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 www.specialtytechnicalconsultants.comFall 2010   
Final OSHA Cranes and Derricks Standard
Carol J. Robinson, CIH, CSP, Principal and Vice President, Oakland, CA

On August 9, 2010, OSHA published its long-awaited final rule on Crane and Derricks in Construction, 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart CC. According to OSHA, the purpose of the rule is to "address key hazards related to cranes and derricks on construction worksites, including the four main causes of worker death and injury: electrocution, crushed by parts of the equipment, struck-by the equipment/load, and falls." Equipment covered by the rule includes ". . . power-operated equipment, when used in construction, that can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load." Certain equipment is excluded from the standard such as power shovels, excavators, and backhoes, and other equipment is covered with limited exclusions applying to knuckle-boom truck cranes. Forklifts are covered by the final rule when they are configured like a crane.

Most provisions of the rule will go into effect on November 6, 2010, with some to be phased in over the next four years. State plan states will be expected to adopt an "at least as effective" standard or amend their existing standard within 6 months.

General industry crane and derrick operations are governed by a separate set of rules found at 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N. However there are a few ways that these organizations not regarded as working in construction may, in fact, be covered by the new regulation.
  • An organization covered by the general industry standard may perform construction work. Construction work is defined in OSHA's existing regulations as work " . . . for construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating."
  • An organization could become the "controlling entity," which is defined by the new rule as ". . . the employer that is a prime contractor, general contractor, construction manager or any other legal entitywhich has the overall responsibility for the construction of the project - its planning, quality and completion."

The rule establishes comprehensive new requirements for assembly/disassembly; assessment of ground conditions; qualification of operators, riggers and signal persons; work conducted near power lines; and inspections. Employers must comply with manufactures recommendations for the use of synthetic slings.

Equipment operators may be qualified/certified through one of following four options:

OHSA Cranes table

State or local licenses are required by November 8, 2010, if working in a state or locality that has operator licensing requirements meeting the requirements of Subpart CC. Between November 8, 2010 and November 10, 2014, employers must ensure that operators are competent to operate the equipment safely and are trained and evaluated on that training before operating the equipment. The rule requires that non-English speaking operators be provided the opportunity to become certified using languages other than English. By November 10, 2014 all operators must be certified. Employers must pay the cost of certification for their currently uncertified or unqualified operators.

While the standard does not require that riggers be certified, riggers must be qualified persons for the performance of specified hoisting activities such as during assembly/disassembly work and those that require employees to be in the fall zone to handle a load. The rigger would be considered qualified through possession of a recognized degree, training, knowledge, or professional standing.

Signal persons also do not have to be certified. However, the employer of a signal person must ensure that the signal person is qualified by a qualified evaluator, which may be a third party or an employee of the signal person's employer.

Additional information about the new requirements can be found on OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/index.html.

Carol Robinson, CIH, CSP, and STC Vice President, is located in Oakland, CA. She has over 30 years experience in EHS management and consulting for a wide range of industries including biotech, chemical, high tech, personal care and petrochemical companies. Her consulting activities are focused on assisting clients with EHS management systems implementation, standards and procedures development and auditing programs. Her experience managing non-EHS groups including engineering, facilities, corporate security and TSCA compliance has exposed her to a diverse range of business issues and backgrounds, enabling her to provide focused, understandable and actionable guidance and training.

For more information about OSHA's Cranes and Derricks standard, contact Carol at (510)495-6070 or email:[email protected]

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Melanie Powers-Schanbacher
Telephone: 908.707.4001