The National Commission for the Certification of Crane
Operators (NCCCO) has issued a Top Ten list of Frequently Asked Questions and
answers regarding the reopening of OSHA’s crane rule. OSHA recently announced
plans to extend the compliance date for its crane operator certification
requirement to November 10, 2017. By partially reopening the crane rule, OSHA
will address industry concerns over the “certifying by capacity” requirement
and clarify whether certification is equivalent to qualification.
According to NCCCO, OSHA will extend the deadline soon,
possibly within a month. However, publishing proposed rulemaking to reopen the
rule will take significantly longer. Other questions NCCCO addresses in the Top Ten list include inquiries about whether previous CCO certifications will
remain valid and whether OSHA’s crane rule affects state licensing and
certification.
NCCCO announced May 29 that it is urging OSHA to pursue the
rulemaking as quickly as possible.