Document ID: OSHA-2007-0066-1869
Agency: osha
Document Type: Rule
Title: Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator Qualification
Posted Date: 2018-11-09T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56198-56247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24481]

[[Page 56197]]

Vol. 83

Friday,

No. 218

November 9, 2018

Part III

Department of Labor

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1926

Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator Qualification; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2018 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 56198]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1926

[Docket ID-OSHA-2007-0066]
RIN 1218-AC96

Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator Qualification

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: OSHA is updating the agency's standard for cranes and derricks 
in construction by clarifying each employer's duty to ensure the 
competency of crane operators through training, certification or 
licensing, and evaluation. OSHA is also altering a provision that 
required different levels of certification based on the rated lifting 
capacity of equipment. While testing organizations are not required to 
issue certifications distinguished by rated capacities, they are 
permitted to do so, and employers may accept them or continue to rely 
on certifications based on crane type alone. Finally, this rule 
establishes minimum requirements for determining operator competency. 
This final rule will maintain safety and health protections for workers 
while reducing compliance burdens.

DATES: Effective date: This final rule is effective on December 10, 
2018, except the amendments to 29 CFR 1926.1427(a) and (f) (evaluation 
and documentation requirements), which are effective February 7, 2019.
    Compliance date: See Section C., Paperwork Reduction Act, of this 
document regarding dates of compliance with collections of information 
in this final rule.

ADDRESSES: In accordance with 28 U.S.C. 2112(a)(2), the agency 
designates Edmund C. Baird, Acting Associate Solicitor of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, Office of the Solicitor, Room S-4004, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20210, to receive petitions for review of the final rule.
    Docket: To read or download material in the electronic docket for 
this rulemaking, go to http://www.regulations.gov or to the OSHA Docket 
Office at Technical Data Center, Room N-3653, OSHA, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: 
(202) 693-2350, TTY number (877) 889-5627. Some information submitted 
(e.g., copyrighted material) is not available publicly to read or 
download through this website. All submissions, including copyrighted 
material, are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office. 
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for assistance in locating docket 
submissions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    General information and press inquiries: Mr. Frank Meilinger, OSHA 
Office of Communications; telephone: (202) 693-1999; email: 
[email protected].
    Technical inquiries: Mr. Vernon Preston, Directorate of 
Construction; telephone: (202) 693-2020; fax: (202) 693-1689; email: 
[email protected].
    Copies of this Federal Register notice and news releases: 
Electronic copies of these documents are available at OSHA's web page 
at http://www.osha.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. Background
    A. Operator Competency Requirements
    B. Operator Certification Requirement
    C. Certification by Crane Rated Lifting Capacity
    D. Post-2010 Rulemaking Concerns
    E. Discussions with the Construction Industry Stakeholders
    F. Consulting ACCSH-Draft Proposal for Crane Operator
    Requirements
    G. Promulgation of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
    H. National Consensus Standards
    I. The Need for a Rule
    J. Significant Risk
III. Summary and Explanation of the Amendments to Subpart CC
IV. Agency Determinations
    A. Legal Authority
    B. Final Economic Analysis and Final Regulatory Flexibility Act 
Analysis
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act
    D. Federalism
    E. State-Plan States
    F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    G. Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
    H. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs

I. Executive Summary

    OSHA is amending 29 CFR 1926 subpart CC to revise sections that 
address crane operator training, certification/licensing,\1\ and 
competency. The purposes of these amendments are to alter the 
requirement that crane-operator certification be based on equipment 
``type and capacity,'' instead permitting certification based on 
equipment ``type'' or ``type and capacity''; continue requiring 
training of operators; clarify and continue the employer duty to 
evaluate operators for their ability to safely operate equipment 
covered by subpart CC; and require documentation of that evaluation.
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    \1\ The term ``certification/licensing'' covers each of the 
certification options in the proposed rule (third-party 
certification or an audited employer certification program) as well 
as state or local operator licensing requirements. Operators 
employed by the U.S. military are also addressed in this standard 
and must be ``qualified'' by the military. OSHA is not making any 
substantive changes to the military qualification provision.
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    This rule alters the requirement that crane operators be certified 
by equipment ``type and capacity,'' which, based on the record, creates 
regulatory burden without additional safety benefit and artificially 
limits the potential for crane operators to obtain certification. 
Allowing certification by equipment ``type'' or ``type and capacity'' 
removes a regulatory burden that did not create an additional safety 
benefit.
    This rule continues to require operator training. It likewise 
clarifies and continues the employer duty to evaluate operators for 
their ability to safely use equipment. Just as an employee's driver's 
license does not guarantee the employee's ability to drive all vehicles 
safely in all conditions an employer may require, crane-operator 
certification alone does not ensure that an operator has sufficient 
knowledge and skill to safely use all equipment. The record makes clear 
that employers need to evaluate operators and provide training when 
needed to ensure that they can safely operate cranes in a variety of 
circumstances. Similarly, and also consistent with many employers' 
current practices, employer evaluation of a crane operator's experience 
and competency with respect to the particular equipment assigned is 
essential to ensuring the safe operation of cranes on construction 
sites. This final rule accordingly continues the common-sense 
requirements that employers train operators and assess their competence 
and ability to work safely.
    OSHA's final economic impact analysis determined that the most 
significant costs of the changes to the standard are associated with 
the requirements to perform the operator competency evaluation, 
document the evaluations, and provide any additional training needed by 
operators. OSHA estimates employers impacted by this rule employ 
approximately 117,130 crane operators. OSHA accordingly estimates the 
annual cost to the industry

[[Page 56199]]

will be $1,481,000 for the performance of operator competency 
evaluations, $62,000 for documenting those evaluations, and $94,000 for 
any additional training needed for operators. OSHA's estimate of the 
total annual cost of compliance is $1,637,000.
    OSHA also expects some cost savings from the changes to the rule. 
In particular, OSHA estimates a large one-time cost savings of 
$25,678,000 from dropping the requirement that crane operators be 
certified by capacity because that change eliminates the need for a 
very large number of operators to get an additional certification. OSHA 
also estimates that a small number of ongoing annual certifications due 
to an operator moving to a higher capacity crane would also no longer 
be needed, producing an additional annual cost savings of $426,000. 
These various elements lead, at a 3 percent discount rate over 10 
years, to net annual cost savings of $1,752,000. At a discount rate of 
7 percent there are annual cost savings of $2,388,000.
    The agency has concluded that, on average, the impact of costs on 
employers will be low because most employers are currently providing 
some degree of operator training and performing operator competency 
evaluations to comply with the previous 29 CFR 1926.1427(k), and were 
previously doing so to comply with Sec. Sec.  1926.550, 1926.20(b)(4), 
and 1926.21(b)(2). Employers who currently provide insufficient 
training will incur new compliance costs. Although OSHA anticipates 
that a few employers might incur significant new costs, the agency has 
concluded that, for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the 
changes to the standard will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.
    The agency has also determined that the final rule is 
technologically feasible because many employers already comply with all 
the provisions of the revised rule and the revised rule would not 
require any new technology. In addition, because the vast majority of 
employers already invest the resources necessary to comply with the 
provisions of the revised standard, the agency concludes that the 
revised standard is economically feasible.

II. Background

    Explanation of record citations in this document.
    References in parentheses in this preamble are to exhibits or 
transcripts in the docket for this rulemaking. Documents from the 
subpart CC--Cranes and Derricks in Construction rulemaking record are 
available under Docket OSHA-2007-0066 on the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at http://www.regulations.gov or in the OSHA Docket Office. The term 
``ID'' refers to the column labeled ``ID'' under Docket No. OSHA-2007-
0066 on http://www.regulations.gov. This column lists individual 
records in the docket. This notice will identify each of these records 
only by the last four digits of the record, such as ``ID-0032'' for 
OSHA-2007-0066-0032. Identification of records from dockets other than 
records in OSHA-2007-0066 will be by their full ID number.

A. Operator Competency Requirements

    OSHA promulgated a new standard for cranes and derricks in 
construction, referred to in the Background section as the ``2010 crane 
standard,'' on November 10, 2010 (75 FR 47905). It was based on a 
proposal drafted as the result of negotiated rulemaking and issued on 
October 9, 2008 (73 FR 59714). Under this cranes standard, except for 
employees of the U.S. military and the operation of some specified 
equipment, employers were required to allow only certified operators to 
operate equipment after November 10, 2014.\2\ In lieu of certification, 
the rule also allowed operators to operate cranes if licensed by state 
or local governments whose programs met certain minimum requirements.
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    \2\ The term ``equipment'' was used in the cranes standard's 
regulatory text because the rule covers cranes, derricks and other 
types of equipment. When OSHA uses ``cranes'' in this preamble, it 
is meant to apply to all covered equipment.
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    This cranes standard included a four-year, phased-in effective date 
for the certification requirements. That phase-in period was intended 
to provide time for existing accredited testing organizations to 
develop programs that complied with the standard's requirements; for 
operators and employers to prepare for certification testing; and for 
more testing organizations to become accredited to make certifications 
available for the operation of the wide variety of cranes used in 
construction. During the phase-in period, employers were required to 
continue complying with two broad provisions: to ensure that crane 
operators were competent to operate the equipment safely and, if 
necessary, to train and evaluate employees who did not have the 
required knowledge or ability to operate the equipment safely (Sec.  
1926.1427(k)(2)(i) and (ii)) (``employer duties''). These employer 
duties are essentially the same as those required by Sec.  
1926.20(b)(4) and Sec.  1926.21(b)(2), which are discussed in more 
detail in the ``Operator Certification Requirement'' section that 
follows.

B. Operator Certification Requirement

    In 1979, OSHA published 29 CFR 1926.550, which specified 
requirements for crane and derrick operation that were adopted from 
existing consensus standards. Among these requirements was an 
employer's duty to comply with manufacturer specifications and 
limitations (Sec.  1926.550(a)(1)). In addition, employers were subject 
to general requirements elsewhere in the OSHA construction safety 
standards that required employers to permit only those employees 
``qualified by training or experience'' to operate equipment (Sec.  
1926.20(b)(4)) and to ``instruct each employee in the recognition and 
avoidance of unsafe conditions'' (Sec.  1926.21(b)(2)). However, crane 
incidents continued to be a significant cause of injuries and 
fatalities in the construction industry over the next few decades. In 
response, industry stakeholders called on OSHA to update its existing 
construction crane standard, including addressing advances in equipment 
technology and industry-recognized work practices.
    Between 1998 and 2003, OSHA's Advisory Committee for Construction 
Safety and Health (ACCSH) tasked a workgroup with studying crane issues 
and ultimately recommended that OSHA revise the construction crane 
standard through negotiated rulemaking. The ACCSH workgroup reviewed 
the requirements of the most recent American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers (ASME)/American National Standard Institute (ANSI) B30 series 
standards applicable to various types of cranes and recommended that 
OSHA include work practices and protections from the ASME/ANSI B30 
series standards in the new crane standard to the extent possible. The 
workgroup's recommendations included a request that OSHA require 
training and qualification provisions specific to crane operators, such 
as those of the ANSI B30 series, to supplant and augment the general 
provisions under Sec. Sec.  1926.21(b)(2) and 1926.20(b)(4) (see ACCSH 
transcript Docket ID OSHA-ACCSH2002-2-2006-0194; pp. 129-135).
    In 2003, OSHA commenced rulemaking by establishing a federal 
advisory committee, the Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (C-DAC), to develop a proposal through consensus 
(see OSHA-S030-2006-0663-0639). The committee comprised industry 
stakeholders including employer users of cranes, crane manufacturers 
and

[[Page 56200]]

suppliers, labor organizations, an operator training and testing 
organization, a crane maintenance and repair organization, and 
insurers. C-DAC met eleven times between July 30, 2003, and July 9, 
2004, and produced a consensus document that OSHA proposed for comment. 
Like the ACCSH workgroup, C-DAC acknowledged that the qualification and 
training requirements of Sec. Sec.  1926.20(b)(4) and 1926.21(b)(2) 
were ineffective, and it proposed that OSHA require written and 
practical testing of crane operators (73 FR 59810). C-DAC also 
concluded that significant advances in crane/derrick safety would not 
be achieved without operator testing verified by accredited, third-
party testing. Therefore, per C-DAC's recommendation, OSHA's proposal 
included a requirement for operator certification by ``type and 
capacity'' of the equipment in lieu of the previous general requirement 
that employers ensure their operators were competent to operate the 
machinery. However, OSHA proposed to retain the general employer duty 
during a four-year phase-in period for the operator certification (see 
discussion of Sec.  1926.1427(k) at 73 FR 59938).
    On October 12, 2006, ACCSH supported the C-DAC consensus document 
and recommended that OSHA use it as the basis of a proposed rule (see 
Docket ID OSHA-ACCSH2006-1-2006-0198-003).
    On October 17, 2006, the Small Business Advocacy Review Panel 
(SBAR) submitted its final report on OSHA's draft proposal (OSHA-S030A-
2006-0664-0019). The SBAR recommendations included a suggestion that 
OSHA solicit comment on whether ``equipment capacity and type'' needed 
clarification, which OSHA did (see 73 FR 59725). Regarding operator 
training, many Small Entity Representatives (SERs) thought the C-DAC's 
training requirements were too broad and should be focused on the 
equipment the operator will use and the operations to be performed. Two 
SERs recommended OSHA's powered industrial truck standard as a model 
for crane operator training requirements.
    OSHA published its proposal on October 9, 2008 (73 FR 59714) and 
received over 350 public comments. The comments discussed a wide range 
of topics addressed by the crane standard. In response to requests from 
several public commenters, OSHA conducted a public hearing in March 
2009. None of the commenters or hearing participants asked OSHA to 
remove the requirement that operators be certified by equipment 
capacity in addition to type. There were a few stakeholders who 
expressed some concern about the proposal to phase-out the employer 
duty and replace it with the requirement for employers to ensure 
operator competence through third-party testing (see ID-0341-March 19, 
2009, page 41 and ID-0445). However, most stakeholders overwhelmingly 
supported the certification requirements in the rule as proposed.
    On November 8, 2010, the final rule for cranes and derricks in 
construction, including requirements for crane operator certification, 
became effective. The original date by which all operators must be 
certified was November 10, 2014, but OSHA subsequently extended that 
date to November 10, 2017 (79 FR 57785 (September 26, 2014)) and then 
further extended it to November 10, 2018 (82 FR 51986 (November 9, 
2017)). Prior to the amendments to the standard contained in this 
current final rule, the separate employer duty to evaluate operators 
was to cease on the date when operator certification was required.

C. Certification by Crane Rated Lifting Capacity

    The 2010 crane standard required operators to become certified and 
permitted four options for doing so, one of which is certification by a 
third-party organization. A third-party certification is portable (a 
new employer can rely on it), but in relying upon a third-party 
certification as confirmation of an operator's knowledge and operating 
skills, employers need to know what kind of equipment the certification 
applies to when making determinations about which equipment an operator 
can operate at the worksite. Therefore, C-DAC recommended the 
requirement, which was included in the 2010 final rule, that third-
party certification must indicate the equipment types and the rated 
capacities that an individual is certified to operate. The other 
certification options, which are not portable, do not require 
certification by capacity.
    To address the concerns that testing organizations might offer 
certification for a variety of crane capacities but yet not offer a 
certification for the particular capacity of crane matching the 
equipment to which operators would be assigned, OSHA added subparagraph 
Sec.  1926.1427(b)(2) to the 2010 crane standard. That paragraph 
clarified that the certification must list the type and rated lifting 
capacity of the crane in which the operator was tested, and for 
purposes of complying with the 2010 crane standard the operator would 
be ``deemed qualified'' to operate cranes of the same type that have 
equal or lower rated lifting capacity of the crane in which they were 
tested. During the rulemaking process for the 2010 crane standard, none 
of the commenters asked OSHA to remove the requirement that operators 
be certified by equipment capacity in addition to type.

D. Post-2010 Rulemaking Concerns

    In OSHA outreach sessions following the publication of the 2010 
crane standard, two accredited testing organizations that offered 
certifications by type but not capacity, as well as other stakeholders, 
questioned the need for specifying rated lifting capacities of 
equipment on their certifications to comply with the new 2010 crane 
standard. They expressed concern that meeting the capacity requirement 
would require significant changes from their previous certification 
practices without resulting in any real safety benefit because they 
believed that certification by capacity is not a meaningful component 
of operator certification testing. They asserted that employers already 
take steps to ensure that even certified operators are capable of 
safely operating the cranes at their worksites, regardless of the rated 
lifting capacities of those cranes. Thus, these testing organizations 
expressed the view that the certification by capacity requirement is 
unnecessary.
    Those two testing organizations and many other stakeholders also 
expressed surprise and concern that on November 10, 2014, when OSHA's 
operator certification requirements were to take effect, the temporary 
requirements of Sec.  1926.1427(k)(2)--the employer duty to ensure that 
operators are competent-- would no longer be in effect and a similar 
requirement under 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(4), qualification and experience, 
would not apply. A number of stakeholders described this as a step 
backwards in safety.
    OSHA also heard from many stakeholders that the employer should 
play a direct role in ensuring that their operators are competent 
because a standardized test cannot replicate all of the conditions that 
operators will need to safely navigate on the jobsite. They indicated 
that the employer typically has more information than a certifying 
organization to ensure that an operator has the skills, knowledge, and 
judgment required for safely completing a particular assignment on a 
particular crane. Many stakeholders likened operator certification to a 
learner's permit to drive a car. They cautioned that certification 
should be one of several factors to be weighed by an employer before 
allowing an employee to operate a crane.

[[Page 56201]]

E. Pre-NPRM Discussions With the Construction Industry Stakeholders

Discussions With Companies, Unions, and Organizations That Train, 
Assess, and/or Contract Crane Operators
    In order to gather factual information for this rulemaking, OSHA 
conducted more than 40 site visits, conference calls, and meetings with 
stakeholders between June 6, 2013, and March 27, 2015, regarding their 
experiences with training, evaluating, and ensuring the competency of 
crane operators. Among these stakeholders were:
     3 crane rental companies [1 large (more than 100 cranes), 
1 medium (more than 20 cranes), 1 small (fewer than 20 cranes)]
     10 construction companies that own/operate cranes 
[homebuilders, tank builders, propane delivery, steel erector]
     3 large construction/operator training companies
     5 crane manufacturers
     3 construction labor unions
     2 safety consultants/trainers
     4 state agencies
     British Columbia's qualification program
     1 sole proprietor/owner operator homebuilding company
     3 crane insurers
     3 certification testing bodies and accrediting entities
    During discussions with stakeholders, OSHA personnel took notes 
that were consolidated into draft reports, which were provided to the 
employer or organization for their corrections or comment before the 
reports were finalized. Twenty-eight of the discussions were drafted 
into written reports. The other conversations were not documented 
because they were either informal or the organization's representatives 
did not want their comments to be cited in the rulemaking record other 
than being referenced anecdotally. The twenty-eight reports, as well as 
a detailed summary of the reports, are in the docket for this 
rulemaking (ID-0673). Overall, the stakeholders described their 
business models for bringing cranes to construction sites, operator 
competency programs, methods for ensuring that cranes brought to the 
worksite are safely run by competent operators, and views on the use of 
operator certification in their operator competency programs.

