OSHA's Cranes and Derricks In Construction Final Rule Clears OMB
OSHA's Cranes and Derricks in Construction final rule has just cleared the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), setting the stage for this important rule to be published within the next few weeks.
As previously discussed in this space, this final rule has been several years in the making. The proposal contained over 40 separate sections of detailed requirements in such areas as crane assembly, crane operation, inspections, and operator training and certification. The most controversial provision in the proposed rule related to “Operator Qualification and Certification.” OSHA proposed that all crane operators be certified to operate a crane, principally by having the operators trained and tested by an “accredited” crane operator testing organization. This provision alone was estimated by OSHA to cost employers $37.3 million.
Construction employers who use cranes in their operations must be prepared to implement the requirements in the final rule. Once published, we will provide additional information on the final rule's provisions.
