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OSHA Unveils New Crane and Derrick Safety Standards
Posted by: William Gentile
August 23, 2010

Earlier this month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released its new standards for crane and derrick safety.  The rules are expected to take effect on 8 November.  The new rules come in response to growing concerns across the country over crane operations and safety.  New Yorkers have first-hand experience of the consequences of lagging crane safety standards, inadequate operator training and poor oversight.  That situation will hopefully change when the new standards take effect. The standards have been set in order to minimize the fatalities involved in electrocutions, crane collapses and incidents involving cranes falling and striking persons or objects.

According to David Michaels, who is OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor, the standards will prevent at least 20 construction worker fatalities every year in crane accidents, and will prevent many other injuries.  He estimates that implementing the new standards will save the industry more than $55 million a year.  When the new rules come into effect, they will cover approximately 267,000 construction and crane companies. 

The new rules include stricter standards for the certification and training of crane operators.  Under the new rules, persons involved in the rigging and other activities involved in crane operations, must also be qualified.  However, these persons don't necessarily have to be certified.  General contractors will now have to be responsible for maintaining appropriate ground conditions for safe operations of cranes.  Under the new rules, crane parts and components must be inspected before erection.  The new rules will also set standards for working around power lines.

When the new rules come into effect, it won’t automatically make crane operations safer. Training will prove to be a major challenge.  The crane industry employs nearly 4.8 million workers, and these will have to be trained and educated about the rules.  Besides, inspections and enforcement could prove another serious headache for OSHA, which battles with shortages of trained inspectors.  However, as New York construction accident lawyers, we believe that these rules are a firm step forward towards safer crane operations and use.

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