OSHA announces it will no longer accept crane operator certifications awarded by Crane Institute Certification

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it has issued an enforcement policy for crane operator certifications issued by Crane Institute Certification (CIC) to avoid industry confusion and potential disruptions of construction crane projects. OSHA requires crane operators engaged in construction activity to be certified by an entity accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. CIC no longer holds such accreditation.

The policy explains that, although CIC-issued certifications are not compliant with OSHA’s operator certification requirement, OSHA does not intend to cite employers for operating equipment that violates that requirement if their operators, in good faith, obtained CIC-issued certifications prior to Dec. 2, 2019, with the belief the certifications met the standard’s requirements. Until further notice, OSHA will not accept CIC certifications—including recertifications—issued on or after Dec. 2, 2019.