California Crane Owners Oppose Extension of Certification Deadline
February 23, 2005—Cal-OSHA is now considering pushing back the effective date of a new amendment to California's General Industry Safety Orders which will require most operators of mobile and tower cranes in the state to be certified. The original effective date was June 1, 2005.
The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association reported February 11th in its SC&RA Newsletter that the Crane Owners Association (
According to the Crane Owners Association:
- The ability to administer the written and practical exams is flexible enough to ensure the certification of a large number of mobile operators before June 1.
- Because the current effective date was set in August 2003, employers and industry participants have had enough time to comply with the requirements. Companies that have failed to comply despite a good faith effort can gain recourse through variance procedures.
- Deferring the effective date would send the wrong message to industry. To delay implementation after so much preparation by the state would defer the objectives of the standard and deny the benefits of improved safety to workers and the public.
The Crane Owners Association is a consortium of crane rental contractors employing over 250 crane operators in
The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (CCO) reports that the new amendment requires operators to hold a valid certificate of competency for the type of crane he/she wishes to operate. In order to be certified, operators must pass a physical examination and substance abuse testing, a written examination, and demonstrate hands-on proficiency. Certifications may be issued only by a certifying entity whose certification program has been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), such as CCO's program.
The regulation does not apply to operators of mobile cranes with a boom length less than 25 feet or with a maximum rated load capacity of less than 15,000 pounds.
