Cal-OSHA 5006.1 Enforcement

Len Welsh, Acting Chief

Section 5006.1 Certification of Crane Operators - Enforcement Instruction

The purpose of this memo is to provide instruction on the enforcement of section 5006.1, which requires operators of mobile and tower cranes to be certified by an accredited certifying agency effective June 1, 2005. Section 5006.1 builds on the requirement of section 5006, which has been in place since 1986, that all crane operators to be trained. Section 5006.1 was adopted on July 3, 2003, after more than 3 years of advisory committees and public hearings. The advisory committee was composed of a broad-based group of crane owners, labor representatives, contractors, associations, and other interested parties.

Section 5006.1 requires a physical examination, a substance abuse test, a written examination, and a hands-on examination before certification is granted to a crane operator. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) was selected by the advisory committee to as the agency to accredit certifying entities because of its experience with the certification process in connection with a variety of other entities and the desire to maintain a high standard for crane operator certification. The NCCA is an independent third party organization that has established rules and procedures for the development and administration of examinations.

It is expected that some employers will not have all of their crane operators certified by June 1, 2005, and enforcement action may be necessary in some cases. Effective June 1, 2005, if an employer cannot produce credible evidence that an employee crane operator is certified, a citation shall be issued for a regulatory violation of section 5006.1(a). The employer shall also be cited for violations of other crane safety orders as appropriate.

Section 5006.1 Certification of Crane Operators - Enforcement Instruction