Accredited Crane Operator Certification
Encyclopedia
Accredited Crane Operator Certification OSHA
regulation 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, released August 9, 2010, requires crane operators involved in construction to be certified by an accredited certification provider by November 10, 2014. An operator is defined as any person operating the equipment. To be accredited, certification providers must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, defined as "an organization that, due to its independence and expertise, is widely recognized as competent to accredit testing organizations. Examples of such accrediting agencies include, but are not limited to, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and the American National Standards Institute
." This is the first time certification by an accredited certification provider has been required on a national level, although individual states (e.g., West Virginia, Hawaii, California) and cities (New York, Philadelphia) have required crane operator certification as far back as 2000. The new OSHA standards make the completion of this requirement an important topic of knowledge for the crane and lifting industry.
(ANSI).
NCCA was the first certifying agency to grant accreditation for crane and rigging personnel. It is the oldest provider of certification tests the USA. ANSI is the other nationally recognized accrediting organization; ANSI also internationally accredits personnel certification programs to ISO 17024 (General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Systems of Persons). ANSI provides 45 personnel accreditation's across multiple industries.
(NCCCO), Operating Engineers Certification Program (OECP). The chart below compares some of the certification offerings by these different organizations:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
regulation 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, released August 9, 2010, requires crane operators involved in construction to be certified by an accredited certification provider by November 10, 2014. An operator is defined as any person operating the equipment. To be accredited, certification providers must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, defined as "an organization that, due to its independence and expertise, is widely recognized as competent to accredit testing organizations. Examples of such accrediting agencies include, but are not limited to, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and the American National Standards Institute
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
." This is the first time certification by an accredited certification provider has been required on a national level, although individual states (e.g., West Virginia, Hawaii, California) and cities (New York, Philadelphia) have required crane operator certification as far back as 2000. The new OSHA standards make the completion of this requirement an important topic of knowledge for the crane and lifting industry.
History
- 1971- OSHA passes 29 CFR 1926.550 which is the standard for cranes and derricks used in construction for the next 41 years.
- 1995 - The National Commission for the Certification of Crane OperatorsNational Commission for the Certification of Crane OperatorsThe National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators is a non-profit 501 organization in the United States that develops and administers nationally accredited, third-party professional certification programs for crane operators, riggers, and signalpersons.Established in January 1995,...
(NCCCO) established by the crane and lifting industry as a non-profit organization to develop a certification program for crane operators. - 1998 - NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator certification program nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- 1999 - The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) recommended OSHA propose a new rule for cranes and derricks.
- 1999 - 110 crane related accidents with 51 deaths.
- 2003 - The Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (C-DAC) began writing the new OSHA rule.
- 2003 - 269 crane related accidents with 138 deaths.
- 2004 - The Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (C-DAC) finished the first proposed draft of the new rule.
- 2004 - 287 crane related accidents with 142 deaths.
- 2008 - OSHA's proposed new rule was published and open for public debate.
- 2008 - 401 crane related accidents with 217 deaths.
- 2010 - Final rule is published as OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, Cranes and Derricks in Construction.
- 2014 - November 10 deadline for crane operators involved in construction to be certified.
OSHA Regulation 1926.1427: Operator Qualification and Certification
According to the new OSHA regulation, employers are now responsible for ensuring the qualification and certification of any operators on their job site. It states, "The employer must ensure that... the operator is qualified or certified to operate the equipment." Employers are also responsible to provide the certification at no cost to the operators. This new emphasis on qualification and certification has created a large need in the industry to be filled by various certifying companies.1926.1427(b): Certification by an accredited crane operator testing organization
Organizations that offer certification must meet a number of guidelines established by OSHA. One of the main requirements for certifying organizations is that they be accredited by a "nationally recognized accrediting agency." The two main accrediting agencies used in this process are the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards InstituteAmerican National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
(ANSI).
NCCA was the first certifying agency to grant accreditation for crane and rigging personnel. It is the oldest provider of certification tests the USA. ANSI is the other nationally recognized accrediting organization; ANSI also internationally accredits personnel certification programs to ISO 17024 (General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Systems of Persons). ANSI provides 45 personnel accreditation's across multiple industries.
Certification Organizations
A number of organizations have been recognized by OSHA for offering certification in the crane and lifting industry. These companies include Crane Institute Certification (CIC), National Center for Construction and Engineering Research (NCCER), National Commission for the Certification of Crane OperatorsNational Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators
The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators is a non-profit 501 organization in the United States that develops and administers nationally accredited, third-party professional certification programs for crane operators, riggers, and signalpersons.Established in January 1995,...
(NCCCO), Operating Engineers Certification Program (OECP). The chart below compares some of the certification offerings by these different organizations:
Certification Process
Operators attempting to gain certification must pass both a written and practical examination. These tests must also be routinely audited for the certifying agencies to maintain their accreditation. OSHA regulation 1926.1427(j) describes the standards both the written and practical tests must meet. However, these tests will greatly vary depending on which organization administers them.External links
- http://www.osha.gov
- http://www.craneinstitutecertification.com/
- http://www.nccer.org/
- http://www.nccco.org/
- http://www.iuoe.org/Training/nbsp/tabid/215/Default.aspx