On May 22, 2013 OSHA announced that it will propose to extend the compliance date for the crane operator certification requirement by three years to Nov. 10, 2017.
Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) held regularly scheduled public meetings in Washington, D.C., May 23 and 24 to review several OSHA proposed rules affecting construction activities.
In response to OSHA's announcement and the subsequent discussions at the ACCSH meeting, Debbie Dickinson, executive director of Crane Institute Certification (CIC), issued the following statement:
"The proposed extension to 2017 is likely to pass and OSHA is expected to take the regulation back to negotiated rulemaking. During this time, OSHA will address questions raised regarding certification/qualification and add more language on employer responsibilities. The public can expect separate rulemaking as a result.
Certification by different capacity levels, as CIC's tests are structured, is a good indication of an individual's skill and knowledge and distinguishes his or her abilities to employers. CIC has been compliant with the federal rule from the beginning, offering accredited tests by type and capacity since 2008. Our mission is saving lives. Certification by different levels of type and capacity gives operators a meaningful credential and gives employers worthwhile information about an operator's knowledge, skill and abilities. As CIC keeps an eye on developments in Washington, we will continue to provide the industry with certifications that have merit and are in compliance with what the law requires."
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
