PCCA Journal 1st Quarter 2014 - page 23

PCCA Journal|1
st
Quarter 2014
23
Safety News
O
SHA in February issued
a proposed rule to
extend the compliance
date for the crane opera-
tor certification require-
ment by three years to November 10,
2017. The proposal would also extend
to the same date the existing phase-in
requirement that employers ensure that
their operators are qualified to operate
the equipment.
OSHA issued a final standard on
requirements for cranes and derricks in
construction work on August 9, 2010.
The standard requires crane operators
on construction sites to meet one of four
qualification/certification options by
November 10, 2014. After OSHA issued
the standard, a number of parties raised
concerns about the qualification/certi-
fication requirements. After conducting
several public meetings, OSHA decided
to extend the enforcement date so that
the certification requirements do not
take effect during potential rulemaking
or cause disruption to the construction
industry.
OSHA held three stakeholder meetings
on operator certification/qualification
issues in April 2013 and posted detailed
notes of the meetings at
cranes-derricks/stakeholders.html, a web
page devoted to the stakeholder meeting.
A list of frequently asked questions are
also posted on OSHA’s Cranes and Der-
ricks in Construction web page to pro-
vide additional clarification and address
some comments and concerns raised by
stakeholders.
OSHA Renews Strategic
Partnership with T&D Contractors
I
n December, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) renewed a national strategic
partnership with employers, workers and profes-
sional associations in the electrical transmission and
distribution industry to reduce injuries, illnesses,
and deaths among linesman and other electrical workers.
The partnership includes ten of the nation’s largest electrical
transmission and distribution contractors, an electrical indus-
try labor union, and two trade associations.
Since its establishment in 2004, there has been a notice-
able reduction in the injury, illness, and fatality rates among
the partners’ workers, which include close to 26,000 workers.
Fatalities among these workers have dropped from 11 in 2004
to 1 in 2013.
“By working on common goals through the partnership,
partner injury, illness, and fatality rates have been reduced,”
said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Dr. David Michaels. “Through this national partner-
ship, the partner companies and associations looked at
factors causing fatal incidents and other serious injuries and
implemented changes to reduce and prevent the number of
fatalities not only within their own companies, but in the
industry as a whole. We look forward to seeing even greater
outcomes of this partnership in the future.”
The partnership has developed and implemented best prac-
tices that directly correspond to key hazards and operations
associated with injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the indus-
try. These practices include fall protection, the use of specific
insulating protective equipment, and the implementation of
safety checks. The partnership also has trained more than
33,000 workers and supervisors through industry-specific
courses developed by the partners. OSHA and industry part-
ners are in the process of expanding these courses to provide
industry-wide training.
Members of the partnership include Asplundh Tree Expert
Co., Davis H. Elliot Co. Inc., Henkels & McCoy Inc., MasTec
Inc., MDU Construction Services Group Inc., Michels Corp.,
MYR Group Inc., PLH Group, Pike Electric LLC, Quanta
Services Inc., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
Edison Electric Institute and the National Electrical Contrac-
tors Association. To see the agreement, go to
.
gov/dcsp/partnerships/national/power/325_20131219_pow-
ertrans.html.
OSHA Proposes Extended
Compliance Date for Crane Requirements
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