F. Consulting ACCSH--Draft Proposal for Crane Operator Requirements

    OSHA presented draft revisions to the 2010 cranes standard to the 
Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) at a 
special meeting conducted March 31 and April 1, 2015, in Washington, 
DC. In response, ACCSH recommended that OSHA (OSHA-2015-0002-0037):
     Move forward with the certification requirement and pursue 
employer qualification of crane operators.
     Clarify the requirement for certification so that 
certification can be by type, or by type and capacity.
     Reconsider the language in the draft revisions that 
appears to require the employer to observe the operator operate the 
crane in each and every configuration to determine whether the operator 
was competent.
     Use the text submitted by William Smith (OSHA-2015-0002-
0051) as a substitute for the draft language on evaluation in the draft 
revisions.\3\
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    \3\ William Smith, commenting as a private citizen, presented 
revisions to 29 CFR 1926.1427(a) by the Coalition for Crane Operator 
Safety (OSHA-2015-0002-0051). The document recommended revising 
Sec.  1926.1427(a) by adding provisions that an operator must meet 
OSHA's qualified person standard and mandating training if an 
operator cannot safely operate the equipment. In Sec.  1926.1427(b), 
he recommended removing the language that an operator will be deemed 
qualified if he or she is certified. Throughout Sec.  1926.1427, he 
recommended removing references to capacity.
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     Delete the annual re-evaluation provision in the draft 
revisions, and instead consider employer re-evaluations that coincide 
with the re-certification period.
     Consider adding a provision that if the operator operates 
the equipment in an unsafe manner, the operator must be re-evaluated by 
the employer.

G. Promulgation of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    OSHA published a proposed rule on May 21, 2018 (83 FR 23534), and 
subsequently extended the comment period by an additional 15 days (83 
FR 28562). The agency received over 1,200 public comments before the 
comment period closed on July 5, 2018.

H. National Consensus Standards

    In adopting a standard, section 6(b)(8) of the Occupational Safety 
and Health (OSH) Act (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) requires OSHA to consider 
national consensus standards, and where the agency decides to depart 
from the requirements of a national consensus standard, it must explain 
why the departure better effectuates the purposes of the Act. As OSHA 
explained when adopting the updated crane rule in 2010, the ASME B30 
Standard is a series of voluntary consensus standards that apply to 
most of the types of equipment, including cranes and derricks, covered 
by subpart CC as a whole (75 FR 48129-48130). The B30 standards each 
have chapters that address the operation of the equipment, which 
typically include a section on crane operator qualification and crane 
operator responsibilities (ID-0002, 0003, 0004, 0005, 0006, 0007, 0027, 
0028). OSHA considered those provisions in drafting the proposed rule. 
Similarly, OSHA considered the general requirements of ANSI/American 
Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Z490.1,\4\ which generally 
addresses the requirements of occupational safety and health training.
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    \4\ The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) changed the 
name of the organization to the American Society of Safety 
Professionals (ASSP).
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    An association of occupational safety and health professionals 
asked OSHA to revise the 2010 crane standard to incorporate by 
reference the Z490.1 standard and the ``soon to be published A10 
Standard for Construction and Demolition training'' (ID-1824). The 
commenter specifically requested that OSHA require that ``any 
occupational safety and health training program recognized in the rule 
must meet the requirements in the ANSI/ASSP Z490.1 Standard and/or the 
soon to be published A10 Standard for Construction and Demolition 
Training'' (Id.). The commenter also requested that ``any training 
accreditation organization recognized in the proposed rule,'' and any 
training curricula, also meet the requirements of those consensus 
standards (Id.).
    OSHA is not incorporating either standard by reference in this 
rulemaking. First, OSHA cannot legally incorporate by reference a 
standard that has not yet been published. Second, the training 
requirements of ANSI/ASSE Z490.1 outline a general training program 
that is not specific to cranes. After years of interactions with 
stakeholders, OSHA believes that its revised training requirements will 
be more relevant to employers of crane operators. Third, given the 
comprehensive nature of ANSI/ASSE Z490.1, it does not appear to provide 
the same level of flexibility as OSHA's standard. OSHA developed this 
final rule with enough flexibility so that employers in the crane 
industry could adapt existing practices to comply with the standard and 
ensure safety in a variety of contexts.
    The final rule takes many of the underlying concepts regarding 
operator qualification that are consistent across the B30 standards and 
ANSI/ASSE Z490.1, and it places them in one standard. This allows 
employers and crane operators to look to one place for OSHA 
requirements for operator competence and safety, rather than throughout 
fourteen relevant B30

[[Page 56202]]

standards. OSHA's standard re-frames the provisions of those standards 
as enforceable employer duties, as the OSH Act requires, rather than as 
employee responsibilities or non-mandatory suggestions.
    OSHA believes the revisions in this final rule to the 2010 cranes 
standard will better effectuate the purposes of the OSH Act than any 
applicable national consensus standard because the revisions 
consolidate all crane operator qualification requirements for ease of 
reference and integrate the permanent operator evaluation and 
documentation requirements into the standard, along with the existing 
training requirements and certification requirement, in a manner that 
OSHA can enforce under the Act.

I. The Need for a Rule

    Based on the information collected from stakeholders and the 
recommendations of ACCSH, OSHA proposed to amend 29 CFR part 1926 
subpart CC by revising sections that address crane operator training, 
certification/licensing, and competency. The purposes of the amendments 
are to clarify and continue training requirements for operators; to 
alter the requirement that crane-operator certification be based on 
equipment ``type and capacity,'' instead permitting certification based 
on equipment ``type'' or ``type and capacity''; to clarify and continue 
an employer's duty to evaluate operators and operators-in-training for 
their ability to safely operate assigned equipment covered by subpart 
CC; and to require that employers document the evaluation. OSHA is also 
reorganizing and clarifying the operator certification requirements in 
Sec.  1926.1427.
    Throughout this document OSHA refers to the ``previous'' or 
``prior'' rule or standard as meaning 29 CFR part 1926 generally, Sec.  
1926.1427, or the paragraphs therein, as promulgated in 2010 and 
revised prior to this rulemaking. Discussion of the ``revised'' or 
``amended'' standard refers to the amended standard as finalized 
through this rulemaking.

Employer's Duty To Evaluate Its Operators

    In the NPRM for this rulemaking, OSHA proposed a permanent employer 
duty to evaluate operators that would not expire on the date 
certification is required. For the reasons discussed below, this final 
rule revises the prior 2010 crane standard to add that permanent 
employer evaluation duty. The key difference between this revision and 
the previous version is that the revision permanently maintains the 
employer's duty to evaluate its operators, and provides greater 
specificity as to what that duty entails in order to provide a clear 
and enforceable standard.
    In the NPRM, OSHA requested comment on making the employer 
evaluation a permanent requirement in addition to certification. The 
agency received supportive comments for keeping the employer evaluation 
requirement in conjunction with certification (ID-0719, 1235, 1611, 
1619, 1719, 1735, 1744, 1768). Generally, these comments supported 
making the employer duty permanent because certification alone is 
insufficient for an operator to competently operate the crane safely in 
a variety of workplace conditions, and the employer is in the best 
position to evaluate an operator's ability to use the specific crane 
for the specific tasks the employer assigns. As one of these commenters 
stated, ``[t]he intent should be to ensure that operators are fully 
qualified to be perform their tasks no matter what certifications they 
may hold and only the employer can ensure that,'' (ID-0719).
    These comments are consistent with the feedback OSHA received from 
stakeholders prior to publication of the NPRM (ID-0673). In those 
discussions, most employers stated that they value third-party 
certification, but do not treat it as sufficient, by itself, to 
establish competency. Every employer with whom OSHA spoke stated that 
the employer's role in ensuring the competency of crane operators 
should be allowed to continue. All of the company representatives 
stated that they would not let an operator run any of their cranes 
based solely on his/her possession of an operator's certifications (see 
e.g. Report #1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25 of ID-0673). 
Several industry representatives told OSHA that regardless of what 
OSHA's crane standard requires, construction and insurance industry 
influences would prevent many employers of crane operators from relying 
solely on certification to verify the competence of their crane 
operators (see e.g. Report #2, 3, 15, 19 of ID-0673). OSHA confirmed 
from these discussions that, regardless of whether an operator has a 
certification, all of the employers contacted evaluate their operators 
to ensure competency (see e.g. Reports #1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 
14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 of ID-0673). All stakeholders 
said it is essential that the operator's employer determine whether the 
operator is competent to safely operate a crane for a particular 
construction activity (see e.g. Report #1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 18, 20, 
21, 22, 25, 28).
    OSHA received no comments on the proposed rule that opposed making 
the employer duty permanent through an evaluation requirement. The 
agency received comments recommending revisions to the evaluation 
requirement. Those comments are addressed below in the discussion of 
Paragraph (f)--Evaluation.
    Under the 2010 crane standard, the employer duty to ensure operator 
competence (Sec.  1926.1427(k)(2)(i)) ends in November 2018, after 
which operator certification would be the only required way to assess 
operator safety qualification. There were no other requirements for 
operator safety qualifications beyond certification after that date. 
Under the revised standard, the employer's evaluation is established as 
a critical element to ensure safe equipment operations on construction 
worksites. Third-party certification is portable so that operators do 
not need to be re-certified just because they switch employers; 
employers can rely on previous training the operator has received from 
other employers (or labor organizations) because the revised standard 
requires that every employer evaluate an employee first as an operator-
in-training before permitting him or her to operate equipment without 
oversight. The evaluation process is performance-oriented and discussed 
in more detail in the explanation for revised Sec.  1926.1427(f).
    During its testimony in support of retaining an employer duty to 
assess operators, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) 
stated that removal of that duty would endanger operators and workers 
in the vicinity of cranes, ``[c]rane operators would be in a far worse 
position than they were before issuance of the final rule in August 
2010'' (ID-0486). William Smith of Nations Builders Insurance Services 
(NCCCO board member and C-DAC member) agreed, commenting that 
``[l]eaving the rule as written [with certification but without a 
continued employer duty after the initial deadline of November, 2014] 
would take us back in time not forward in protecting lives'' (ID-0474). 
A U.S. crane manufacturer stated that the lack of employer evaluation 
of an operator would be a problem, and certification is a foundation, 
but should not be a substitute for an employer competency evaluation. 
(Report #4 of ID-0673).
    An employer's evaluation assesses different operator skills than 
certification tests. The reports from stakeholders prior to publication 
of the proposed rule showed that most stakeholders viewed certification 
only as a verification of an operator's basic

[[Page 56203]]

operating skills and crane knowledge such as reading load charts, 
recognizing basic crane hazards, inspecting the equipment, knowledge of 
applicable regulations, and familiarity with basic crane functions to 
control the boom and load line (ID-0673). The rulemaking record 
includes a list of activities from the IUOE that require specific 
skills that are not evaluated during the certification practical exam, 
but can be covered during an employer evaluation. These activities 
include inspecting the equipment; assessing unstable loads; hoisting 
loads of irregular size; operation from a barge; personnel hoisting; 
rigging the load; leveling the crane; hoisting in tight spaces where 
there is greater opportunity for damaging parts of the crane other than 
the load line; making judgments about wind speed and other 
environmental factors that can impact the performance of the equipment; 
performing multiple crane lifts; traveling with or without a load; 
operating near power lines; hoisting light loads; and hoisting blind 
picks where the operator cannot see the load (see, e.g., Docket ID-
0527, p. 3). IUOE has also noted that different skills are required to 
operate equipment with different attachments and identified in 
particular the unique skills required to operate with clam bucket or 
drag line attachments (Id.). By way of contrast, the IUOE stated that 
the operator certification practical test covers only basic operation 
functions (hoisting and lowering a load and guiding it through a 
course), and ``does not test on the breadth of activities that are 
involved in the operation of cranes'' (Id.). Local 49 of the IUOE 
added: ``It is understood in the industry that it is not economically 
feasible to simulate on a training site all scenarios that arise on a 
construction site and that training and evaluations of training must 
occur on an ongoing basis'' (ID-1719). Without the employer duty to 
evaluate operators on the equipment to which they are assigned, an 
employer could permit a certified operator to operate tower cranes and 
other large equipment in any configuration with any number of 
attachments without determining if the operator possesses the requisite 
knowledge and skills necessary to ensure safety and address the issues 
identified by IUOE and others.
    Some employers described certification as a ``learner's permit'' 
(ID-0539, Reports #15, 26 of ID-0673), and a number of employers with 
whom OSHA spoke stated that they would not allow a certified operator 
to use their equipment without first also evaluating the operator to 
verify competence (Reports #1, 6, 18, 20, 22 of ID-0673). The Executive 
Director of the IUOE's certification program stated that he does ``not 
know any contractors . . . at least the union contractors that we're 
associated with, who fail to make sure that their people are 
qualified'' (OSHA-2015-0002-0036). A trade association commented that 
``[t]he record makes clear . . . that the fact that an employee has 
been certified as competent to operate a crane does not mean that the 
employee is qualified to operate the employer's particular equipment'' 
(ID-1768). A training company representative stated that operators with 
very little experience can acquire a sufficient basis of knowledge of 
the crane to pass a certification exam without being truly qualified to 
operate independently and safely on a construction worksite (Report #21 
of ID-0673). Two stakeholders expressed concern that relying solely on 
certification could be dangerous because it would create a false sense 
of qualification, leading some contractors to be less vigilant in 
evaluating the competence of operators to safely operate equipment for 
all of their tasks (Reports #9, 11 of ID-0673).
    In addition to the commenters identified earlier as supporting an 
evaluation requirement, OSHA had already heard from many stakeholders 
that the employer should play a direct role in ensuring that their 
operators are competent (ID-0539, Reports #1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 
12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26 of ID-0673). A commenter 
asserted that extending the employer duty is ``logical'' because the 
employer should ``have the ability to make an evaluation of an 
operator's ability to operate equipment in a safe and responsible 
manner'' (ID-1779). One commenter stated many of its members believe 
``certification itself is not sufficient to establishing crane operator 
competency, and believe that employers must initially evaluate and 
continue to re-evaluate their crane operators to determine their 
ability to safely operate a crane'' (ID-1735). Because a standardized 
test cannot replicate all of the conditions that operators must safely 
navigate on the jobsite, the employer is typically in a better position 
than a certifying organization to fully evaluate an operator to ensure 
that he or she has the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and 
avert risks required for a particular assignment on a particular crane. 
Just as an employee's driver's license would not guarantee the 
employee's ability to drive all vehicles safely in all conditions an 
employer may require, crane operator certification alone does not 
ensure that an operator has sufficient knowledge and skill to safely 
use equipment.
    Many stakeholders indicated that in their experience operator 
competency needed to be crane-specific (Reports #1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 16, 19, 
21 of ID-0673). A comment to the proposed rule supporting a permanent 
employer duty stated ``employers have a duty to evaluate all crane 
operators to ensure that they are qualified to perform the assigned 
work on the type and model used'' (ID-1719). Similarly, a certification 
body believes that ``[i]t's always been the employer's duty to qualify 
an operator for the specific crane and task'' (ID-1235). Some of the 
stakeholders raised concerns about the importance of these different 
crane characteristics in discussing whether OSHA should require 
certification to be by type and capacity or just by type. For example, 
one employer told OSHA that certification could be by type alone, 
provided the employer was responsible for evaluating operator 
competency on assigned equipment (Report #1 of ID-0673). A crane 
operator training company that OSHA interviewed noted that no one 
certification test could ever capture all of the types, configurations, 
and capacities of cranes and the activities they may be used to perform 
at the jobsite. Therefore, it is important that the employer typically 
verify the operator's skill level through an experienced assessor 
(Report #20 of ID-0673).
    As OSHA noted in the NPRM, an extensive analysis of crane accidents 
published by HAAG Engineering in 2014 concluded that crane incidents 
are more likely to be reduced if a company ensures that an operator 
possesses equipment-specific skills and knowledge in addition to 
certification:

    The certification process ensures that an operator has 
demonstrated a core knowledge set of the principles of cranes and 
crane operations, OSHA regulations, and ASME standards requirements 
. . . has successfully demonstrated both knowledge and the physical 
skill set to operate a type of crane. . . .
    Comparing responsibility failure trends between crane types 
gives strong evidence that crane model-specific training is an 
overwhelmingly good idea. . . . In order for the industry to 
theoretically provide a quality certification for each model crane, 
the process would take decades just to develop certifications for 
existing model cranes, and with new models coming out every year, 
that development process would also be never-ending. Each time a new 
model crane was released, its use would be prohibited until a 
qualified certification process was developed if model-specific 
certification was required. Model specific qualification is an issue 
that cannot and should not be done by the

[[Page 56204]]

certification process, but should be done through training and 
examination by the individual company and corresponding operator in 
addition to earning type-specific certifications which ensure the 
knowledge and skill sets discussed above.
    Understanding of crane principles, general crane 
characteristics, individual responsibilities, and national standard 
guidelines is the basis for certification; however, an operator's 
familiarity with the particular unit is invaluable in the goal to 
reduce operator associated incidents.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Wiethron, Jim D., Crane Accidents: A Study of Causes & 
Trends to Create a Safer Work Environment, 1983-2013, pp. 105-106 
(HAAG Engineering, 2014)

