OSHA Publishes Final Rule On Cranes And Derricks In Construction

Crane in Venice, Italy.  FED's training at your convenience will travel to where you need the training.

Some people would say its about time the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.  The last standard was issued in 1971 and considering in 2007 a number of crane accidents happened across the country including the two crane accidents that happened in New York City.  It is not surprising that OSHA finally finished the standard.  The rule becomes effective in 90 days after August 9, 2010.  Significant requirements in this new rule include: a pre-erection inspection of tower crane parts; use of synthetic slings in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions during assembly/disassembly work; assessment of ground conditions; qualification or certification of crane operators; and procedures for working in the vicinity of power lines.

Several provisions have been modified from the proposed rule. For example:

• Employers must comply with local and state operator licensing requirements which meet the minimum criteria specified in § 1926.1427.
• Employers must pay for certification or qualification of their currently uncertified or unqualified operators.
• Written certification tests may be administered in any language understood by the operator candidate.
• When employers with employees qualified for power transmission and distribution are working in accordance with the power transmission and distribution standard (§ 1910.269), that employer will be considered in compliance with this final rule's requirements for working around power lines.
• Employers must use a qualified rigger for rigging operations during assembly/disassembly.
• Employers must perform a pre-erection inspection of tower cranes.

The final rule was designed to work with state and local regulations.  Interesting change from what OSHA typically does.

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