- A qualified person must address a list of key hazards associated with equipment assembly and disassembly.
- Ground conditions must be made adequate for crane set-up to help prevent tip-overs.
- In order to prevent electrocution, employers must choose from a list of options for ensuring that equipment does not come within a prescribed distance of power lines.
- Signal persons must meet specified qualification requirements.
- After a phase-in period, crane operators will have to be certified by either:
- Any crane operator testing organization approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, or
- The employer's own qualification program, which must be audited by a testing organization approved auditor.
The standard also addresses safety devices, operational aids, signals, specific types of equipment (such as derricks and tower cranes), inspections, wire rope, prototype design and testing, crushing and overhead hazards, fall protection and equipment modification.
NAHB has dissented on the new, more stringent provision in the CDAC proposal on crane operator certification because it would not allow employers to “self qualify” their own crane operators and current employer crane safety programs that are suitable and adequate would not meet the requirement.
NAHB's concerns will be noted in OSHA’s preamble to the notice of proposed rulemaking.
A draft of the standard will be submitted to the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, and it will be reviewed by small business entities and submitted for public comments during the coming year.
For more information, e-mail Rob Matuga at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5342 x8507.
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A revised crane and derrick construction standard from 