    (83 FR 23541). No commenters challenged this assessment of the 
significance of equipment-specific evaluations.
    The evaluation requirement is a mechanism to help ensure that 
operators possess the skill to account for and safely use the 
variations within even a single type of crane; without the evaluation 
requirement there would be no distinction between the competency 
required to operate the same type that has differing controls. It is 
OSHA's intent with the revised standard, including the evaluation, to 
avoid accidents such as the Deep South collapse, in which an operator 
was assigned to a crane of a type for which he was certified, but the 
controls and operations were significantly different from those with 
which he was familiar. Operator error factored into the collapse of the 
crane, killing four people. The reviewing court upheld the Occupational 
Safety and Health Review Commission's finding that the operator was not 
qualified to operate that crane. The Commission noted that the crane 
that collapsed was ``significantly different'' from the cranes that the 
operator had previously operated and that the operator had not had 
previous experience with the crane in a similar configuration (see Deep 
S. Crane & Rigging Co., 23 BNA OSHC 2099 (No. 09-0240, 2012), aff'd 
Deep S. Crane & Rigging Co. v. Harris, 535 F. App'x 386, 390 (5th Cir. 
2013)).
    The evaluation requirement is also necessary to ensure safety as 
the crane industry moves away from traditional training models. A crane 
insurance representative stated that the industry is moving away from 
assigning two employees to work on a crane, where the less experienced 
employee is mentored by the other, to where only one person is assigned 
to work on a crane, and expressed concern that this shift may impact 
the availability of sufficiently qualified operators and the safety of 
the industry (Report #25 of ID-0673). Such an approach increases the 
importance of an employer evaluation requirement because informal 
monitoring would be less frequent. Requiring certification by crane 
type or type and capacity, and retaining the employer duty to evaluate 
operators should help to ensure that crane operators have sufficient 
training to maintain safety when two employees are no longer assigned 
to work on a crane. The previous certification requirement ensures 
baseline knowledge and skills to operate a crane, while retaining the 
employer duty to evaluate operators provides some assurance that the 
operator can safely handle the specifics of operating particular 
equipment and performing more challenging tasks in a variety of 
contexts.
    The only concerns that commenters on the proposed rule expressed 
about the evaluation requirement focused on the specifics of the 
requirement, not the proposition that an employer should have a duty to 
ensure operator competency. OSHA discusses the specific requirements of 
the evaluation more fully in the preamble explanation of revised Sec.  
1926.1427(f). It is also important to note that OSHA is not creating a 
totally new duty. All employers were required to assess their operators 
prior to the 2010 crane rulemaking, continued to have such a duty under 
the previous Sec.  1926.1427(k), and none of the commenters raised any 
hardships caused by an employer duty to assess operators. To promote 
consistency and effectiveness and ensure safety, this rulemaking simply 
clarifies what that evaluation involves and makes the duty permanent.
    OSHA requested comment on whether there are more effective ways of 
ensuring that operators are fully qualified to use cranes for the 
specific activities that they will be required to complete. 
Specifically, OSHA asked whether ``independent third-party 
evaluations'' should be required (83 FR 23542). One commenter 
responded, opposing such a requirement on the grounds that third-party 
evaluators might not be commercially available and, even if available, 
would not be more effective than evaluations conducted by the 
operator's employer (ID-1615).
    A different commenter suggested that OSHA should implement an 
``operator training program such as an oiler was in the past'' so that 
``the training is complemented with knowledge of the machine he will be 
operating . . . seat time will give knowledge of the load charts to 
understand the difference between structural, tipping capacity's [sic] 
from a trained operator'' (ID-698). OSHA envisions the revised rule 
functioning in a flexible manner that will lead to the results the 
commenter describes: A combination of training and experiential 
learning that ensures that the operator can safely operate the 
equipment to which he or she is assigned.
    OSHA considered several alternative approaches to the provisions in 
paragraph (f) adopted through this rulemaking, but concluded that those 
alternatives would not be as effective as the adopted measures in 
ensuring crane operator competency and safety. The first approach was 
to remove the phase-out of the employer duty without providing further 
guidance or criteria. As discussed later in the preamble section for 
paragraph (f), OSHA believes that evaluations of operator competency 
are critical to safe crane operations and that proposing a general 
requirement for this purpose, without providing additional criteria, 
would be inadequate.
    The second approach considered was adopting the ACCSH 
recommendation to use the Coalition for Crane Operator Safety's 
language requiring employers to ensure that operators ``meet the 
definition of a qualified person'' before operating the equipment. As 
explained later in the preamble discussion of paragraph (f), OSHA is 
adopting a compromise version of this regulatory text as proposed by a 
commenter. OSHA is concerned that the ACCSH recommendation, like the 
general duty under Sec.  1926.21(b)(4), fails to provide sufficient 
specifics to ensure operator competence. Moreover, the ability to 
``resolve problems,'' which is a key component in the definition of a 
``qualified person,'' only captures one aspect of what safe crane 
operation entails. And by relying on the definition of a ``qualified 
person,'' which can be met in some cases solely through ``possession of 
a . . . certificate,'' the whole point of having some additional 
assurance of operator competency beyond operator certification would be 
lost: An operator could still conceivably become both certified and a 
qualified person through the completion of a single certification test. 
For these reasons, OSHA believes that this final rule better 
establishes the employer's obligation to ensure crane operator 
competency.
    In the third approach, OSHA explored the practicality of modeling a 
crane operator evaluation process on one implemented in the provinces 
of Canada. In those provinces, a quasi-governmental agency tracks the 
base level of certification and operating

[[Page 56205]]

experiences of the operators in an internet database. For example, the 
British Columbia system has at least three different levels of 
``qualification,'' and employers are responsible for observing, 
evaluating, and ensuring the operators are competent to perform the 
work required at each level (ID-0672). OSHA concluded, however, that 
this level of oversight would be impractical on a national scale in the 
United States. The expertise needed to develop and maintain a system 
that works for the entire regulated community across the United States, 
and to verify the information in such a system, would be substantial. 
Moreover, even after providing certification for its operators, 
employers in Canada still have the obligation to ensure the competency 
of operators to safely perform assigned work, which is similar to the 
operator evaluation requirements of this final rule.
    Based on all of the reasons in the foregoing discussion, OSHA 
concludes that it will improve crane safety to continue and make 
permanent the requirement for employers to evaluate their operators and 
operators-in-training in addition to ensuring that they are properly 
certified. Employer evaluation increases safety by focusing on specific 
knowledge and skills that operators need for the safe use of particular 
equipment for particular tasks in a variety of contexts. The specific 
evaluation requirements are set out in paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(f) and 
are explained later in this document in the preamble discussion of that 
paragraph.
Elimination of the Requirement To Certify Based on Capacity of Crane
    As discussed above, OSHA proposed altering the requirement for 
different certifications based on different lifting capacities of 
equipment after receiving feedback that the capacity requirement does 
not provide a significant safety benefit because the lifting capacity 
of the equipment is not a meaningful component of operator 
certification testing. In its request for comments on this issue, the 
agency specifically asked for information that demonstrated the safety 
benefits of certification by capacity.
    OSHA received one comment claiming that ``[r]etaining capacity will 
require more stringent testing resulting in an increase in crane 
safety, thus fewer accidents,'' (ID-1235), but this commenter did not 
provide any evidence of how certification by capacity increases safety 
or reduces accidents. OSHA received a comment from an association 
stating that its members were split on this issue, but the association 
did not share why some of its members opposed the removal of capacity 
(ID-1824). Another association commented that it ``concurs with the 
proposed rule'' and suggested that it would be ``better than the 
current rule,'' but the rest of its comment on this point was not clear 
(ID-1632). Without further explanation, that commenter added that it 
supported certification organizations having a choice and ``believes it 
would be best for the safety of crane operations to certify by type and 
capacity'' (Id.). However, the commenter did not offer any information 
about the safety benefits of certification by capacity.
    While testing organizations differed over whether a certification 
by capacity provided any useful information to an employer, most 
commenters agreed that capacity is just one factor to be considered in 
the employer's overall evaluation of the operator's ability. The 
majority of commenters that responded to this issue support removing 
the certification by capacity requirement (ID-0690, 0703, 0719, 1611, 
1616, 1619, 1628, 1632, 1719, 1735, 1744, 1755, 1764, 1768, 1801, 1816, 
1826, 1828). A certification body commented that ``virtually unanimity 
exists in the industry that certification by `capacity' should be 
eliminated from the regulatory requirement'' (ID-1816). Another 
certification body echoed that point, stating that ``The industry has 
been clear in its comments that, whereas equipment ``type'' is critical 
when delineating knowledge and skill, equipment ``capacity'' is just 
one of many other factors (like configuration) to be considered in the 
employer's overall evaluation of an operator's ability'' (ID-1755).
    The majority of comments responding to this request did not know of 
any safety benefits related to certification by capacity (ID-1615, 
1628, 1755, 1768). One comment claimed that capacity ``did very little 
to advance the safe operation of cranes at construction jobsites'' (ID-
1619). Two certification bodies that offer certification by capacity 
did not offer any safety evidence to the agency in public hearings or 
stakeholder meetings (ID-1719). Referring to consensus standards and 
industry best practices, one commenter noted that ASME B30.5 ``does not 
describe testing or examination by capacity,'' and the organization 
``is not aware of any state or local regulatory body . . . that 
requires certification or licensing by both type and capacity'' (ID-
1816).
    In addition to many commenters stating that certification by 
capacity has no demonstrable safety benefit, many also consider the 
requirement to be burdensome (ID-0616, 0690, 0703, 0719, 1619). One of 
these commenters stated that they paid for their operator to be 
certified, but the operator only passed the test for cranes up to a 
capacity of 21 tons and was forced to also take an entirely different 
exam for cranes up to 75 tons in order to operate a crane of 23 tons, 
just over the capacity limit of the lower test (ID-0616). A different 
commenter concluded that some of their members find the capacity 
requirement ``unwieldy and exceptionally burdensome'' (ID-1824). One 
commenter explained that if the OSHA capacity requirement went into 
effect, ``approximately 83% of those possessing certification'' would 
not be compliant with the 2010 cranes standard (ID-1801).
    One commenter believes ``[t]he industry has been clear . . . 
``capacity'' is just one of many other factors (like configuration) to 
be considered in the employer's overall evaluation of an operator's 
ability'' (ID-1755). One commenter agreed with OSHA that the employer 
evaluation was the appropriate time to consider the crane's capacity 
among other factors (see discussion of Sec.  1926.1427(f)(1) later in 
this document) (ID-1735).
    Based on this record and the continued employer duty to evaluate 
operators, which provides an additional means for ensuring that the 
operator can safely use equipment for the range of tasks assigned, OSHA 
has determined that employee certification by capacity of crane should 
no longer be required; rather, it may be an option for those employers 
who wish to use it. Employers can comply with the third-party 
certification requirements of OSHA's crane standard by ensuring that 
their operators are certified by an accredited organization by type of 
crane or, alternatively, by both type of crane and by capacity.
J. Significant Risk
    Section 3(8) of the OSH Act requires that OSHA standards be 
``reasonably necessary or appropriate to provide safe or healthful 
employment'' (29 U.S.C. 652(8)), which the Supreme Court has 
interpreted as requiring OSHA to show that ``significant risks are 
present and can be eliminated or lessened by a change in practices'' 
(Indus. Union Dep't, AFL-CIO v. Am. Petroleum Inst., 448 U.S. 607, 642 
(1980) (plurality opinion) (``Benzene'')). The Court clarified that 
OSHA has considerable latitude in defining significant risk and in 
determining the significance of any particular risk, noting that ``[i]t 
is the Agency's responsibility to determine, in the first instance, 
what it considers to be

[[Page 56206]]

a `significant' risk'' (Benzene, 448 U.S. at 655).
    Although OSHA makes significant risk findings for both health and 
safety standards, the methodology used to evaluate risk in safety 
rulemakings is more straightforward. Unlike the risks related to health 
hazards, which ``may not be evident until a worker has been exposed for 
long periods of time to particular substances,'' the risks associated 
with safety hazards such as crane tipovers, electrocution, and striking 
or crushing workers with a hoisted load, ``are generally immediate and 
obvious.'' Benzene, 448 U.S. at 649, n.54. The final rule for OSHA's 
2010 cranes standard contained an extensive analysis in which the 
agency examined fatality and injury data available in 2008 and 
concluded that employees working in or around cranes and derricks face 
a significant risk of death or serious injury (see 75 FR 48093).
    When, as here, OSHA has previously determined that its standard 
substantially reduces a significant risk, it is unnecessary for the 
agency to make additional findings on risk for every provision of that 
standard (see, e.g., Public Citizen Health Research Group v. Tyson, 796 
F.2d 1479, 1502 n.16 (DC Cir. 1986) (rejecting the argument that OSHA 
must ``find that each and every aspect of its standard eliminates a 
significant risk''). Rather, once OSHA makes a general significant risk 
finding in support of a standard, the next question is whether a 
particular requirement is reasonably related to the purpose of the 
standard as a whole. (Asbestos Information Ass'n/N. Am. v. Reich, 117 
F.3d 891, 894 (5th Cir. 1997); Forging Indus. Ass'n v. Secretary of 
Labor, 773 F.2d 1436, 1447 (4th Cir. 1985); United Steelworkers of Am., 
AFL-CIO-CLC v. Marshall, 647 F.2d 1189, 1237-38 (DC Cir. 1980)).
    As explained elsewhere in this preamble, this final rule meets this 
test. OSHA previously concluded that the 2010 crane standard would 
substantially reduce risk through a combination of mandatory operator 
certification and other requirements, but OSHA did not claim that the 
standard would eliminate the significant risk entirely. The employer 
evaluation is reasonably related to the reduction of significant risk 
because it reduces employee exposure to the previously identified 
hazards. It reflects current industry best practices and helps to 
ensure the employee has the skills and knowledge to operate the crane 
safely during the lifts to which he or she is assigned.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The removal of the requirement for certification by crane 
lifting capacity is not implicated in this significant risk 
discussion because it removes a requirement and does not impose any 
new duties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agency notes that there is ample evidence in the record that 
workers could continue to be exposed to the hazards that OSHA sought to 
reduce through the 2010 cranes standard. OSHA relied on fatality data 
available in 2008 when it promulgated the crane standard, but 
unfortunately crane-related fatalities have continued to occur. 
According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 47 crane 
operators were killed between 2011 and 2014 (this does not include 
accidents with non-fatal injuries or crane incidents causing fatalities 
or injuries to workers other than the crane operator).\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational 
Injuries (2011 forward), Fatalities to Crane and Tower Operators, 
series ID FWU50X53702X8PN00, available at http://www.bls.gov/iif/data.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Another useful data source is a report by an engineering forensics 
firm, HAAG Engineering, of a large dataset of crane accidents that it 
has investigated over a period of 30 years (Wiethorn, 2014, the ``HAAG 
Report'') (ID-0674). The final dataset has 507 incidents, covering all 
types of cranes and accidents. This dataset is likely biased towards 
larger accidents since these are more likely to warrant significant 
investigation for insurance and litigation issues. But while it is not 
a representative sample of all crane accidents, it is a large sample 
and may be suggestive of more general trends. The HAAG report states 
that of 141 employee fatalities among its reported crane incidents, 28 
were operators, meaning there were approximately 4 times more non-
operator employees killed than operators from crane accidents in this 
sample ((141-28)/28=4.03).\8\ Similarly for injuries, out of 267 
employee injuries, 29 were to operators, so that there were 8.2 non-
operator injuries for every operator injury ((267-29)/29=8.2).\9\ These 
two categories are not mutually exclusive (there are often injuries 
when there is a fatality).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The HAAG report, p. 31.
    \9\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted in more detail in the ``Benefits'' section of the Final 
Economic Analysis for this rule, three recent fatalities in particular 
illustrate the dangers from improper equipment operation that could be 
prevented by the evaluations included in this amendment to the 
standard. In one instance, the crane operator was not familiar with the 
controls of the equipment. In another incident, an operator hoisting 
pipes longer than he had previously hoisted used an improper boom 
angle, indicating that he did not possess adequate knowledge and skills 
to address the additional challenges of the task he was required to 
perform. In the third incident, a fatality occurred when an employee 
operated a new, unfamiliar machine with controls in different locations 
than the machines with which the operator was accustomed. While the 
employee's use of that equipment arose from unexpected circumstances, 
the result nonetheless demonstrates the risk inherent with operating a 
crane without a method to ensure the operator knows how to operate new 
equipment where there are differences in control locations and 
functions.
    None of the commenters disagreed that OSHA does not need to make a 
separate determination of significant risk, nor did anyone challenge 
the relevance of any of the fatalities noted by OSHA. As explained in 
the ``Background'' and ``Need for Rulemaking'' sections of the 
preamble, commenters have raised serious concerns that the current 
level of risk would increase if OSHA did not continue the employer duty 
to ensure operator competency on the actual equipment they operate. The 
nearly unanimous message to OSHA is that crane operator certification 
is designed to ensure a basic level of general operating competency, 
but is not by itself sufficient to ensure that operators have the 
necessary skills and knowledge to operate all assigned equipment or to 
perform all assigned tasks safely in all workplace conditions.

III. Summary and Explanation of the Amendments to Subpart CC

Discussion of the Final Rule's Organization and General Terms Used in 
Its Summary and Explanation

    The following discussion summarizes and explains each new or 
revised provision in this final rule and the substantive differences 
between the revised and previous versions of OSHA's crane operator 
requirements in subpart CC of 29 CFR part 1926. As a general matter, 
OSHA has reorganized this section of the rule to improve comprehension 
of the requirements. In the ``Background'' section of this notice, OSHA 
summarizes the rationale for making permanent the employer duty to 
evaluate operators and removing the requirement for certification by 
equipment capacity.

