The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently proposed an update to its crane safety rules by changing certain provisions and adding new minimum operator competency requirements. OSHA proposed to remove a current provision that requires multiple certification levels based on equipment’s lifting capacity. Instead, the proposed change would clarify that testing organizations do not need to issue capacity-based certifications – however, they are still permitted to do so. “Under the proposed rule, a change to the categories of certifications for crane operators would ensure more operators are able to meet the requirement,” OSHA wrote in a trade release. “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.” This proposed change would also establish minimum requirements to determine the competency of operators. These changes would affect an estimated 100,000 crane operators, and according to OSHA’s estimates, would create a one-time cost savings of approximately $25.5 million. OSHA estimates that the annual cost of compliance would be about $1.6 million. It will accept public comments on this proposal until June 20. Related Posts:
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