According to Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website, The Maryland Register will publish a re-proposal of the state’s crane safety regulations on Jan. 30, 2009. The summary below provides the changes to the initial proposal, which was published in the Maryland Register on Oct. 10, 2008.
Because the Maryland Division of State Documents has the authority to amend the regulatory language of the proposal, it’s important that the Jan. 30, 2009, issue of the Register be reviewed, the site said.
Below is a summary of changes to the proposed crane safety regulations.
- The revised regulations will have a more narrow scope of construction and demolition only.
- The revised regulations will require a physical examination for crane operators only.
- The revised regulations maintain the requirement that an employer provide the commissioner of Labor and Industry with 48 hours notice for a special lift; however, the regulations will provide an exception if an employer is unable to comply. An employer must provide notice no later than 24 hours after the special lift along with a written explanation for the failure to notify within 48 hours.
- The revised regulations clarify that the daily inspection report be retained for one year, and the annual and maintenance records must be retained for five years.
- The revised regulations provide that if an employer determines that a signal person and/or rigger are not necessary due to the size of the lift, an employer must ensure that the crane operator is adequately trained to ensure that the load is rigged properly and there is safe movement of the load.
- Finally, the revised regulations clarify that employees must be trained only for the cranes that they operate within the following three categories of cranes: tower crane, mobile crane, and/or derrick. If an employee will only be operating a tower crane, then the employee does not need to be trained in mobile cranes or derricks.