Paragraph (a)--Duty To Train, Certify or License, and Evaluate 
Operators

    Paragraph (a) sets out the employer's responsibility to ensure that 
each operator completes three steps before the employer permits the 
operator to

[[Page 56207]]

operate equipment covered by subpart CC without continuous supervision. 
In the regulatory text, OSHA refers to this entire three-step process 
as ``qualification.'' Each operator must be trained to do the crane 
activities that will be performed, be certified/licensed in accordance 
with subpart CC, and be evaluated on his or her competence to safely 
operate the equipment that will be used. In addition, paragraph (a) 
sets out exceptions to these requirements for certain equipment, as 
well as continuing to note that qualifications issued by the U.S. 
Military to its non-uniformed employees satisfy OSHA's crane standard 
(OSHA continues to apply the term ``qualification'' within the final 
rule for operators working for the U.S. military, as it did in the 
previous version of the rule). The new approach provides a clearer 
structure than the previous format of the standard, which was not 
designed to accommodate both certification and evaluation.
    In addition, the final rule makes clear that post-certification 
training is required. OSHA adopted this change because the previous 
version of the standard focused on pre-certification training. The 
final rule outlines the ongoing training necessary for certified 
operators to learn to operate new equipment or perform new tasks. The 
new final rule contemplates operators still needing additional training 
after they are certified, such as training to operate a new type of 
crane, perform new tasks, or handle new controls in a crane that differ 
from previous models they have operated. The employer is obligated to 
train employees, as necessary, even after they are certified, until the 
employer has evaluated them in accordance with paragraph (f). The 
training components are otherwise nearly the same under both the 
previous and revised versions of the standard.
    As under the previous version of the standard, (see prior Sec.  
1926.1430(g)(2)), refresher training would also be required when 
indicated by deficiencies in the employee's demonstrations of crane 
knowledge or equipment operation.
    The current certification/licensing requirement, which is the 
centerpiece of the previous operator requirements, remains largely 
unchanged under the revised standard, with the exception that different 
certifications for different capacities of cranes would no longer be 
required. The reference to ``certified/licensed'' is intended to 
encompass each of the certification options in the standard (third-
party certification or an audited employer certification program) as 
well as state or local operator licensing requirements.
    Several commenters requested that OSHA remove the existing 
requirement for operator certification from the standard (see, e.g., 
ID-1605, 1615, 1821, 1826). These commenters faulted OSHA for failing 
to re-justify the requirement for operator certification or did not 
think it should be applied to their specific industry.
    However, operator certification was central to the 2010 final rule, 
which was based on the industry stakeholder recommendations through a 
negotiated rulemaking. Comment was requested on the proposal in that 
rulemaking, and OSHA held several days of hearings on the proposal. 
OSHA published the rationale and justification for the inclusion of the 
certification requirement in the standard in the 2010 preamble, and so 
there was no need to re-explain the agency's lengthy analysis in this 
new rulemaking. In the NPRM for this rulemaking OSHA did not signal 
that it was considering removing certification: To the contrary, one of 
the main purposes of the rulemaking was to implement a change to the 
certification requirement (removing capacity) in recognition of the 
limited safety benefits of that requirement. This would reduce needless 
regulatory burden and ensure that the employers of a majority of 
operators would be able to comply with the certification requirement. 
OSHA also proposed to clarify and make permanent other employer 
evaluation duties, but those were proposed in addition to the operator 
certification requirements and the proposal re-organized the standard 
to encompass both.
    With certification already a requirement of the standard, the main 
issue in this rulemaking besides the content of the certificate was the 
additional employer evaluation requirement. One commenter claimed that 
OSHA's ``policy shift'' to include additional employer evaluation 
duties in the current rulemaking ``demonstrates that even it does not 
believe that certification is necessary to verify basic crane operating 
skills and knowledge needed to safely operate the equipment'' (ID-1605, 
p. 2). OSHA disagrees. OSHA accepted the construction industry 
stakeholders' recommendation for a third-party certification 
requirement in 2010 after OSHA's previous construction cranes standard, 
which included a generic duty for employers to assess operators but no 
independent certification of the operator's knowledge or abilities, 
appeared ineffective in reducing fatalities and injuries caused by 
crane operator errors. OSHA proposed the employer evaluation in this 
current rulemaking as an addition to certification, not as an 
alternative to certification, because those provisions are intended to 
work in tandem as explained in more detail elsewhere in this preamble. 
The certification provides an independent assessment of general 
baseline knowledge and skill and the employer evaluation focuses on 
specific knowledge and skills needed for the safe operation of 
particular equipment for particular tasks.
    OSHA also disagrees with the claim that adoption of a permanent 
requirement for employer evaluation of operators undercuts the need for 
certification (see also ID-1821). Many of the industry stakeholders who 
participated on the negotiated rulemaking committee (C-DAC) who 
recommended independent operator certification saw a need to verify 
baseline crane operating knowledge and skills, and OSHA incorporated 
that recommended requirement into its standard after public comment and 
extensive analysis, as explained at length in its 2010 final rule and 
accompanying preamble (75 FR 47905). But following that rulemaking, 
industry stakeholders noted a distinction between the basic operating 
knowledge and skill needed to pass a certification examination, on the 
one hand, and on the other the knowledge and skill needed to safely 
operate specific equipment to complete a specific task on a 
construction site. Employers had traditionally addressed this 
distinction when complying with OSHA's general construction requirement 
in Sec.  1926.20(b)(4) (``The employer shall permit only those 
employees qualified by training or experience to operate equipment and 
machinery''). But the inclusion of specific operator training and 
certification requirements in the 2010 standard supplanted that general 
requirement, apparently to the surprise of some former C-DAC members, 
who then began advocating for a replacement (see e.g. ID-0539). With 
additional information from industry, the agency has taken action 
through this rulemaking to prevent individuals from performing 
construction work using even the types of machinery for which they are 
certified until employers confirm that they are sufficiently familiar 
with the particular machines they will operate and the specific tasks 
they will perform in order to ensure safety.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The employer evaluation requirements should also allay 
stakeholder concerns about the removal of the requirement for 
certification by different crane capacities, which OSHA had 
previously incorporated as a means of addressing significant 
differences between machinery within a single type of crane.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 56208]]

    OSHA also disagrees with the assertion that OSHA had previously 
stated that certification would, by itself, eliminate unqualified 
operators, and that OSHA further stated that the ``intent of 
certification . . . was clear all along: The test would demonstrate the 
operator's technical knowledge specific to the equipment--meaning 
certification equated to qualification'' (ID-1605). In support of the 
claim, the commenter selectively quoted language in the regulatory text 
in previous Sec.  1926.1427(b)(2) that operators would be ``deemed 
qualified'' to operate equipment once certified. However, OSHA used 
``deemed'' in the description ``deemed qualified'' in the previous 
Sec.  1926.1427(b)(2), as well as separate references to certification 
and qualification as alternatives, to avoid the impression that 
certification resulted in a fully qualified operator.\11\ As OSHA 
previously explained in the NPRM, OSHA only used the term ``deemed 
qualified'' to recognize under a single rubric the full spectrum of 
options for complying with OSHA's standard: Certification, military 
authorization, state-licensing, and ``qualification by an audited 
employer program.'' (See 83 FR 23549, n. 10.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ In providing an overview of the function of the 
requirements of section 1427, OSHA used the terms ``certification'' 
and ``qualification'' separately in describing the process for 
compliance: ``In the final rule, paragraph (a) of this section 
specifies that the employer must ensure that the operator . . . is 
either qualified or certified to operate the equipment in accordance 
with the provisions of this section. . . .'' Also, in describing the 
alternative permitted under 1427(b), OSHA stated in the 2010 final 
rule: ``As noted above, the proposed rule provided four options for 
a crane operator to be qualified or certified.'' 75 FR 48017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Many commenters requested exemptions from the operator 
certification requirements or the entire rule. These comments, which 
included several mass mailings of identical or nearly identical 
comments, focused on exemptions for the use of cranes in three 
industries: Delivery and installation of propane tanks; using equipment 
attached to scaffolding to hoist loads up to the scaffolding; and using 
equipment to install signs (see, e.g., ID-1184, 1631, 1830).\12\ OSHA 
noted in the proposed rule that broad requests for exemptions from 
existing requirements were beyond the scope of this rulemaking, but 
requested comment on whether there should be exemptions from the 
revised employer evaluation requirements (83 FR 23544). Thus, 
exemptions from the revised employer evaluation requirements were the 
only exemptions OSHA proposed in the NPRM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ One commenter from the pre-cast concrete industry requested 
an exemption from the certification requirements for operators of 
knuckleboom cranes, noting that these cranes ``are present in a 
large number of precast concrete plants'' (ID-1047). The commenter 
continued that ``[a]dding a national certification requirement for 
knuckle-boom cranes would not likely have an impact on improving 
safety within the plant . . . This assessment is backed by data from 
the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, which identifies general 
industry, of which the precast concrete industry is a part, as 
accounting for a significantly lower rate of workplace accidents 
involving cranes than the private construction industry.'' The 
commenter described the burden on ``these small manufacturers'' and 
also stated: ``While some precast concrete plants have crane 
operators who would need to be certified on other classes of cranes, 
there are likely thousands of plant personnel who operate only a 
knuckle-boom style of crane.'' Taken together, the references to the 
employers as manufacturers engaged in general industry work, the use 
of the cranes in ``the plant,'' and their presence in a ``large 
number of . . . plants,'' the commenter seems to misinterpret OSHA's 
construction crane rule as applicable to that industry's general 
industry activities. The operator certification requirement only 
applies when equipment is used for construction work, not for the 
manufacture of pre-cast concrete in a manufacturing plant. A 
different commenter (ID-1190) also requested an exemption for ``pre-
cast concrete manufacturers'' and referred to ``drivers'' requiring 
certification. OSHA has previously clarified that manufacturers who 
simply deliver their products to the ground on a construction site 
are not considered to have engaged in construction activity, so the 
drivers in that scenario would not require certification under 
OSHA's construction cranes standard.
     A different commenter, without identifying his industry, asked 
for an exemption for ``small truck mounted booms'' under the theory 
that employers, rather than pay for operators to be certified, would 
simply ``eliminate these valuable tools that will ultimately lead to 
more back injuries because proper tools are not available to the 
employee'' (ID-1373). OSHA notes that its standard already exempts 
from the certification requirement operators of ``equipment with a 
maximum manufacturer-rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds 
or less'' (revised 29 CFR 1926.1427(a)(2).
     A third commenter noted his opposition to operator 
certification because ``I believe that there are only three entities 
that are recognized for this outside of the Operating Engineers for 
union shops. OSHA . . . must provide a clear process for employers 
to seek accreditation that is independent of the currently 
accredited entities'' (ID-0704). OSHA's standard does not restrict 
the number of third-party certifying entities or their accrediting 
bodies. OSHA's standard also allows individual employers to comply 
with the certification requirement by certifying their own employees 
through a program audited by a third-party (see revised 29 CFR 
1926.1427(e)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To the extent that commenters from these industries addressed 
employer evaluations of operators, they suggested that they were 
already performing the types of evaluations that would be required by 
the revised standard.\13\ Indeed, despite the fact that employers in 
these industries have been required to perform some sort of operator 
assessment for the last eight years under Sec.  1926.1427(k), they 
provided no examples of hardship or obstacles that have arisen during 
these assessments that would indicate that the new evaluation 
requirements would also pose an undue burden. OSHA is therefore not 
persuaded that employers in these industries should be exempt from the 
requirement to evaluate operators. Other than for operators of sideboom 
cranes, derricks, or equipment with a lifting capacity of less than two 
tons, the evaluation requirements in the new standard apply to all 
operators.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ For example, a representative of the propane industry 
explained that ``experienced propane field technicians provide 
hands-on training to new employees in coordination with or 
subsequent to review of written training materials'' (ID-1631). 
Their industry also ``utilizes competency training materials that 
provide training on the use of cranes to deliver and retrieve a 
propane container,'' and ``utilizes the crane training materials 
along with other industry-developed training materials to provide 
new training before an employee is assigned a new responsibility as 
well as at regular intervals to serve as refresher training'' (ID-
1631). A representative of the precast concrete industry explained 
that their organization's ``engineers have visited hundreds of 
plants and have observed . . . owners ensuring operators 
competency'' (ID-1047). The rationale for the employer evaluation 
seems equally applicable to these industries and the commenters do 
not provide any persuasive evidence disputing that it is important 
that employers evaluate operators to assess whether they have the 
knowledge and skills to safely operate the equipment which they are 
assigned to use to perform construction tasks.
    \14\ One of the same group of commenters also suggested, if 
removal of certification is not an option, that OSHA consider 
allowing ``one certification based on function,'' such as a single 
certification for operators of propane delivery cranes (as opposed 
to a certification for each type of crane) (ID-1631). A different 
commenter requested that OSHA remove the existing exemption from the 
certification requirements for cranes with a lifting capacity lower 
than 2,000 pounds (Sec.  1926.1427(a)(3)), asserting that these 
smaller cranes can also pose safety hazards (ID-1475). Neither of 
these requests address any of the changes proposed in the NPRM and 
are therefore outside the scope of the rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The third element in the introductory text of revised paragraph (a) 
refers to the employer's duty to assess the operator to ensure that an 
operator has the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and avert 
risks to operate equipment safely. The updated duty to evaluate 
operators is similar to the duty in the prior version of the standard 
at Sec.  1926.1427(k)(2)(i), which specified that employers must ensure 
that operators are able to operate equipment safely. That employer duty 
in the 2010 crane standard was scheduled to be phased out once the 
operator certification requirements become effective on November 10, 
2018. In the final rule, OSHA is permanently retaining an employer 
assessment duty but has re-located it to paragraph (a) to increase 
comprehension of the standard's requirements. The revised standard also 
includes requirements for the individual who performs the evaluation 
and requirements for

[[Page 56209]]

documenting the evaluation. It retains the previous duty for employers 
to re-evaluate operators when necessary (see previous Sec.  
1926.1430(g)(2)), but moves the requirement to the evaluation section 
to improve comprehension of the requirements (see full discussion of 
revised paragraph (f)--Evaluation below.)
    Paragraphs (a)(1) to (3) provide limited exceptions to the general 
requirement in paragraph (a) that operators must be trained, certified, 
and evaluated before operating equipment.
    Paragraph (a)(1) permits an employee to operate equipment as an 
``operator-in-training'' prior to being certified and evaluated, 
provided that he or she is supervised and operates the equipment in 
accordance with the training requirements in paragraph (b). This is the 
only means by which an individual may operate equipment prior to being 
trained, certified, and evaluated as competent to do so. This exception 
is substantively similar to the provision in the previous crane 
standard at Sec.  1926.1427(a), which permitted uncertified operators 
to operate equipment only when the employer complied with the 
requirements specified under previous Sec.  1926.1427(f)--Pre-
qualification/certification training period. The revised standard also 
permits certified/licensed operators to operate equipment as operators-
in-training before successfully completing an evaluation. For example, 
this provision allows experienced and certified operators to become 
accustomed to performing new crane operations or operating somewhat 
different equipment while being evaluated by the employer for that 
purpose. It also allows a newly hired operator to run the equipment 
while a new employer gauges the operator's crane knowledge, operating 
skills, and training needs. In addition, experienced operators who are 
not certified may operate the equipment when all operator-in-training 
requirements are met.
    The standard recognizes that on-the-job training is an important 
component of gaining the practical operating experience necessary to 
safely operate a crane and to pass a competency evaluation. Other 
employers agreed that, depending on a number of factors, determining 
the competency of a new, inexperienced operator to become an 
independent, safe, and efficient operator is a process that can vary in 
time depending in part on having a crane available and demand for the 
crane services (e.g., Reports # 2, 11 of ID-0673). This competency 
process is often informal and integrated in day-to-day work, with 
operators-in-training working closely with experienced operators in on-
the-job training who mentor them and show them how to use equipment 
(Reports # 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 15, 16, 18, 19, 23 of ID-0673). Operators 
receive experience not only in the cab, but also in many tasks or 
operations related to hoisting, such as rigging, assembly/disassembly 
or set-up, or inspections. Moreover, many employers who train new 
operators require them to complete operator certification at the 
beginning, or in the middle of, their training program, while employer 
evaluation of competency is generally a later step in the process and 
may occur many times over an operator's career. Therefore, OSHA 
believes that permitting an operator-in-training to operate equipment 
under the conditions specified in paragraph (b) is appropriate and 
necessary to ensure the safety of operators-in-training while they 
train for competency evaluations by employers.
    In addition, revised paragraph (a)(1) expressly states that an 
operator-in-training may only operate equipment under supervision to 
ensure that employers understand that supervision is a mandatory 
component of operating in accordance with revised paragraph (b), and 
therefore also required under this exception. Because the previous 
crane standard also required operators-in-training to be supervised, 
adding that requirement to paragraph (a) is a non-substantive, 
clarifying amendment (see paragraph (b) for a more thorough discussion 
of on-the-job and general training requirements).
    OSHA did not propose any substantive changes to the existing 
exemptions for derricks, sideboom cranes, and equipment with a maximum 
manufacturer-rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less 
from the training and supervision requirements in revised paragraph (b) 
and the certification/licensing requirements in revised paragraphs (c) 
and (d).
    OSHA did propose a change to the regulatory text in Sec.  
1926.1427(a)(2). While the prior regulatory text in Sec.  1926.1427(a) 
had excepted operators of this group of equipment from only the 
``Operator qualification or certification'' requirements of section 
Sec.  1926.1427, corresponding scope provisions in Sec.  1926.1436(q) 
(derricks), Sec.  1926.1440(a) (sideboom cranes), and Sec.  
1926.1441(a) (cranes with capacity of a ton or less) each specify that 
none of the requirements of Sec.  1926.1427 apply to operators of those 
types of equipment. Therefore, OSHA proposed in the NPRM to better 
align Sec.  1926.1427 with Sec. Sec.  1926.1436, 1926.1440, and 
1926.1441. However OSHA proposed to apply the new employer evaluation 
requirement to operators of these types of equipment, so the proposed 
language of Sec.  1926.1427(a)(2) included an exception from only the 
certification ``and training'' requirements of Sec.  1926.1427 (see 
also the discussion of the proposed amendments to Sec. Sec.  1926.1436, 
1926.1440, and 1926.1441). In light of OSHA's decision not to apply the 
new evaluation and documentation requirements to operators of this 
group of equipment (see discussion of revised paragraph Sec.  
1926.1427(f) later in this preamble) OSHA has revised the paragraph to 
preserve the previous categorical exclusion for this group of equipment 
from all of the requirements in Sec.  1926.1427.
    In the NPRM, OSHA also proposed a new note to Sec.  1926.1427(a)(2) 
to specify that operators of sideboom cranes must comply with Sec.  
1926.1430, which contains the general training requirements in the 
cranes standard. Sideboom cranes were not previously exempted from the 
training requirements in Sec.  1926.1430, but training is not expressly 
addressed in the section of the standard dedicated to these cranes, 
Sec.  1926.1440. OSHA, therefore, proposed this note to clarify the 
training requirements that operators of this equipment had to meet. 
OSHA is retaining the note in the final rule. OSHA did not receive any 
comments on the note in proposed paragraph (a)(2).
    Paragraph (a)(3) preserves a previous provision that states that 
non-uniformed personnel employed and qualified as operators by the U.S. 
military meet the licensing/certification requirements of Sec.  
1926.1427. OSHA moved this provision from the other certification/
qualifications options because it operates as an exception: It 
specifies that no certification/licensing or training obligation for 
construction employers is needed beyond verifying that the employee is 
employed by, and qualified by, the military. For the purpose of 
confirming that a military operator has the basic crane knowledge and 
operating skills required through licensing and certification, OSHA 
defers to the operator qualification process of the U.S. military as 
the employer. All of the provisions of the crane standard apply when an 
operator operates equipment for an employer other than the U.S. 
military.
    OSHA requested comment on whether the relocation of this provision 
was appropriate and whether it is clear that this is an exclusion from 
all qualification and training requirements of this standard, not just 
certification.

[[Page 56210]]

OSHA did not receive any comments on the introductory text or 
restructuring of paragraph (a) (other than the requests for additional 
exceptions, as addressed earlier). OSHA is therefore adopting the 
changes as proposed.

Paragraph (b) Operator Training.

