OSHA Forms Crane Operators Safety Alliance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is partnering with the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and the NCCCO Foundation to better protect workers.

The three organizations signed a two-year agreement Nov. 28. 

The alliance will provide certified crane operators with training and resources to reduce and prevent exposure to the four construction workplace issues that contribute to the majority of the hazards in the industry:

• Falls
• Caught in or between objects or machinery
• Struck-by objects or equipment
• Electrocution

“Workers who operate or work near cranes can face serious and potentially life-threatening hazards if they are not properly trained or protected,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. 

“Our alliance with these industry leaders focuses on training workers and working with employers to make safety and health a core value by implementing best industry practices to ensure workers’ safety.”

Addressing Safety Issues

The organizations will use data and review incident information and trends to develop safety alerts for anyone working around cranes. 

They will also address safety issues, provide updates on OSHA regulations and enforcement, including certification and evaluation requirements.

Under the agreement, the alliance will also team up on other initiatives including: 

• Sharing industry alerts
• Encouraging industry participation in and support of OSHA events and programs
• Convening roundtable discussions and stakeholder meetings on crane industry safety
• Providing opportunities for OSHA to speak and participate in industry meetings and events
• Raising awareness of resources and tools that will assist operators in complying with OSHA regulations
• Sharing information on updates to OSHA load handling regulations and enforcement such as certification and evaluation requirements
• Developing surveys for candidate base segments and sharing survey results
• Encouraging key CCO test sites to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to promote safety and awareness

Industry Improvement

The CCO was established in 1995 to develop effective performance standards for safe load-handling equipment operation to assist all segments of general industry and construction. 

“It is an honor to further develop our relationship with OSHA in this manner,” said CCO CEO Thom Sicklesteel. “We look forward to making our industry safer.”

CCO formed the NCCCO Foundation in 2018 as a charitable organization to conduct research, advocate for personnel safety and certification, and help youth, military personnel and underserved communities access scholarships and grants for education, training and certification.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with organizations such as trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies to share information about OSHA’s initiatives and compliance assistance resources with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.