Crane Operator Employer’s Responsibilities

By: Ron Overton, Contributor

The employer must ensure that each operator is trained on the operation and use of the specific crane and tasks to be performed. Image courtesy of OVERTON.

One of the most frequent questions posed by employers is a clarification of exactly what their responsibilities are to be in compliance with the revisions of the Federal Crane Rule 29CFR1926.1427, specifically the training, qualification, evaluation, and National Certification of their crane operators. Let us review the requirements and changes of this regulation.

Keep in mind that this regulation applies to all crane types and craning work as stated in the “Scope” provided in the Construction Crane Rule 29CFR1926.1400 subpart CC and some specific state regulations may be more restrictive than this Federal Rule. Below is clarification for employers so they know exactly what they need to stay compliant.

Effective Compliance Dates:

1. National Certification (if applicable) December 10, 2018
2. Employers Training and Evaluation April 7, 2019

Clarification of Employer Responsibility:

1. The employer must ensure that each operator:
   1. Is trained on the operation and use of the specific crane and tasks to be performed.
   2. Passes an employer practical evaluation/attestation using the specific crane and performing all the tasks required.
   3. Is Nationally Certified and licensed, (as applicable) before operating.

Employer Crane Operator Training Requirements:

1. 

   Employer crane operator training requires that each operator be able to recognize and avert risk associated with that crane. Image courtesy of OVERTON.

   Employer must provide each operator with sufficient training before operating the equipment.

2. Level of employer training may vary according to the operator prior experience/training.
3. Training is to include a combination of formal operational instruction and practical hands-on instruction.
4. Ensure they can recognize and avert risk associated with that crane.
5. Ensure skills and knowledge to perform the assigned work safely are taught and demonstrated.
6. Examples of required training covered may include:
   1. Equipment, working area and ground inspection, setting up, leveling, accounting for hazards, making judgements for wind or other factors, using outriggers/stabilizers and cribbing,
   2. Assessing unstable loads, rigging, determine load weight.
   3. Barge operation, hoisting/handling irregular sized loads, personnel hoisting, tight spaces, performing multiple crane lifts and traveling loaded/unloaded.
   4. Engaging, hoisting, moving, and placing loads (as applicable) at height, blind picks, using ancillary attachments and jib extensions.
7. The operator-in-training shall not operate in any of the following circumstances:
   1. Inside the energized powerline clearance requirements.
   2. Hoisting personnel.
   3. Lifting over a shaft, cofferdam or in a tank farm.
   4. Multiple lift rigging operations (unless sufficiently skilled).
8. Retraining:
   1. When an evaluation, observation, or testing indicate it is necessary.
   2. On relevant topics or skills, not necessarily retrained on entire program.
   3. Retain proof of retraining.
9. Trainer:
   1. Training can be provided by an employee or agent of the operator-in-training’s employer.
   2. Trainer must have the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to direct the operator in-training on the equipment in use.
   3. Trainer does NOT have to be a Nationally Certified Operator.
   4. The employer’s trainer may only assign task within the ability of the operator-in-training
   5. While training, the operator must be continually monitored by the trainer. There are few exceptions.
   6. Trainer and operator must remain in direct line of sight and be able to communicate verbally or via hand signals. Tower cranes are slightly different.

Employer Operator Evaluation (Attestation) Requirements

1. Done after sufficient training has been accomplished.
2. Evaluations can be done at the worksite during the regular craning work if mentored by a Certified Crane Operator.
3. Ensure operator is qualified by knowledge and/or a demonstration of: (as applicable)
   1. Knowledge and ability to recognize and avert risk.
   2. Crane inspection, skills to safely operate the equipment, including setup, outrigger/stabilizers/cribbing, hazards, ground requirements, clearances.
   3. Operate in applicable crane configurations.
   4. Competently and safely perform hoisting activities required for assigned work such as: load handling, load movement, load placement, blind lifts, personnel hoisting multi load lifting, and multi-crane lifts.
   5. Use of safety devices, operational aids, setting up software/computers utilized, emergency procedures.
   6. Knowledge of lifting capacity, boom lengths, use of extensions, lifting at height, attachments, or alternate counterweight set-up.
4. Evaluation Documentation:
   1. A single successful evaluation may cover other equipment models that do not require substantially different skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and avert risk to operate.
   2. Successful evaluation must be documented, proof of evaluations must be available at the worksite.
   3. Evaluation does not have to be in any specific format but must include:
      1. Operator name, evaluator name and signature, date, make, models, and configuration of equipment used in the evaluation, types of lifts evaluated on and qualified to make.
   4. Trainees:
      1. Can be in-training operating on the worksite if mentored/instructed and constantly observed by an employer’s designated mentor who is a Certified Crane Operator.
      2. Must complete training and be pass employer evaluation demonstrating the required skill and knowledge.
      3. May require additional training and/or multiple evaluations on different models or tasks.
      4. Must have both employer training/evaluation completed and National Certification prior to operating unsupervised.
   5. Evaluator:
      1. Can be an employee or agent of the employer.
      2. Has the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to assess crane operators.
      3. Does NOT have to be Nationally Certified.
   6. Re-evaluation when deemed necessary:
      1. Observation of declining skill, utilizing a different crane type/configuration, new skill is required.
      2. Documented and includes required information.

Requirement for National Certification:

1. National Certification is in addition to the requirement for employer training, evaluation, and qualification.
2. Certification issued by an accredited and recognized source such as CCO.
3. Second language written certification exams can be issued by the accredited testing/certification agency but note:
   1. Certification must identify the second language in which the written certification exams were provided and passed.
   2. Operators may only operate equipment with load ratings, operator’s manual and safety decals printed in the second language designated on the national certification.
   3. Currently CCO does offer written examinations in Spanish on selected crane classifications. CS

Ron Overton is the President of OVERTON Safety Training Inc., which provides employers and hoisting and lifting professionals with safety training options and CCO National Certification services for hoisting and lifting professionals since 2005. For more information, visit overtonsafety.com