    The requirement for employers to train and evaluate operators 
before permitting them to operate equipment is contained in paragraph 
(a). Paragraph (b) now sets forth minimum requirements for training, 
specifies requirements for trainers, and establishes limitations on the 
scope of activities for operators-in-training. This paragraph specifies 
the conditions under which an individual may operate a crane prior to 
acquiring certification or successfully completing an employer 
evaluation. These training provisions are intended to provide a safe 
avenue for employees to gain experience operating cranes in a variety 
of circumstances.
    The training requirements of revised paragraph (b) are largely the 
same as the previous rule but also clarify that employers must continue 
to address operator training needs after the operator has been 
certified and demonstrated competency through employer evaluation on 
specific equipment. Paragraph (b) further clarifies that the employer's 
training duty is both equipment-specific and task-specific, and extends 
until the employer has satisfactorily evaluated the operator-in-
training in accordance with paragraph (f)--Evaluation, or if any 
retraining or subsequent training is required to perform the assigned 
tasks. The revised standard recognizes that even a certified and 
evaluated operator may need additional training to safely operate new 
equipment or perform significantly different types of lifts. Therefore, 
the employer's duty to train remains an ongoing responsibility that 
must be met as the operator's experiences expand. The prior version of 
the standard was not as clear (except with respect to when an 
individual's deficient operating performance or crane knowledge 
triggers retraining) that the employer's duty to train extends beyond 
when the individual is certified and evaluated. This updated paragraph 
clarifies that the employer's duty to train is aimed at ensuring that 
the employee can safely use the equipment that will be operated.
    Under the previous standard, OSHA divided the training requirements 
between two sections. First, previous Sec.  1926.1427(f)--Pre-
qualification/certification training period, set forth the limited 
conditions under which an operator-in-training could safely operate 
equipment before being certified. Secondly, previous Sec.  1926.1430--
Training Requirements, brought together the triggers for operator 
training requirements, including those for retraining. As discussed in 
the explanation for this section, OSHA has removed the substantive 
operator training requirements from Sec.  1926.1430 and replaced them 
with a cross-reference to new Sec.  1926.1427(b) so that the substance 
of the training requirements for operators, as well as all operator-in-
training requirements, are under one section. Relocating the 
requirements of previous Sec.  1926.1427(f) to revised Sec.  
1926.1427(b) also ensures that the organization of the crane operator 
requirements corresponds with the order of a typical operator 
competency program--i.e., initial training generally precedes 
certification and an operator being determined competent by employer 
evaluation.
    The introductory language to paragraph (b) in the NPRM required the 
employer to ``provide each operator-in-training with sufficient 
training, through a combination of formal and practical instruction, to 
ensure that the operator-in-training develops the skills, knowledge, 
and judgment necessary to operate the equipment safely for assigned 
work.'' (83 FR 23567). OSHA is retaining this language in the final 
rule except for one change. For reasons discussed later in response to 
comments to paragraph (f), OSHA decided to remove the term ``judgment'' 
from that section and replace it with ``the ability to recognize and 
avert risk.'' OSHA is making the same change in the training section. 
OSHA proposed corresponding language in the training and evaluation 
sections because an operator-in-training should be trained and 
evaluated to the same standard. In addition, this revised requirement 
specifies that training must include a combination of formal and 
practical instruction.
    OSHA notes that this paragraph (b) does not mean that employers 
must provide novice-level or redundant training when they hire an 
experienced operator as a new employee. An employee who is an 
experienced operator may need far less training than a less experienced 
employee. Employers must determine what level of practical and formal 
training an operator-in-training would need under paragraph (b) to 
ensure that they develop the skills, knowledge and ability to recognize 
and avoid risks necessary for safe crane operation in a variety of 
conditions. Ultimately, the training methods chosen by the employer 
must be effective and responsive to each operator's training needs.
    One commenter, while urging OSHA to remove the requirement for 
operator certification, also urged OSHA to ``limit the operator 
training requirements to employer-based programs that can best be 
customized to train operators on the specific equipment used at each 
individual company'' (ID-1826). OSHA is not altering the training 
requirements in paragraph (b), which require training on the subjects 
listed in Sec.  1926.1427(j)(1) and (2). OSHA believes these 
requirements provide enough flexibility to allow an employer to 
efficiently customize its training programs. For example, the standard 
continues to require the operator to have knowledge of ``the 
information necessary for safe operation of the specific type of 
equipment the individual will operate'' (Sec.  1926.1427(j)(1)) 
(emphasis added). There are some general requirements not tied to the 
operation of particular machines, such as the requirement for training 
on ``Procedures for preventing and responding to power line contact,'' 
that address serious hazards that vary by location, not equipment. The 
mandated training criteria are longstanding requirements that were 
adopted by OSHA on the recommendation of its negotiated rulemaking 
committee because most were included in OSHA's pre-2010 cranes standard 
(Sec.  1926.550) or were in industry consensus standards.
    A different commenter suggested that OSHA incorporate requirements 
from the Powered Industrial Truck standard into the crane operator 
training requirements. This recommendation included more prescriptive 
language in the regulatory text language specific to training on the 
controls and instrumentation of the equipment, the operator's manual, 
and when further training is required (ID-1719). Although the commenter 
acknowledges that ``the proposed rule offers clear guidance on the 
subject matters that initial training must cover,'' it believes its 
recommended revision is necessary to ``provide sufficient guidance on 
the triggers for supplemental training and re-training/remedial 
training'' (ID-1719).
    OSHA is not convinced that more prescriptive language for operator 
training requirements is required. OSHA believes that the incorporation 
of the paragraph (j), and subsequently Appendix C, provides employers 
with thorough lists of subjects on which operators must be trained, 
including elements such as the equipment's controls. OSHA concludes 
that the more flexible, less prescriptive language

[[Page 56211]]

proposed for the training requirements is more appropriate for crane 
operator training than the prescriptive list of elements offered by the 
commenter.
    OSHA has not retained the introductory text in previous paragraph 
(f), which required that a non-certified employee could only operate as 
an operator-in-training within the limitations of paragraph (f). That 
introductory text has now been supplanted by the language in revised 
paragraphs Sec.  1926.1427(a)(1) and (b), without substantive change 
other than the addition of the evaluation requirement.
    Most of the specific training requirements in paragraph (b) are 
identical or similar to the previous training requirements. Paragraph 
(b)(1) requires the employer to provide the operator-in-training with 
instruction on the subjects in paragraph (j). This requirement is 
identical to the requirement in previous Sec.  1926.1430(c)(1)--
Operators-in-Training for equipment where certification or 
qualification is required by this subpart. However, under the revised 
standard, even after the operator-in-training is determined competent 
by employer evaluation, the employer's training duty can continue when 
the operator operates new equipment or performs tasks that require new 
skills or knowledge. An individual may be a fully certified and 
evaluated operator with respect to one piece of equipment such that he 
or she is allowed to operate that equipment independently, but 
simultaneously be an operator-in-training (and thus subject to the 
operating restrictions in the standard) with respect to different 
equipment or tasks that require significantly different skills or 
knowledge to ensure safety.
    Section 1926.1427(j)--Certification criteria, which remains 
unchanged, specifies the mandatory subject matter for third-party 
licensing and certification, as recommended by C-DAC. It requires a 
written and a practical test. Paragraph (j)(1)(i) specifies areas of 
information that must be covered by the written certification test for 
the type of crane that an individual will operate, such as controls, 
operational/performance characteristics, load calculations, and ground 
conditions. This paragraph also references a more comprehensive list of 
areas of technical knowledge in Appendix C--Operator Certification: 
Written Examination: Technical Knowledge Criteria. Paragraph (j)(2) 
identifies the operating skill areas that must be covered by the 
practical certification test.
    OSHA concludes that operators-in-training must continue to receive 
training in the subject matter identified in this section as 
recommended by C-DAC. However, as proposed, OSHA relocated the training 
requirement in Sec.  1926.1430(c)(1) to revised Sec.  1926.1427(b) so 
that the requirements for operators-in-training may all be found in one 
place. New language in revised Sec.  1926.1430--Training, discussed 
separately below in this preamble, references Sec.  1926.1427(a) and 
(b) rather than repeat the same requirement.
    Paragraph (b)(2) requires the employer to ensure that a trainer 
continuously monitors operators-in-training during all crane 
operations. This requirement is identical to the previous requirement 
for continuous monitoring under previous paragraph (f)(3).
    Paragraph (b)(3) requires the employer to assign the operator-in-
training only tasks that are within his or her ability. This 
requirement is substantively identical to the requirement under 
previous paragraph (f)(2). OSHA made minor changes to the language of 
this requirement to clarify that it is the employer's duty to assign 
tasks to the operator-in-training.
    OSHA also relocated the requirements of previous paragraph (f)(1). 
The previous paragraph (f)(1) required the employer to provide each 
operator-in-training with training sufficient to operate safely under 
the limitations of previous paragraph (f). Its requirements are 
retained in revised paragraphs (b)(1) and (3), which state that the 
operator-in-training must be trained on the subject matter specified in 
paragraph (j) of this section and may only perform tasks that are 
within his or her abilities.
    Paragraph (b)(3) retains a revised version of the limitations 
specified in previous paragraph (f)(5), which precluded operators-in-
training from operating equipment next to energized power lines; from 
hoisting personnel; or from performing multiple-equipment lifts, multi-
lift rigging operations, or lifts over shafts, cofferdams or in a tank 
farm. OSHA previously determined in the 2010 final rule that these 
equipment operations and worksite conditions are too complex, or 
present such heightened risks, that it would be unreasonably dangerous 
if an operator-in-training were to operate the equipment in these 
circumstances (75 FR 48024). However, in the NPRM OSHA announced that 
it would consider revising these limitations because they may have the 
effect of preventing operators from gaining the experience necessary to 
conduct these lifts.
    OSHA received comments supportive of removing these limitations on 
operators-in-training. A labor union commented that these tasks 
``should not be prohibited'' because ``an operator must be trained in 
how to safely perform them'' (ID-1615). Another commenter, in urging 
OSHA to remove operation in tank farms from the list, argued that 
``[t]he continuous monitoring requirement specified in the Rule along 
with other safe work practices (e.g., work permits, joint jobsite 
visits, etc.) are sufficient to identify and mitigate hazards that an 
operator-in-training may encounter in a tank farm'' (ID-1647). OSHA did 
not receive additional comments on this issue.
    In response to these comments, OSHA revised the language of the 
regulatory text to provide a measured expansion of the prior rule that 
removes the prohibition as requested by the commenters. Operators-in-
training will now be allowed to perform these lifts, but only if they 
have been certified in accordance with Sec.  1926.1427(c). The 2010 
crane standard only allowed an operator to perform these lifts after 
becoming certified, so OSHA is preserving the status quo in that 
respect. OSHA continues to agree with C-DAC that these lifts are too 
complex and potentially dangerous to be attempted by an operator 
candidate who may lack the basic knowledge and skills required for 
general crane operation. But the prior regulatory text left no way 
forward for even a certified operator to gain the experience necessary 
to perform those functions safely, and did not leave room for an 
employer to have an operator evaluated on these tasks in accordance 
with revised Sec.  1926.1427(f). This language change therefore 
respects C-DAC's intent to prevent operators who have not acquired the 
baseline knowledge of crane operation provided by certification from 
performing these complex lifts, while allowing operators-in-training 
the opportunity to train performing these lifts under the direction of 
a trainer prior to being evaluated to perform these lifts as an 
operator. Note that the employer must still train the operator on these 
specialized lifts before allowing the operator to attempt them, even 
under supervision, because paragraph (b)(3) only permits the employer 
to assign tasks to an operator-in-training that are ``within the 
operator-in-training's ability.''
    Paragraph (b)(4) prescribes minimum requirements for monitored 
training of operators-in-training and trainers who monitor operators-
in-training. Revised (b)(4)(i) specifies requirements for the

[[Page 56212]]

required trainer which are similar to requirements in paragraph (f)(3) 
of the 2010 crane standard. Paragraph (b)(4)(i)(A), which requires that 
the trainer must be an employee or agent of the operator-in-training's 
employer, is identical to paragraph (f)(3)(i) of the 2010 crane 
standard.
    Paragraph (b)(4)(i)(B) requires that the trainer must ``have the 
knowledge, training, and experience necessary to direct the operator-
in-training on the equipment in use.'' This requirement is the same as 
the proposal but is different from the requirements of paragraph Sec.  
1926.1427(f)(3) of the 2010 crane standard, which required that a 
trainer either be a certified operator or have passed the written part 
of a certification test, and have familiarity with the equipment's 
controls. This revision recognizes that some uncertified trainers may 
have the knowledge and experience to be competent to teach or monitor 
the equipment operations of an operator-in-training.
    In the NPRM, OSHA explained that it proposed this change for three 
reasons. First, merely requiring that the trainer must have passed the 
written part of a certification test is insufficient to confirm a 
trainer's ability to train other operators. Paragraph (f)(3) of the 
2010 crane rule presumed that all certified operators or individuals 
who passed only written certification tests have the skills to monitor 
an operator-in-training, but as explained above, certification alone is 
insufficient to ensure that operators are competent to safely operate a 
crane. Under the final rule, even after the basic crane knowledge and 
operating skills of operators have been confirmed through certification 
testing, employers must still determine through evaluation if operator 
training already provided is sufficient or if more is necessary, based 
on the complexity of equipment that will be used and activity that will 
be performed. Thus, requiring an individual to pass a written 
certification exam appears to be likewise insufficient as the sole 
criterion for confirming a trainer's ability to monitor and train an 
operator-in-training.
    Second, using certification as a required criterion for the trainer 
could exclude individuals from the role who have extensive operating 
experience and familiarity with the controls of the relevant equipment 
but do not possess a certification. Under the trainer requirements of 
the 2010 crane rule, an experienced but uncertified operator may have 
been required to be monitored by a less experienced but certified 
individual. In stark contrast, an uncertified person who has 
significant experience operating the particular equipment used during 
the training may have more insight into the function of its controls 
and the nuances of its operation than someone who is certified for that 
type of equipment but has never operated that particular equipment. 
Allowing only certified operators in these training roles is also 
inconsistent with the industry practice of pairing inexperienced 
operators with experienced trainers who monitor the safety and 
professional development of the inexperienced operator.
    Third, passing a written certification test is not a definitive 
indicator of safe training practices in the industry and requiring 
certification of all trainers could significantly alter many previous 
work practices in the industry. Stakeholder feedback suggests that many 
different employees or agents of an employer successfully fulfill the 
role of a trainer but may not be certified. Some formal training might 
be administered by an individual who is not certified but has extensive 
knowledge of a particular make and model of crane. For example, some 
crane manufacturers offer technical training to their customers 
regarding the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of cranes 
they sell (see Reports # 4, 5, 13 of ID-0673). On-the-job training is 
often conducted by a seasoned crane operator with years of experience 
(see Reports # 1, 2, 19, 23, 28 of ID-0673) or in some cases by a 
retired operator (see Report # 26 of ID-0673). These operators may no 
longer be certified. In addition, an employer might employ various non-
certified employees, such as an experienced safety manager, foreman, or 
site manager, to monitor some work training activities, or an 
experienced small business owner might fill the role of trainer in some 
cases (see Reports # 1, 2, 15, 26 of ID-0673). And OSHA spoke with 
three companies that offer other employers private training from 
experienced operators who are not certified (see Reports # 20, 21, 22 
of ID-0673). In sum, stakeholders reported that some individuals who 
have the necessary knowledge, training, and experience but do not 
possess a certification or have not passed the written certification 
exam can, nevertheless, be successful trainers.
    In the proposed revision of this provision, OSHA proposed language 
similar to the requirement in ASME B30.5 (2014) at 5-3.1.2(e) that 
training must be performed by a ``designated person who, by experience 
and training, fulfills the requirements of a qualified person.'' The 
language is also similar to the ``qualified person'' definition that is 
familiar to the construction industry. Under this language, employers 
have some flexibility in determining the level of knowledge and 
experience that the trainer must possess based on the skill level of 
the operator-in-training and the nature of the activity performed.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ OSHA expects that in many cases, the trainer will possess a 
certification. However, this final rule allows the possibility that 
the trainer's experience with the task and equipment used could be 
sufficient for providing training even without the trainer 
possessing a certification.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA received comments supporting the proposed changes to the 
trainer criteria. A trade association agreed with the proposed language 
because it provides employers with ``flexibility in determining the 
level of knowledge and experience that the trainer must possess based 
on the skill level of the operator-in-training and the nature of the 
activity performed . . . even when the individual has not passed the 
written certification exam, possesses an operator certification, or has 
prior experience operating a crane'' (ID-1801). One commenter agreed 
with OSHA that certification or passing the written part of the 
certification test is not determinative of whether an individual can 
train an operator-in-training, stating that it ``fails as a measure of 
a trainer's competencies and capabilities'' (ID-1821). Similarly, a 
comment supporting the proposed language asserted that ``[t]he current 
requirement that trainers obtain certification or at least pass the 
written portion of the certification requirement does not necessarily 
correlate with the individual's ability to provide practical 
instruction or impart valuable knowledge to other employees'' (ID-
1631).
    A different commenter supported the ``requirement that the trainer 
should be a `qualified person,''' as defined in the cranes standard, 
without other requirements (ID-1828). OSHA believes that the proposed 
new language, which the commenter did not directly oppose, comes close 
to that approach while still providing the additional focus on the 
training.
    Several other commenters opposed the proposed change and preferred 
that the trainers at least pass the written portion of the 
certification exam. One commenter responded that trainers possessing 
certification have been ``a long established standard and best practice 
among the industry,'' and interprets ASME B30.5's term ``qualified 
operator'' to mean ``one who possesses a certification for the type of 
equipment for which he/she is instructing an operator-in-training'' 
(ID-1816). OSHA disagrees with that interpretation of

[[Page 56213]]

