OSHA extends comment period for proposed rule regarding crane operator safety

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced on June 15 that it will extend the comment period on the proposed rule on crane operator certification. Comments will now be accepted through July 5. This extension allows stakeholders more time to review the proposed rule. 

The proposed rule was issued to increase the safety of America’s construction sites. In addition to providing long-term clarity regarding crane operator certification requirements, the proposal reinstates the employer’s duty to ensure that a crane operator is qualified to safely operate equipment. 

Under the proposed rule, a change to the categories of certifications for crane operators would ensure more operators are able to meet the requirement. The proposal discontinues a 2010 requirement, which never went into effect, that crane operator certification must include the crane lifting capacity for which the operator is certified. The proposal would expand the type of certification programs for crane operators.

OSHA recently published a final rule extending the operator certification compliance date until November 10, 2018, to provide the agency with additional time to complete this rulemaking to address stakeholder concerns related to the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.

Comments may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, or by fax or mail. See the Federal Register notice for submission details.