2019 Advocacy Victory

SC&RA Fights For & Wins Less Prescriptive Criteria for Crane Operator Evaluation

In 2018, OSHA proposed a prescriptive list of items employers would be required to use when evaluating crane operators. SC&RA submitted comments highlighting that “one size fits all” list of evaluation criteria is infeasible and unnecessary. As a result, §1926.1427(f) of OSHA’s final rule does not require a specific list of criteria but requires employers to evaluate that each operator is qualified by a demonstration of the skills and knowledge, as well as the ability to recognize and avert risk, necessary to operate the equipment safely, including those specific to the safety devices, operational aids, software, and the size and configuration of the equipment.

In response, SC&RA developed Qualified Operator Evaluation forms for both tower cranes and mobile cranes which were made publicly available for industry-wide adoption. The forms were developed in conjunction with the Crane & Rigging Group Safety Education & Training and Tower Crane committees – and are available for download for member compliance.