Department of Labor Publishes Final Rule Regulating Cranes and Derricks in Construction
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued on July 28, 2010, a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction. Approximately 267,000 construction, crane rental and crane certification establishments employing about 4.8 million workers will be affected by the final rule.
Since OSHA announced its decision to establish a Crane and Derrick Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (C-DAC) under the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in 2003, AGC participated on the C-DAC Committee and commented extensively on the proposed rule. AGC's comments centered on crane operator qualification and certification, as well as the scope, definitions, fall protection, inspections, and assembly/disassembly requirements of the rule. AGC also held a series of conference calls with members and chapters to review and solicit comments on the proposal.
The previous rule, which dated back to 1971, was based on 40-year-old standards. The new rule is designed to prevent the leading causes of fatalities, including electrocution, crushed-by/struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn. It also sets requirements for ground conditions and crane operator assessment. In addition, the rule addresses tower crane hazards, addresses the use of synthetic slings for assembly/disassembly work, and clarifies the scope of the regulation by providing both a functional description and a list of examples for the equipment that is covered.
The new rule will take effect on Nov. 8, 2010.
To view AGC's comments on the proposed regulations, visit http://www.agc.org/cs/crane_derricks_in_construction
The complete rule is available at http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-17818_PI.pdf.
The regulation text is available at http://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/index.html.
For additional information, please contact Kevin Cannon at cannonk@agc.org.