ASME B30.5 because that definition, like the definition of ``qualified 
person'' in OSHA's cranes standard, clearly states that certification 
is only one of two paths to become a qualified person.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See definition of ``qualified person'' in ASME B30.5 (2004) 
(``by possession of a recognized degree in an applicable field or 
certificate of professional standing, or who, by extensive 
knowledge, framing, and experience . . .'') (emphasis added).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    That commenter also compared operator certification to a driver's 
license and stated that ``one would not want a driving instructor who 
herself does not possess a driver's license,'' (id.), but there may be 
many reasons why an experienced crane operator may no longer possess a 
valid certification. Many seasoned crane operators who have safely 
operated cranes for decades have the knowledge, operating experience, 
and ability to effectively train and direct an inexperienced operator 
even though they never had a need to acquire a certification during the 
course of their operating careers or let their certifications expire 
after transitioning into new roles. Contrary to the commenter's 
assertion, the seasoned operator may be preferred as a trainer because 
of the greater experience, particularly if that experience is with the 
particular equipment that will be operated. OSHA concludes that the 
emphasis of the trainer qualifications should be on a person's ability 
to train and direct an operator-in-training, rather than whether the 
trainer possesses a certification.
    Another commenter stated that it is ``infeasible to consider how a 
trainer or evaluator can determine an operators qualifications if they 
have never operated a crane . . . OSHA should consider going to the 
original definition they are using for the trainer'' (ID-1623). That 
comment incorrectly assumes that trainers without a current 
certification, or those who have not passed the written portion of a 
certification exam, have not previously operated a crane. In some 
cases, the trainers may be retired or semi-retired operators who are 
fully capable of training other operators but who have not elected to 
take an operator certification examination because they no longer 
operate cranes. The record of the 2010 rulemaking and this rulemaking 
also contains a number of statements indicating that some employers 
have very experienced operators who have difficulty with written exams 
(see, e.g., 73 FR 59816-59817). In some cases, the language or literacy 
barriers that impede an experienced operator from passing a written 
exam may have no relevance to that person's ability to instruct an 
operator-in-training. OSHA does not agree that such a trainer should be 
disqualified from training an operator so long as there is effective 
communication between the operator-in-training and the trainer.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ A different membership organization agreed with OSHA's 
proposal and drew on its members' experience in using experienced 
but un-certified instructors. The commenter considered OSHA's 
revised language ``appropriate'' because members of their 
organization often assign as trainers experienced operators who may 
not have passed the written certification exam, but have more 
experience with the equipment than some certified operators. (See 
ID-1826). Not moving forward with the proposed language, this 
commenter warned, ``would prevent certain operators who are highly 
qualified, experienced and knowledgeable on certain equipment from 
serving as trainers'' (ID-1826).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One certification organization conceded that ``certification may 
not be an appropriate `sole' criterion or a sufficient indication of 
competence as a trainer,'' but contended that it is an ``appropriately 
necessary condition of establishing such competence and ensuring a 
`baseline' of knowledge and skills'' (ID-1755). That commenter 
suggested that OSHA go further than the previous rule and require that 
trainers be both certified and possess the requisite knowledge, 
training, and experience.
    OSHA does not agree that it is necessary to go as far as the 
commenter suggests in order to ensure that appropriate trainers are 
instructing operators-in-training. As stated earlier, OSHA anticipates 
that many trainers will be certified operators. As one commenter 
noticed, the proposed language ``does not preclude employers from 
following the existing trainer requirements if they so choose'' (ID-
1801). Moreover, a certification could provide partial evidence of the 
knowledge, training, and experience necessary to train an operator-in-
training, but is not sufficient for verifying competency and safe crane 
operation. The requirement for even a partially certified trainer would 
come at the price of excluding the experienced trainers currently 
relied on by the earlier commenter (ID-1826). The final rule will 
preserve greater flexibility for the employer seeking to ensure safety 
through available resources, and is also more closely aligned with the 
existing industry guidance in ASME B30.5.
    One of the certification organizations asserted that ``[r]equiring 
that a trainer have a baseline of knowledge and skills as an operator 
is likely, not only to improve the quality of training, but also to 
increase safety during training in the event the operator-in-training 
engages in an unsafe act and the trainer is forced to intervene'' (ID-
1755). The agency agrees that it is important for the trainer to be 
able to direct an operator-in-training should their operation 
potentially result in an incident or near miss and has included that 
requirement in the standard (``Have the knowledge, training, and 
experience necessary to direct the operator-in-training on the 
equipment in use''). But requiring that a trainer must have passed the 
written part of the certification test does not indicate that a trainer 
would be able to do more. OSHA's standard, both as revised and prior to 
this revision, does not permit anyone other than a certified operator 
to be at the controls absent supervision, so a trainer who has only 
passed the written exam would not be permitted to operate the crane 
without another person serving as a trainer to that person. It does not 
follow that a person who has passed the written portion of the 
certification exam, but not necessarily demonstrated any practical 
skill at operating a crane, would be inherently better prepared to 
correct an operator than a person who has the knowledge, training, and 
experience necessary to direct the operator-in-training on the 
equipment in use.
    It is true that a trainer who is a certified operator (and properly 
evaluated under the new standard) would be permitted to sit in the cab 
and take over the controls in the event of perceived unsafe action, but 
there is no record that this is a common occurrence or has been shown 
to be effective. In the absence of a clearer record on this point, OSHA 
is hesitant to disturb C-DAC's judgment that requiring all trainers to 
be fully certified operators was unnecessarily restrictive (see 75 FR 
48024). In its 2008 NPRM explanation of the trainer requirements, which 
were included without change in the final rule, OSHA acknowledged that 
full certification was unnecessary and explained that the trainer's 
knowledge of the particular equipment being operated was paramount to 
certification:

    The Committee determined that a supervisor who had passed the 
written portion of a certification test would not need to be 
sufficiently proficient to pass the practical portion in order to 
effectively supervise a trainee/apprentice. However, both in the 
instance where the supervisor is certified and in the instance where 
he/she is not certified but has passed the written portion of the 
certification test, the Committee believed that it is necessary that 
he/she be familiar with the proper use of the equipment's controls, 
since such knowledge is essential to being able to effectively 
supervise a trainee/apprentice.

    (73 FR 59815 (Oct. 9, 2008)). OSHA does not find any of the 
comments persuasive enough to further restrict

[[Page 56214]]

employer options or to shift the focus away from the trainer's 
knowledge of the equipment to be used by the operator-in-training.
    As stated previously, OSHA proposed language for its similarity to 
language from ASME B30.5 and OSHA's qualified person standard, and the 
flexibility it offers employers in choosing trainers for their crane 
operators. OSHA considered simply requiring a trainer to be a 
``qualified person,'' but relying solely on the definition of qualified 
person as criteria for trainers presents a problem. In Sec.  1926.1401, 
OSHA defines a qualified person as one ``who, by possession of a 
recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by 
extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated 
the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, 
the work, or the project.'' However, even under the previous standard 
OSHA did not intend for the possession of a certificate to be enough 
for an individual to be a trainer--the previous standard also required 
knowledge of the equipment's controls. Relying on the definition of 
``qualified person'' in the crane standard as the lone criteria for 
trainers would mean that anyone possessing a certificate would 
automatically be a ``qualified person,'' regardless of their knowledge 
of any of the controls or other aspects of the equipment to be 
operated. OSHA will retain its proposed language.
    The remainder of paragraph (b)(4) does not contain any substantive 
changes from the previous rule, did not receive any comments, and is 
promulgated as proposed. Paragraph (b)(4)(ii) prohibits the trainer 
from performing any task that detracts from his or her ability to 
monitor the operator-in-training. It is identical to previous paragraph 
(f)(3)(iii).
    Paragraph (b)(4)(iii) requires the operator's trainer and the 
operator-in-training to be in each other's direct line of sight, and 
that they communicate verbally or with hand signals. This requirement 
is substantively the same as previous paragraph (f)(3)(iv), with minor 
simplifying changes. The revised standard relocates this provision to 
an independent subparagraph to clarify that the employer has the 
ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with this requirement. 
This revised paragraph also retains an exception for tower cranes so 
that the trainer and operator-in-training must be in direct 
communication with each other, but are not required to maintain a 
direct line of sight because the height of the operator's station may 
make it infeasible. (See also, the discussion of previous paragraph 
(f)(3)(iv) in the preamble to the 2010 final crane rule at 75 FR 
48024.) This exclusion in this final rule is also substantively the 
same as paragraph (f)(3)(iv) of the 2010 crane rule, with minor 
simplifying language changes.
    Paragraph (b)(4)(iv) requires that an operator-in-training be 
monitored while operating the equipment at all times except for short 
breaks and retains the conditions specifying monitoring under paragraph 
(f)(4) of the 2010 crane rule. Paragraph (b)(4)(iv)(A) requires that a 
trainer's break while the operator-in-training runs the crane can last 
no longer than 15 minutes and can occur no more than once per hour. 
Paragraph (b)(4)(iv)(B) requires the employer to ensure that the 
trainer and operator-in-training communicate about the tasks, if any, 
that can and cannot be performed in the trainer's absence while on 
break. Paragraph (b)(4)(iv)(C) limits tasks performed during the 
trainer's break to only those that are within the abilities of the 
operator-in-training.
    Paragraph (b)(5) requires the employer to provide retraining when, 
based on the performance of the operator or an assessment of the 
operator's knowledge, there is an indication that retraining is 
necessary. This language is identical to the requirement in previous 
Sec.  1926.1430(g)(2) but is included in paragraph (b) to consolidate 
all substantive training requirements to the extent practical for 
operators covered under Sec.  1926.1427. Because the requirements of 
Sec.  1926.1430(g) apply more broadly to all employees covered by this 
standard, however, OSHA is not deleting that requirement from Sec.  
1926.1430(g). Thus, identical language will appear in two different 
paragraphs of the final standard. This retraining requirement is 
consistent with the retraining described as already implemented by 
employers who spoke with OSHA during interviews and site visits (see 
Reports # 1, 2, 3, 15, 18, 19, 22, 26 of ID-0673). Note that the need 
for retraining under paragraph (b)(5) would also trigger the 
requirement for re-evaluation under paragraph (f)(7) (see also preamble 
discussion below of paragraph (f)--Evaluation).
    OSHA received one substantive comment proposing revisions to the 
retraining requirements. The commenter recommends incorporating 
language from the Powered Industrial Trucks standard that states when 
retraining is necessary, including unsafe operation, an accident or 
near-miss, a failed evaluation, or insufficiency of training (ID-1719). 
OSHA does not believe this is necessary because the revised retraining 
requirements allow the employer to determine whether an operator needs 
additional training based on their performance and their knowledge. 
This final rule not only requires that retraining be triggered based on 
an operator's performance, but it also requires an employer to conduct 
retraining if the operator indicates it is necessary (see revised Sec.  
1926.1427(b)(5)). OSHA concludes that this approach gives employers 
more flexibility in determining when retraining is needed to ensure 
safety.
    One commenter also noted that OSHA uses the words ``retraining'' 
and ``refresher training'' interchangeably in proposed paragraph (b)(5) 
without defining either term, and requested clarification (ID-1719). 
Another commenter agreed that additional clarification would be 
helpful.\18\ In response to such comments, OSHA will replace the term 
``refresher training'' with ``retraining''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ ``OSHA discusses in detail an employer's obligation to 
provide ongoing training as necessary when an operator's experience 
expands or is assigned to operate new equipment or perform new 
tasks. However, this concept is not explicitly stated anywhere in 
the proposed regulatory text. Only refresher training, required when 
indicated by deficiencies in the employee's demonstrations of crane 
knowledge and equipment operation, is present in proposed paragraphs 
(b)(5) and (f)(5), which do not apply to new equipment or an 
expansion of experience. If OSHA's intent is to clarify an 
employer's obligation to provide ongoing training, we believe the 
proposed regulatory text fails to make this clear.'' (ID-1801). In 
response to the comment that OSHA does not explicitly include 
ongoing training provisions in the regulatory text, the agency 
disagrees. This requirement extends from the duty in paragraph 
(b)(1) that employers must train operators to ensure they have the 
knowledge, skills, and ability to recognize and avert risk necessary 
to operate the equipment safely for assigned work. This ongoing 
training requirement need not be restated elsewhere in the 
regulatory text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paragraph (c) Operator Certification and Licensing.

    At the ACCSH meeting on March 31-April 1, 2015, ACCSH members 
unanimously recommended that OSHA move forward with a rulemaking that 
retains certification and permanently extends the employer's duty to 
ensure the competency of operators (OSHA-2015-0002-0037). Paragraph (c) 
retains the certification and licensing structure of the 2010 crane 
standard with only a few minor modifications intended to improve 
comprehension of certification/licensing requirements.
    First, OSHA moved the military qualification provisions of previous 
Sec.  1926.1427(e)(4) to the exception in paragraph (a), as noted 
earlier.
    Second, OSHA removed the reference to an ``option'' with respect to 
mandatory compliance with previous state and local licensing 
requirements.

[[Page 56215]]

When a state or local government issues operator licenses for equipment 
covered under subpart CC, and that government licensing program meets 
the requirements specified in the standard, then employers must ensure 
that equipment operators are properly licensed when working in the 
state or local jurisdiction, even if the operator is also certified by 
a nationally accredited certification organization. However, the state 
or local license would satisfy OSHA's certification requirement: OSHA 
will not require an operator who obtains such a state or local license 
to also obtain a separate certification from a nationally accredited 
certification organization or an employer-audited program.
    The content of revised paragraph (c)(1) is virtually identical to 
provisions in Sec.  1926.1427(e)(2) of the 2010 crane rule, with one 
exception: Revised (c)(1)(v). For a more detailed explanation of the 
other provisions in this paragraph, see the preamble discussion of 
Sec.  1926.1427(e)(2) in the 2010 crane rule at 75 FR 48021-23 (August 
9, 2010).
    As in the 2010 crane standard, this final rule includes minimum 
``federal floor'' criteria for state and local crane operator 
licensing. If a license does not meet the minimum ``federal floor'' 
criteria specified in OSHA's crane standard (see revised Sec.  
1427(c)(1) and (j)), then the state or locality could still enforce its 
own licensing requirements, but employers operating cranes for 
construction within that jurisdiction could not rely on that license to 
satisfy OSHA's operator certification requirement. The employer must 
then comply with one of the other options for certification/
qualification specified by this final rule. In the NPRM, OSHA proposed 
amending Sec.  1926.1427(c)(1)(v) to add a new requirement to the 
``federal floor'': The license must specify the ``type, or type and 
capacity'' of equipment for which the license is applicable. The 
purpose of this proposed change was to make it easier to determine 
whether the licensing procedure required the operator to have knowledge 
about the ``type'' of crane to be operated, as required by OSHA's 
standard in Sec.  1926.1427(j)(1).
    OSHA received three comments (ID-1611, 1779, 1824) warning that 
inserting any additional requirements into the ``federal floor'' for 
state or local licenses could make it more likely that some states or 
localities would not meet that ``federal floor.'' For employers in 
jurisdictions where the state or local licensing program did not comply 
with the federal floor, they would need to ensure that their operators 
were not only licensed as required by the state or locality but also 
certified through a third-party program or audited employer program in 
order to comply with OSHA's standard. One commenter expressed concern 
that OSHA's proposed change would result in ``duplicative or multiple 
layers of identical certification requirements'' for employers, and 
that a change designed primarily to facilitate compliance (rather than 
to add a substantive safety requirement) would not warrant the 
potential impact for employers (ID-1779). ``Provided that the state or 
local licensing requirement is in fact equivalent or more stringent 
than the OSHA expectation of determining competency,'' the commenter 
stated, ``then duplicative certification is unduly burdensome, 
especially for small businesses'' (Id.).
    OSHA is sensitive to concerns raised about unnecessary regulatory 
duplication, particularly when the purpose of the change is to 
facilitate compliance rather than adding a new safety measure. To avoid 
needless burden, OSHA has decided not to implement the proposed change. 
Proposed paragraph (c)(1)(v) has been removed and proposed paragraph 
(c)(1)(vi) is designated (c)(1)(v).
    The remainder of the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) are 
substantively the same as those in Sec.  1926.1427(a)(1), (a)(2), and 
(e) of the previous rule, except that OSHA combined the requirements of 
those three paragraphs into one paragraph and clarified some of the 
language to facilitate better comprehension of state or local 
government entity requirements. Paragraph (c) restates more clearly the 
requirement in previous paragraph (a)(1) that the employer must ensure 
operators are certified and licensed. Paragraph (c)(1) substantially 
incorporates the requirements of previous paragraph (a)(1)(i) and 
combines it with the licensing criteria in previous paragraph 
(e)(2)(i)-(iv). Paragraph (c)(1)(v) is substantially the same as 
previous paragraph (e)(3)(ii).
    Paragraph (c)(2) specifies the certification requirements for two 
remaining situations: The construction occurs in a state or local 
jurisdiction that does not require licensing of equipment operators, or 
the construction occurs in a state or local jurisdiction where the 
licensing program does not meet the ``federal floor'' of requirements 
established in this standard. In each of those situations, the operator 
would have to be certified in accordance with paragraph (d) (third-
party certification) or (e) (audited employer program) of this section. 
Paragraph (c)(2) is identical to previous Sec.  1926.1427(a)(2), except 
that it references only the paragraphs containing criteria for 
certification by an accredited testing organization and an audited 
employer program--and not the option for qualification by the U.S. 
military which is addressed as a scope exclusion in Paragraph (a)(3). 
Revised paragraphs (d) and (e), discussed later, correspond to previous 
paragraphs Sec.  1926.1427 (b) and (c), respectively.
    Paragraph (c)(3) requires employers to provide at no cost to 
employees the certification or licensing required by Sec.  1926.1427. 
This revised requirement is almost identical to that of Sec.  
1926.1427(a)(4) of the previous rule, except that it has been revised 
to clarify that it applies to all operators certified or licensed after 
the effective date of the new standard, not just those operators who 
were ``employed by the employer on November 8, 2010,'' as previous 
Sec.  1926.1427(a)(4) stated.\19\ This revision is in line with, and 
will be enforced similarly to, other OSHA provisions that require 
employers to provide personal protective equipment, medical 
examinations, or other functions at no cost to the employees. The 
requirement would also be consistent with the way in which OSHA 
assessed costs in the 2010 economic analysis. In the final economic 
analysis of subpart CC, OSHA modeled all of the costs for compliance 
with the previous certification requirements as if all employers always 
paid for the certifications/licenses they provide for operators. Note, 
however, that this provision does not mandate an employer to maintain 
its employment of an employee/operator who cannot pass certification 
testing or who is not a good operator candidate. Furthermore, an 
employee who does not possess a certification may still be allowed by 
the employer to operate a crane, but only as an operator-in-training 
and through the employer's compliance with all requirements of 
paragraph (b) of this section.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ As in previous Sec.  1926.1427(a)(4), revised paragraph 
(c)(3) does not require employers to cover the costs to employees of 
licensing that does not conform to the requirements of Sec.  
1926.1427.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Paragraph (c)(4) retains, without change, the content of previous 
Sec.  1926.1427(g), which states that a testing entity is permitted to 
provide training as well as testing services as long as the criteria of 
the applicable accrediting agency (in the option selected) for an 
organization providing both services are met.

[[Page 56216]]

Paragraph (d)--Certification by an Accredited Crane Operator Testing 
Organization.

