On January 1, 2010, all individuals who wish to operate a crane in the state of Washington will have to have a valid crane operator certificate for the type of crane to be operated, issued by a crane operator testing organization accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. The operator certification must include the successful passing of written and practical examinations. They will also need to have documented experience in each type of crane they operate. Additionally, they must pass a substance abuse test conduced by a recognized laboratory.
WAC 296-155-52900 applies to power-operated cranes and derricks used in construction that can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load (with or without attachment). Such equipment includes, but is not limited to: articulating boom cranes (such as knuckle-boom cranes); crawler cranes; floating cranes; cranes on barges; locomotive cranes; mobile cranes (such as wheel-mounted, rough-terrain, all-terrain, commercial truck-mounted, and boom truck cranes); multipurpose machines when configured to hoist and lower (by means of a winch or hook) and horizontally move a suspended load; industrial cranes (such as carry-deck cranes); dedicated pile drivers; service/mechanic trucks with a hoisting device; a crane on a monorail; tower cranes (such as fixed jib (“hammerhead boom”)), luffing boom and self-erecting; pedestal cranes; portal cranes; overhead and gantry cranes; straddle cranes; side-boom tractors; derricks; and variations of such equipment.
The number of hours of experience is different for each type of crane.
There will be no grandfathering of existing crane operators. In other words, if the operator does not have the training certification and the documented hours, he/she will not be able to operate any cranes.
ABC/WW will be offering approved crane operator certification classes during the 2009 calendar year so your operators will be able to receive state certification to continue operating cranes. However, it is important that the operator starts documenting his/her hours of operation and any other crane-related experience to meet that component of the WAC 296-155-529 crane rule.
For more information, contact Vice President of Safety and Education
Ann Jarvis at (800) 640-7789.