crane operators

On November 8, 2010, OSHA’s update to the Cranes & Derricks standard (1926.400) went into effect. Although some of the provisions have delayed effective dates ranging from one year to four, there are a few important updates that were effective on November 8th.

The number of crane operators booked for a safety assessment in B.C. has increased sharply in the first two months of this year, due to the fast approaching deadline for certification.

The International Sign Association’s updated Mobile Crane Operator Safety Certification Training, which begins in January, will offer courses in more than 40 cities throughout 2011. In addition, each training course immediately will be followed by testing conducted by The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).

A man using an aerial lift in the centre if an English town last weekend was caught on camera using the 3.5 tonne truck mount without a harness, with no cordoning off and possibly worse of all working over the top of pedestrians the reader who sent a whole series of photographs in said: “I saw this on Saturday in the centre of Huddersfield.

Two fact sheets have recently been posted to the OSHA Web site to provide assistance complying with Subpart CC of the cranes and derricks in construction final rule. The cranes-qualified-rigger-factsheet* fact sheet is a guide for determining if a worker is qualified to properly rig the load for a particular job.

A New York state judge has ordered New York City to reinstate the crane operator license of man with alleged ties to the Mafia. Judge Alice Schlesinger said that a rule that crane operators must be of “good moral character” in order to have their licenses renewed, was unfair and ordered the city to reinstate the license of Louis Inglese.

Crane operators in British Columbia must have a valid operator’s certificate by February 28, 2011. Any operator not certified by February 28 cannot legally operate a crane in British Columbia. There are still many operators who have not been assessed and time and resources are limited.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction.

Kier Plant – the UK-based rental division of Kier Construction – has launched a 30 day consultation period with its remaining crane operators as part of a proposal to drop all directly employed operators

The US Crane & Derricks in Construction Final Rule standards have been released and will be published in the Federal Register on August 9th 90 days later an up to four year transition period begins before all sections effectively become law.