    As noted above, paragraph (c)(2) provides two options for 
certification: Compliance with paragraph (d) (third-party 
certification) or paragraph (e) (audited employer program). Compliance 
with the requirements of paragraph (d) is the option that OSHA expects 
the vast majority of employers to use. Paragraph (d) retains, with some 
non-substantive language clarification and two exceptions discussed 
below, the requirements of previous paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(b) and is 
unchanged from the proposal.
    First, the most significant change is that paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(B) 
replaces the references to certification by ``type and capacity'' that 
appeared in previous paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(B) with ``type, or type and 
capacity,'' as recommended by ACCSH (see OSHA-2015-0002-0037 pg. 71). 
OSHA has therefore also reworded previous paragraph Sec.  
1926.1427(b)(1)(ii)(B) to remove the requirement that an operator's 
certificate list a lifting capacity for which the operator was 
certified. The need for these changes is explained in the ``Need for a 
Rule'' section of this preamble. These revisions remove the requirement 
to obtain a certification for a designated crane capacity, but also 
clarify in the regulatory text that OSHA considers testing 
organizations whose programs provide certifications that specify ``type 
and capacity'' equally acceptable.
    The ``type, or type and capacity'' language was requested by Crane 
Institute Certification and recommended by ACCSH. Several other 
commenters also made this request (OSHA-2015-0002-0036). The language 
has been included in the final rule to make clear that while all 
certifying bodies must certify by type of crane for their 
certifications to meet OSHA's requirements, testing organizations may 
also choose to specify for their certifications different levels of 
rated lifting capacity of cranes.
    As explained in the section Elimination of the Requirement to 
Certify Based on Capacity of Crane of this final rule, almost all the 
comments received relating to the proposed removal of the requirement 
to certify by capacity were in favor of its removal. The commenters 
were split, however, on whether OSHA should keep the ``type, or type 
and capacity'' language in the regulatory text. One of those commenters 
specifically requested OSHA to keep the proposed language because many 
of its members ``currently require certification by type and capacity, 
and have expressed that they find both types of certification to be 
beneficial to establishing a baseline operator competency,'' and added 
that this language ``will help alleviate confusion about the changes to 
the requirement and allow employers to maintain their current 
certification requirements as they see fit'' (ID-1735). The one 
commenter who opposed OSHA's decision to remove the requirement for 
certification by capacity concluded that if OSHA did remove that 
requirement, then ACCSH's recommended language of ``type, or type and 
capacity'' should stay in the rule (ID-1235).
    The agency also received comments requesting that OSHA not include 
the language ``or type and capacity'' in the standard. Two of these 
comments were submitted by certification bodies that currently provide 
certification by type only. Both believe removing this language will 
add clarity and reduce confusions among the regulated community (ID-
1755 and 1816). One of them is concerned that keeping the language will 
inaccurately convey that ``the only options for certification are 
either (a) by type, or (b) by type and capacity,'' whereas ``testing 
organizations may in fact seek to consider factors other than `type' '' 
or capacity when developing operator certification programs (ID-1755). 
A different commenter believes removing the reference to capacity 
``does not restrict crane certifying bodies from certifying according 
to capacity should they so choose'' (ID-1611). Another commenter 
suggested OSHA revise the proposed language to require certification 
``by type and/or type and capacity'' (ID-1828).
    OSHA has decided to retain the proposed ``type, or type and 
capacity'' language for paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(B) because it makes it 
clear that the agency will accept certifications that are otherwise 
compliant with the standard from any of the four accredited 
certification bodies of which OSHA is aware. OSHA does not believe that 
including this language will lead to confusion in the industry because, 
currently, certifications are offered by type or type and capacity. 
None of the comments recommending the removal of certification 
expressed any confusion about including this language.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ The requested revision that the language read ``by type 
and/or type and capacity'' creates confusion because it could be 
read as requiring an employer to have either a certification by 
``type'' or ``type and capacity'' or to have two certifications--one 
by ``type'' and another by ``type and capacity.'' OSHA's revised 
language makes clear that, for a certification to be compliant with 
OSHA standards, the certification must, at the very least, include 
the type of crane on which the operator was certified. Furthermore, 
retaining this language is responsive to the recommendation from 
ACCSH.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the revision does not include the reference in previous 
Sec.  1926.1427(b)(2) to an employee being ``deemed qualified'' to 
operate equipment under certain conditions if no accredited testing 
organization offers certification examinations for a specific type of 
equipment. A credentialing organization suggested that OSHA ``remove 
misconceptions regarding what it means to be `certified' '' by 
replacing ``deemed certified'' with ``deemed to have complied with the 
certification requirements of this section'' because it is ``more 
precise while remaining entirely consistent with the language currently 
proposed by OSHA'' (ID-1668). OSHA agrees with the commenter and is 
revising the regulatory text to adopt their suggested language. This 
change is intended to avoid the misconception that an operator could be 
considered competent to safely operate equipment without also being 
evaluated and determined competent by the operator's employer.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ OSHA had included the ``deemed qualified'' language simply 
as a means of clarifying that an operator would be considered 
qualified to operate a crane of the same capacity or less than the 
one on which the operator was tested. The use of ``qualified'' 
instead of ``certified'' at that time was meant to reflect the 
varying paths to compliance with the standard: Certification through 
a third party or employer-audited program, or other qualification 
through a state or licensing program or meeting the requirements 
specified by the U.S. military. In this final rule, OSHA has 
clarified the language by replacing ``deemed qualified'' with 
``deemed to have complied with the certification requirements of 
this section.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All other provisions in paragraph (d) are unchanged from previous 
paragraph (b), and discussion and justification of these provisions can 
be found in the preamble to the 2010 final cranes rule (75 FR 48017).
    A labor union commented that paragraph (d)(2) should be revised to 
establish a benchmark for the types of cranes for which a separate 
certification is required. They argue that without a benchmark, OSHA 
will be ``effectively delegating to an accredited testing organizations 
responsibility for determining the number of types of cranes for which 
a separate certification is required . . . .'' This concerns the 
organization because ``for-profit testing organizations, which benefit 
financially from an increased number of mandatory certifications, have 
an incentive to develop testing for additional types of crane, 
regardless of whether extra testing will improve safety'' (ID-1719). 
They propose that operators of

[[Page 56217]]

equipment for which there is no certification must still be certified 
on the equipment most similar to the equipment they will operate, but 
only if a national consensus standard does not recommend a separate 
certification for the equipment. In explaining their reliance on 
national consensus standards for making this determination, they point 
to the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operator's 
(NCCCO) Crane Type Advisory Group, a group that has yet to publish a 
standard but is considering ``the skill sets required to operate 
various types of cranes for which separate certifications are not 
offered and a comparison of those skill sets to determine if they are 
already encompassed in existing testing (ID-1719).
    OSHA explained its rationale in the preamble of the 2010 cranes 
rule for including similar language in previous Sec.  1926.1427(b)(2). 
When OSHA was informed that there were not certification tests for a 
number of cranes, it decided to add ``flexibility in the certification 
requirement to deal with specialized types of cranes or newly developed 
equipment for which certification examinations might not be 
available.'' (75 FR 48018). To do this, OSHA applied C-DAC's proposed 
requirement for dedicated pile drivers--that operators be certified on 
the equipment most similar to the equipment they operated if there was 
no available certification test for the equipment they operated. OSHA 
has not adopted the recommendation of the labor union (ID-1719) because 
the agency does not believe it is in the best position to determine the 
various types of cranes for which certifications should be necessary. 
It would be unwise for OSHA to consider a major change to the standard 
before the NCCCO Crane Type Advisory Group concludes its work, which 
could include a consensus standard that identifies crane types that 
require a similar skillset and knowledge to operate.
    OSHA requested comment on whether it should delete the requirement 
for operator recertification every five years, which was proposed as 
Sec.  1926.1427(d)(4). OSHA mostly received comments in support of 
retaining the recertification requirement. One certification 
organization was not convinced that retraining and re-evaluation are 
sufficient substitutes for recertification. The commenter contrasted 
the retraining and re-evaluation requirements with recertification, 
asserting that:

    Recertification procedures of an accredited certification 
program are, by their nature, subject to standardized psychometric 
rigor and impartiality. By incorporating the rigorous test 
development and administration standards required by accrediting 
bodies, recertification requirements provide substantial benefits 
that are likely to enhance public confidence and improve safety at 
the worksite.

(ID-1755). Similarly, a different commenter warned:

    Remanding the recertification process to the discretion of 
employers will result in inconsistencies in how operators are 
assessed on their continuing knowledge and skills as well as an 
increased risk of endangering the public. As operators move between 
employers, there will be confusion in the marketplace about skill 
levels, the potential need for costly retraining, and increased 
safety concerns.

(ID-1668). A consultant added that ``[r]ecertifying by 3rd party is 
completely unbiased,'' and focuses on new information that may not be 
conveyed during an evaluation (ID-1764). Another commenter expressed 
concern about relying on retraining in lieu of recertification, arguing 
that ``a training program does not indicate skill mastery or competency 
as measured against a defensible set of standards set through an 
industry-wide process'' (ID-1150).
    Many commenters agreed that recertification was necessary to 
continue establishing a baseline knowledge of crane operation (ID-1150, 
1719, 1744, 1755, 1768, 1816, 1828). For example, one commenter stated 
certification is an ongoing process and recertification is necessary 
for an operator to maintain the knowledge and skills necessary for safe 
crane operation because ``unused skills atrophy and there are ever-
evolving technological changes in newly-manufactured cranes and 
periodic regulatory changes'' (ID-1719). To this point, a certification 
body submitted comments that at least 3,755 certified operators have 
failed their recertification exams, operators that ``[i]f OSHA were to 
delete the requirement for operator recertification every five years . 
. . would be legally able to continue operating cranes--even though an 
independent, third-party assessment would have determined them to lack 
the baseline competence to do so'' (ID-1755).
    Additionally, many of the comments supportive of keeping the 
recertification requirement pointed out accreditation organizations 
ANSI and NCCA require recertification as part of an accredited 
certification program (ID-1150, 1668, 1719, 1744, 1755, 1794, 1816, 
1828). An affiliate of one of these organizations commented that ISO 
17024, a consensus standard ``recognized by several federal agencies as 
a requirement for credentialing organizations that offer 
certification,'' requires recertification (ID-1150). Another comment 
noted that many states and localities also require recertification of 
crane operators (ID-1719).
    Some supporters of the recertification requirement recommended that 
OSHA also require a set number of hours an operator must spend gaining 
experience with the crane prior to recertifying. One of these 
commenters explained that each certification body requires an operator 
to document 1,000 hours of ``crane-related experience'' in the five 
years prior to recertification and, accordingly, recommended that OSHA 
require operators attempting to recertify to meet this standard (ID-
1816). During its 2010 rulemaking, OSHA considered and rejected a 
nearly identical request for seat-hour-requirements (75 FR 48019).
    The record amply demonstrates the sufficiency of the accreditation 
process that must be passed for a testing organization to become 
accredited. That process is designed to ensure that accredited testing 
organizations use a sufficiently reliable process for certifying 
operators. The record also shows that such a mechanism is an effective 
one for determining operator competence . . . . There is insufficient 
information in the record to include an additional requirement for 
1,000 hours of ``crane related experience . . . .'' The commenter does 
not specify what should be included in ``crane related experience,'' or 
why 1,000 hours would be the appropriate amount of such experience for 
this purpose.'' (75 FR 48019). The commenter has not presented any new 
evidence to persuade OSHA to change its position. If all accrediting 
bodies did require the certification bodies they accredit to include a 
minimum amount of time for ``crane related experience,'' then the 
commenter would not need to ask OSHA to mandate that requirement. Even 
after nearly a decade following OSHA's consideration of that point in 
the 2010 rulemaking, the prominent accrediting bodies that accredit the 
four major crane certification organizations have not imposed this 
approach. OSHA continues to rely on the accreditation process to 
determine whether, based on analytics and careful scientific study of 
the issue, recertification requires a prescribed number of hours 
gaining experience with the equipment. If the accrediting bodies 
determine it is necessary, then they will presumably require the 
certification organizations to

[[Page 56218]]

include it as part of their testing criteria. The agency believes there 
is insufficient evidence in the record to support such a new 
requirement, especially one that may be very onerous on crane operators 
who may not have the opportunity to gain 1,000 hours experience with 
the equipment.
    Another commenter recommended language that would allow a minimum 
number of hours of crane experience to substitute for the practical 
recertification test, also citing the 1,000 hours of ``industry 
experience'' as a threshold accredited testing organizations accept in 
place of retaking the practical test (ID-1719). The commenter also 
cites state laws that require recertification, but those requirements 
vary vastly. For example, while California requires operators to 
recertify every five years and have 1,000 hours operating experience on 
the crane for which recertification is sought, Washington only requires 
that a certification be renewed to ensure operators maintain qualified 
operator status (ID-1719). Similarly, a different commenter opposed a 
recertification requirement because ``if an operator has been operating 
safely for five years, there is no need to recertify'' (ID-1615). The 
commenter continued, stating ``most employers provide their operators 
with updates on new equipment and changes to government regulations'' 
(ID-1615).
    OSHA is not persuaded that merely gaining ``industry experience'' 
for a certain number of hours, without any true measure of the safety 
of operation during that period, or operating ``safely'' for five 
years, should replace a third-party validation of the operator's 
knowledge, skills, and abilities. Besides the vagaries of ``crane 
experience'' and ``industry experience'' already noted in response to 
the prior commenter, as well as the subjective nature of ``operating 
safely,'' OSHA notes the previously discussed comments from the 
certification organization about the importance of staying abreast of 
``ever-evolving technological changes in newly-manufactured cranes and 
periodic regulatory changes,'' as well as the 3,755 certified operators 
who failed their recertification exams but would otherwise have been 
legally able to continue operating cranes (ID-1755). Even if ``most'' 
employers do actually provide their operators with updates on equipment 
and changes in regulations, it is not clear that the operators 
comprehend those changes, and it does not take into account the 
operators who are not fortunate enough to work for employers that 
provide these updates. The fact that an operator has logged 1,000 hours 
or five years in the cab of a crane, even without injury, does not mean 
that the operator is aware of technological and regulatory changes that 
have occurred during that period, that the operator has operated 
without near misses or other issues, or that the next hazard the 
operator faces will not result in injury.
    Another commenter urged removal of the recertification requirement, 
stating that recertification is unnecessary because it is duplicative 
of the refresher training provided to crane operators at regular 
intervals in their industry (ID-1631). As OSHA explained in the 2010 
rulemaking, ``the rulemaking record shows that a training requirement 
alone is insufficient to ensure that crane operators have the requisite 
level of competence,'' and cannot substitute for third-party validation 
of the operator's comprehension of that training (75 FR 48013).
    OSHA agrees with the comments submitted in support of retaining the 
recertification requirement. As the agency has previously concluded, 
certification is a necessary component for safe crane operation. 
Recertification establishes a standardized, baseline knowledge of 
equipment operation for operators and indicates to an employer that a 
certified operator has at least a certain knowledge of how to operate a 
crane. Recertification helps to ensure that an operator does not lose 
this baseline knowledge over time. It also helps to ensure continuing 
education for certified operators so they are aware of any regulatory 
changes that impact their work. The agency believes there are some 
employers that would find it difficult to make sure their operators are 
up to date on changes to equipment and updates to regulations that 
affect their operation unless they had the ability to have their 
operators recertified. Therefore, OSHA is retaining the requirement for 
recertification as proposed.

Paragraph (e) Audited Employer Program

    The substantive content of paragraph (e) is the same as previous 
Sec.  1926.1427(c), and it is promulgated as proposed. It sets out the 
parameters for a nonportable certification program administered by the 
employer and audited by a third party. The changes to the regulatory 
text for the audited employer program are the removal of the word 
``qualification'' and the replacement of three cross references with 
updated references to their new locations in the revised standard.
    OSHA has removed reference to ``qualification'' from the heading of 
the paragraph. It has been removed to avoid the misconception by some 
that the term signaled full competency, rather than its intended 
meaning as an equivalent to certification. The employer-audited program 
will continue to be an alternative to certification by an independent 
third party.
    Three cross references have also been changed. First, the reference 
in previous Sec.  1926.1427(c)(1)(i) to ``paragraph (b)'' was revised 
to ``paragraph (d)'' in the updated rule. Second, the reference in 
previous Sec.  1926.1427(c)(1)(ii)(A) to ``paragraph (b)'' was revised 
to ``paragraph (d).'' Finally, the reference in previous Sec.  
1926.1427(c)(4) to ``paragraphs (c)(1) and (2)'' was revised to 
``paragraphs (e)(1) and (2).'' OSHA did not receive any comments to the 
proposed changes to this paragraph.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ OSHA received one comment asking the agency to make the 
audited employer program ``more feasible,'' by ``expand[ing] its 
definition of `auditor' so that more accredited auditing 
organizations are available as resources to meet the requirements of 
this option,'' even asking OSHA to designate staff to audit employer 
programs (ID-1647). The commenter asserted that OSHA's standard 
requires an audited employer program to use tests developed by an 
accredited crane operator testing organization and to obtain 
approval from an auditor certified by an accredited crane operator 
testing organization to evaluate these tests. The commenter stated 
that this creates ``a conflict of interest for the crane operator 
testing organization to the detriment of the audited employer 
program option. As long as all auditing must go through one of these 
three organizations, there is little incentive for them to approve 
or audit an employer program since such auditing would remove 
certification candidates from their own programs'' (ID-1647).
     In the NPRM, OSHA explained that it was proposing only minimal 
changes to the audited-employer program provisions--the removal of 
``qualification'' and the updating of cross-references--and 
requested commented on the ``proposed variations from the existing 
Sec.  1926.1427(c).'' The comment discussed above is not responsive 
to that request because its suggestion is outside the scope of the 
proposed variations from existing Sec.  1926.1427(c). Furthermore, 
OSHA proposed and finalized this requirement in the 2010 cranes 
standard based largely on C-DAC's recommendation ``that independent, 
third-party involvement was needed to ensure the reliability and 
integrity of any testing program.'' (75 FR 48020). Relying on the 
written and practical tests developed by an accredited crane 
operating testing organization or an auditor's approval that these 
tests meet industry recognized criteria ensures that operators 
certified under this section have the baseline knowledge of safe 
crane operation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, in Sec.  1926.1427(e)(5), OSHA explains what an employer 
must do in the event an auditor discovers a significant deficiency in 
an employer's operator qualification program. OSHA considers a 
significant deficiency anything that would result in an employer-
audited program being noncompliant. For example, failure to meet 
requirements listed in Sec.  1926.1427(e)(1)-(4) would result in a

[[Page 56219]]

significant deficiency that would trigger the requirements in Sec.  
1926.1427(e)(5).

