSHA also now requires that an operator be certified in specific areas when they operate equipment outfitted with a boom and winch and able to lift at least 2,000 pounds.  This includes service trucks in your public works, or water departments. 

OSHA’s November 10, 2018 deadline for crane operators to have completed a certification status is quickly approaching.  The new standard has very specific operator requirements, one being to obtain operator certification from an independent testing organization accredited by a nationally recognized organization.  OSHA’s updated crane standard, 1926.1427 in Subpart CC, requires that for a testing organization to be considered accredited to certify operators, it must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency based on that agency’s determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment and personnel have been met.  IAMU is an Accredited Assessment Center through the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).  We are authorized to conduct both hands-on assessments and practical examinations which are part of our Mobile Crane Operator Certification Program.  Additionally, we are offering Qualified Hand Signal Person and Qualified Rigger programs (available at a future date).

Who Should Attend:

Digger derrick and service truck crane operators who do not currently hold a mobile crane operator’s certification.

What Do These Classes and Certification Consist Of:

Classes will be a week long, requiring classroom instruction, an on-line exam that has a 80% pass requirement, a practical exam for certification of mobile crane, and then finally a short class and practical exam for the signalperson and rigging qualifications. Students who pass the written and practical exams receive nationally recognized certification from the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).

Where Do These Classes Take Place:

IAMU Training and Office Complex
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA  50021

When Will Classes Be Held:

Dates have been scheduled for 2018 at the IAMU complex.  Please click HERE or visit the IAMU website for available dates.

 

March 26-30, 2018

Class: March 26-28

Exams: March 29 & 30

Location: IAMU

 

June 18-22, 2018

Class: June 18-20

Exams: June 21 & 22

Location: IAMU

 

June 25-29, 2018

Class: June 25-27

Exams: June 28 & 29

Location: IAMU

 

July 23-27, 2018

Class: July 23-25

Exams: July 26 & 27

Location: IAMU

August 20-24, 2018

Class: August 20-22

Exams: August 23 & 24

Location: IAMU

Mobile Crane Operator Certification/Examination Class Schedule:

 

Class Day

Times

Classroom/Exam

Monday

9:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Classroom

Tuesday & Wednesday

8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Classroom

Thursday

8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Exams

Friday (if needed)

8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Exams

Class/Exam

Examination retakes must be scheduled with IAMU.  (An additional cost of $100 applies to exam retakes)

Additional Notes:

  • Registration is open.  There is a maximum of 16 participants per class session.
  •  Lunch will be provided on classroom days.
  •  All participants will attend classroom days. Exams will take place on the Thursday of each class session. Depending on the number of participants, Wednesday evening and Friday may also be used for exams.
  •  Study guides will be mailed to registered participants prior to class dates.

For additional information about the classes and online registration for each event, click HERE.

Questions?

If you have any questions in regards to the classes, or requirements, please contact:

Margret Meade, IAMU Safety Specialist (mmeade@iamu.org)

Dan Llewellyn, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator (dllewellyn@iamu.org)

Phone:  (800) 810-4268

Tags:  Mobile Crane  OSHA  Safety Services 

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Crane Compliance Date Extended for One Year

Posted By IAMU, Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Federal OSHA has officially issued a final rule setting compliance date for crane operator certification requirements. The extension is granted for a period of one year, ending Nov. 10, 2018. IAMU will continue to conduct Mobile Crane Operator Certification and Examination Classes throughout next year. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Dan Llewellyn (dllewellyn@iamu.org) or Margret Meade (mmeade@iamu.org) at 800.810.4268.

Below is the official OSHA Trade Release:


U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Office of Communications
Washington, D.C.
www.osha.gov
For Immediate Release

November 9, 2017

OSHA Issues Final Rule Setting Compliance Date for Crane
Operator Certification Requirements

WASHINGTON, DC – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued a final rule setting November 10, 2018, as the date for employers in the construction industries to comply with a requirement for crane operator certification. The final rule becomes effective November 9, 2017.

OSHA issued a final cranes and derricks rule in August 2010. After stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the rule’s certification requirements, OSHA published a separate final rule in September 2014, extending by three years the crane operator certification and competency requirements. This one-year extension provides additional time for OSHA to complete a rulemaking to address stakeholder concerns related to the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.

OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) recommended delaying enforcement of the certification requirement and extending the employer assessment responsibilities for the same period.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.


U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).

Tags:  Mobile Crane  OSHA 

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