Paragraph (f) Evaluation

    Paragraph (f) sets out specific requirements that employers must 
follow to conduct an operator evaluation, including evaluation 
criteria, minimum qualifications for the person conducting the 
evaluation, documentation, and re-evaluation requirements.
    The rationale for the evaluation requirement is explained earlier 
in the ``Need for a Rule'' section of this preamble; the discussion 
here focuses on OSHA's rationale for when and how the evaluations will 
be conducted. OSHA's goal in paragraph (f) is to give employers 
flexibility to conduct evaluations in the course of normal business, 
but at the same time to provide enough specificity to ensure that an 
evaluation satisfies the minimum criteria necessary for the safe 
operation of cranes by operators.
    Paragraph (f)(1) requires employers to evaluate their operators and 
specifies the two goals of the evaluation: Ensure that the operator has 
(1) the ability to safely perform the assigned work, and (2) the 
necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and avert risks 
in order to safely operate the actual equipment that will be used. 
These performance-based evaluations are intended to be more directly 
focused on the operator's ability to perform assigned work than the 
general knowledge and skills tested during the certification process. 
In paragraph (f)(1)(i), OSHA provides a list of performance-based 
criteria to ensure that the evaluation encompasses various aspects of 
the equipment, such as safety devices, operational aids, software, and 
the size and configuration of the equipment. Paragraph (f)(1)(ii) 
focuses on the importance of the operator's ability to perform specific 
tasks, such as blind lifts, personnel hoisting, and multi-crane lifts.
    In developing the performance-based evaluation criteria, OSHA 
considered the training requirements in the powered industrial truck 
operator training standard at subpart O--Motor Vehicles, Mechanized 
Equipment, and Marine Operations, Sec.  1926.602(d), which incorporates 
the requirements of Sec.  1910.178(l). That standard requires the 
employer to evaluate a powered industrial truck operator's performance 
as it relates to several topics at least once every three years. 
Powered industrial trucks share many of the same operating hazards as 
cranes, such as those related to ground conditions, load limits, and 
hazards in the area surrounding the equipment. But powered industrial 
trucks are generally far less complex, smaller, and less hazardous 
pieces of equipment in terms of the extent to which they expose other 
employees to their risks.
    Almost all employers who spoke with OSHA said that, when they 
observe operators handling loads at construction worksites, they can 
tell whether the operators appear competent (Reports #1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 
10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 of ID-0673). These 
employers are accustomed to assessing operator skills because having 
competent operators that can safely and productively handle loads 
quickly, smoothly, and without corrections, eliminates injuries and 
reduces costs.
    A number of commenters provided suggestions about the language of 
the evaluation requirement in Sec.  1926.1427(f). Commenters expressed 
support for providing flexibility for employers, as opposed to trying 
to specify a definitive list of evaluation criteria in the regulatory 
text. As OSHA explained in the NPRM, it would be very difficult, if not 
impossible, to specify in regulatory text a definitive list of minimum 
equipment characteristics that an operator competency evaluation must 
cover to ensure operators are competent to safely operate equipment in 
all of its possible configurations. However, there was significant 
disagreement among commenters about the extent of the flexibility and 
guidance that OSHA should provide.
    Three industry associations supported the language proposed by 
OSHA. One of these commenters found the proposed language 
``sufficiently flexible'' because it contains phrases such as 
``includes but is not limited to'' and ``including, if applicable'' 
(ID-1611). A different commenter praised OSHA's proposed text and urged 
the agency to ``maintain this flexibility in the final rule so that 
employers have the ability to continue their existing programs or craft 
new programs that meet the needs of their company's workplace'' (ID-
1735). Another of those commenters appreciated the fact that the 
language is ``general and not exhaustive'' because ``[a]ny attempt to 
develop an exhaustive list of factors runs the risk of including 
factors that are not relevant, leaving out factors that are important, 
and `freezing' the list in time requiring a rulemaking process to 
update the list as technology develops and industry practice changes . 
. . the employer should have the discretion to develop its own list of 
factors affecting an operator's ability to safely operate equipment'' 
(ID-1779).
    AGC of Texas (ID-1615), expressed concern that OSHA's proposed 
language would require too many evaluations:

    As written this requirement is infeasible. Cranes have multiple 
configurations (counterweight, attachments, boom configurations 
etc.) as well as capacities based on these and the radius of any 
given lift. It is not possible to evaluate an operator on each 
potential configuration that could be encountered throughout the 
day. Set up/configuration will vary dependent on the work involved 
and will be job specific so this will vary from job to job. Rarely 
if ever would the required components for every possible 
configuration of any given crane be available on a job . . . . The 
(f) Evaluation section of the rule as written makes it nearly 
impossible for an employer to evaluate operators on each machine and 
it's [sic] many different capacities and configurations prior to any 
given lift in a timely and efficient manner.

    OSHA understands the concern about an excessive number of 
evaluations, but the agency disagrees that its revised standard would 
require the frequency of evaluation suggested by the commenter. For 
example, the standard does not require operators to be evaluated on 
``every possible configuration of any given crane.'' Later in this 
preamble section OSHA provides additional guidance about when 
evaluations are required, and when they are not.
    Associated General Contractors (AGC, ID 1801) expressed its 
preference for retaining the existing language in Sec.  1926.1427(k). 
The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) agreed, 
asserting that ``[t]here is no supporting evidence indicating employers 
are not fulfilling their obligations to train and evaluate their 
operators for the cranes to which they are assigned. As such, there is 
no need for further clarification, requirements or language'' (ID-
1828). SC&RA went on to advocate for slightly different language (see 
the discussion of the ACCSH proposal in the next paragraphs).
    As OSHA explained in the NPRM, the agency does not agree that the 
employer duty under prior Sec.  1926.1427(k) provided sufficient 
direction to employers. That language was intended originally only as a 
temporary measure to preserve the pre-2010 status quo pending the 
application of the certification requirement and was drawn from the 
language in Sec.  1926.20(b)(4) (``The employer shall permit only those 
employees qualified by training or experience to operate equipment and 
machinery''). Part of the genesis for the 2010 final rule was that OSHA 
had concerns about relying primarily on the general guidance in Sec.  
1926.20(b)(4) rather than more clearly defined measures specific to 
crane operators, noting that C-DAC had

[[Page 56220]]

implicitly deemed it insufficient for operator safety by recommending a 
new standard.
    The Coalition for Crane Operator Safety (ID-1744), a group of 
national labor, construction management, equipment manufacturers and 
distributors, insurance underwriters and accredited certification 
organizations, and two of its members writing separately (Specialized 
Carriers & Rigging Association, ID 1828 and William Smith, ID 1623), as 
well as the North America's Building Trades Union (ID-1768), advocated 
for OSHA to adopt ACCSH-recommended language. ACCSH recommended that 
OSHA replace the entire evaluation requirement with an employer duty to 
``ensure that operators of equipment covered by this standard meet the 
definition of a qualified person in Sec.  1926.1401 to operate the 
equipment safely.'' These commenters did not respond, however, to 
OSHA's explanation in the NPRM (83 FR 23556) that this approach would 
fail to accomplish the purpose of additional evaluation beyond 
certification. Relying on the definition of a ``qualified person,'' 
which can be met in some cases solely through ``possession of a . . . 
certificate,'' would return the standard to the inadequate 
``certification only'' approach that prompted the same commenters to 
urge OSHA to propose the permanent employer evaluation duty in the 
first place (ID-0670). Under this approach, an operator would become 
both certified and a ``qualified person'' through the completion of a 
certification test. Nor did the commenters respond to OSHA's 
explanation that the ACCSH language fails to provide employers with 
``sufficient specifics to ensure operator competence,'' including the 
``specific step[s]'' that an employer must take to ``qualify'' 
operators.
    Mr. Smith also expressed concern that the evaluation OSHA proposed 
``is flawed because there are no standards for the industry to follow 
in the evaluation therefore each evaluator will do it differently. The 
results will be ambiguous at best because there is no baseline to 
consider for qualifications'' (ID-1623). OSHA recognizes that employer 
evaluations may not be uniform. That is the tradeoff for allowing the 
flexibility that OSHA has allowed employers in the standard. However, 
OSHA expects that the criteria it has included in the regulatory text, 
as well as the examples it provides in this preamble, will provide 
meaningful markers for effective evaluations to ensure safety. OSHA 
also notes that this commenter's concern about insufficient 
specification of criteria in the regulatory text supports, rather than 
contradicts, OSHA's decision not to adopt the more simplified 
regulatory text proposed by ACCSH that he recommends.
    AGC (ID-1801) offered alternative regulatory text that modified and 
combined paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (ii) into a single paragraph (f)(1) 
stating, ``Through an evaluation, the employer must ensure that each 
operator demonstrates the skills, knowledge, and ability necessary to 
operate the equipment safely for the assigned work or task.''
    While OSHA views this approach as more workable than relying on the 
definition of a ``qualified person'' because it retains the goals of 
the evaluation, the agency is concerned that this alternative still 
lacks the level of specificity necessary to provide effective guidance 
to employers.
    One local chapter of a member of the Crane Safety Coalition, the 
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE Local 49) (ID-1719), 
provided a separate comment that included a different alternative that 
OSHA believes would be a better bridge between the ACCSH proposal and 
OSHA's proposed text. In its comment, IUOE acknowledged OSHA's prior 
rationale for rejecting the ``qualified person'' approach and responded 
with a combination of the ACCSH recommendation and OSHA's proposed 
text:

     Evaluation. Through an evaluation, the employer must 
ensure that each operator is qualified by a demonstration of: * * * 
[The skills, knowledge, and the ability to recognize and avert risk 
necessary to operate the equipment safely, including . . . . The 
ability to perform the hoisting activities required for assigned 
work, including . . . .]

    This alternative is similar to the ACCSH recommendation because it 
still contains the requirement that the operator be qualified, but 
avoids OSHA's concern about relying on the term ``qualified person'' 
with a requirement to ensure that ``each operator is qualified by a 
demonstration of . . . .'' OSHA is adopting this compromise language in 
the final rule because it incorporates part of the language recommended 
by ACCSH while still preserving the criteria that provides guidance to 
employers. OSHA notes that while ``qualified'' is not defined in the 
cranes standard, there is a definition of that term in Sec.  1926.32 
that applies generally to construction and that definition also equates 
the possession of a certificate with being ``qualified.'' OSHA is 
therefore adding a new paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(f)(3) to clarify that 
the definition of ``qualified'' in Sec.  1926.32 does not apply to 
Sec.  1926.1427(f). Unlike the ACCSH recommendation that relied on the 
definition of ``qualified person'' in Sec.  1401 for its substance, the 
use of ``qualified by a demonstration of'' does not necessitate a 
separate definition of ``qualified'' because the remainder of paragraph 
(f)(1) provides a functional definition.
    IUOE's alternative also eliminates the requirement to evaluate the 
operator's ``judgment'' and as a result helps to address the following 
objection raised by AGC concerning the term (ID-1801):

    First, the term is not used in any other OSHA standard or 
requirement that we are aware of. * * * Second, an operator's proper 
judgement is almost impossible to discern during the evaluation 
process and there are a variety of factors that could impair an 
individual's judgement which are unrelated to their assigned work 
and operational ability. Lastly, this could be a catch-all in the 
event of an incident as an operator's judgement could always be 
cited as a factor.

    The American Public Power Association shared similar concerns:

    As a practical matter, employers will be evaluating operator 
judgement when the evaluation is taking place. However, we are 
concerned that the term ``judgment'' if contained in the Final Rule 
will lead to unintended consequences, especially in an enforcement 
context.

(ID-1779). The Associated General Contractors of Texas (AGC of Texas), 
commenting separately, suggested that OSHA replace judgment with 
``competence,'' which would include the ``authorization to take prompt 
corrective measures'' (ID-1615).
    In the earlier quotation of the IUOE text, ``judgment'' was 
replaced with ``ability to recognize and avert risk.'' OSHA has adopted 
this change in the final rule. This approach focuses on one part of the 
definition of judgment previously identified by OSHA. In the NPRM, OSHA 
explained that ``judgment'' referred to not only an operator's ability 
to apply the knowledge and skill that he or she possess, but also ``an 
operator's ability to recognize risky or unusual conditions that call 
for additional action such as re-evaluating a lift plan, stopping work, 
or asking for the help of another competent and/or qualified person'' 
(83 FR 23550). OSHA had also explained that the term ``judgment'' 
connotes the ``successfully demonstrated ability'' of a ``qualified 
person,'' as defined by OSHA's standards in Sec.  1926.1401, ``to 
solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the 
project'' and the capability of a ``competent person'' to identify 
``previous and predictable hazards'' (Id.). OSHA is implementing this 
language instead of referring to a

[[Page 56221]]

``competent person'' because that term is used elsewhere in the 
standard and for this purpose OSHA prefers the emphasis on the ability 
of an operator to identify and avert risk rather than focusing on his 
or her authority.
    Adopting IUOE's more focused version of this component of the 
evaluation also addresses AGC's point that employers may have 
difficulty examining an operator's judgment on a wide variety of 
subjects during the evaluation process. During an evaluation, the 
operator must demonstrate his or her ability to recognize and avert 
risks.
    For example when operating a floating crane, an experienced 
operator should recognize that a change in tidal ranges could affect 
the boom angles at which work must be performed, potentially affecting 
the safety of hoisting operations during particular times of day. 
Another example is when an operator appropriately recognizes that a 
different crane will be needed because the ground conditions at a 
particular jobsite prevent him or her from setting up the current crane 
at the only locations where picks with that crane would be safe. A 
knowledgeable operator would also know that even though the current 
crane can boom out sufficiently from an alternate set-up position, the 
weight of the loads will easily exceed that permitted by the load chart 
at that boom length and radius. Another crane will be needed for that 
job if the alternate set-up area must be used. Another example of an 
operator's ability to recognize and avert risk would be when an 
operator knows to consider the wind speed and direction when 
determining where on the jobsite air turbulence is likely and may 
torque broad loads, making them more unstable. An experienced operator 
can also demonstrate the ability to recognize and avert risk by 
engaging site authorities, such as the project manager, site 
supervisor, or project engineer, during the planning of the project's 
progression. It is then that the operator can recommend plans for 
utilizing the crane more efficiently and making safer picks, such as 
those that are in plain view, not adjacent to power lines, and not over 
people or other structures.
    One commenter requested that OSHA replace the employer's duty to 
``ensure'' that the operator possesses the requisite skills, knowledge, 
and ability to recognize and avert risk with a simpler duty ``to take 
reasonable measures to evaluate operators' ability to operate equipment 
in a safe manner'' (ID-1779). OSHA is not adopting this change for two 
reasons. First, OSHA views this reduced duty as an unnecessary and 
significant departure from OSHA's common practice of requiring 
employers ``to ensure'' compliance with performance standards. OSHA 
notes, for example, that 29 CFR 1926.1400(f) includes a similar mandate 
in the scope of the cranes standard, requiring employers to establish, 
communicate, and enforce work rules ``to ensure compliance with such 
provisions.'' Similarly in Sec.  1926.1402(c)(1), OSHA requires 
controlling entities to ``ensure that ground preparations necessary to 
meet the requirements'' of the standard are met. For crane assembly and 
disassembly near power lines, OSHA provides one compliance option in 
which employers must ``ensure'' that no part of the equipment, load 
line or load gets closer than 20 feet to a power line (Sec.  
1926.1407(a)(2)).
    Second, OSHA is concerned that the suggested language would be so 
vague as to potentially render the entire duty ineffective and 
unenforceable. Employers might, for example, perceive a requirement to 
``take reasonable measures to evaluate'' operators as requiring no more 
than appointing an evaluator. Because OSHA has framed the evaluation 
requirement as a flexible performance measure as requested by 
stakeholders and commenters, it is particularly important that the 
employer have a duty to satisfy the performance requirement, not just 
take steps towards doing so.
    For the reasons identified in the previous discussion, the revised 
rule retains the performance-based character of the previous evaluation 
requirements in Sec.  1926.1427(k)(2)(i), but makes clear that the 
operator must possess the necessary skills and knowledge to operate 
``the equipment'' safely, as well as the ability to recognize and avert 
risk in order to operate the equipment safely. Those skills, knowledge, 
and abilities must be relevant to the actual equipment that will be 
operated. While the specifications and characteristics of equipment and 
operations can be learned in a classroom setting, the application of 
equipment operation and hoisting techniques can only be fully learned 
from hands-on experience at worksites. For example, the operator must 
not only know what each control does and where it is located, but also 
be able to demonstrate how and when to use particular controls or 
operational aids.
    Much of the subject matter on which the operators must be evaluated 
is specified in the testing criteria listed in paragraph (j), but it is 
critical to ensuring safety that the employer evaluation is equipment- 
and task-specific. For example, an experienced and certified operator 
may have previously demonstrated the ability to lift a crate of 
materials onto a roof using one crane. However, if the company gets a 
new crane that has different controls, the employer would need to 
evaluate the operator's knowledge and skill at using the new controls 
in the new crane (note that the employer would not need to re-evaluate 
the operator's general knowledge about crane operations). The 
employer's evaluation could focus exclusively on the operator's 
familiarity with the controls in their different locations. As another 
example, if an inexperienced operator has already been evaluated for 
operation of a new model of crane, but has only used that equipment to 
hoist packaged materials, the employer would likely need to evaluate 
the operator's ability to control a wrecking ball attachment before 
allowing that operator to use the wrecking ball in a demolition project 
(note that the employer would not need to re-evaluate that operator's 
knowledge of the controls or general operation of the crane).
    A commenter from the insurance industry expressed concern about the 
impact of the rule on employers that work in the Petro Chemical and 
Refinery industries who use Union halls to ``ramp up when 30 to 75 
crane operators are needed for a shut/down turnaround on a 30 day 
period.'' These employers would, the commenter asserted, ``have to 
evaluate and set up every crane to be used in the refinery and evaluate 
each newly hired operator prior to the job and before letting them work 
in the plant'' (ID-1623). OSHA disagrees. An operator could be 
evaluated on a single crane and then allowed to operate other equipment 
that do not require substantially different skills, knowledge, or 
abilities to identify and avert risk. OSHA also notes that the American 
Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which describes itself as ``a 
national trade association comprising virtually all U.S. refining and 
petrochemical manufacturing capacity,'' also submitted comments on the 
rule but did not raise similar concerns about the evaluation 
requirements (ID-1628). Neither comment explained how the use of cranes 
at refineries and petrochemical plants would constitute construction 
work.
    Stakeholders who spoke with OSHA said that most employers are 
already able to determine the subject matter and crane knowledge that 
their operators need to safely perform hoisting activities with their 
cranes (Reports #2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 15, 18, 21, 26, 28 of ID-0673). 
However, not all employers do so. OSHA's requirements should encourage

[[Page 56222]]

consistency throughout the industry in confirming the basic knowledge, 
operating skills, and abilities of all operators in construction work, 
as well as ensure that all operator evaluations cover subject matter 
that is specific to the equipment used and the construction activities 
performed.
    Paragraph (f)(1)(i) also specifies that the operator's knowledge, 
skills, and ability to identify and avert risk must be ``specific to 
the safety devices, operational aids, software, and the size and 
configuration of the equipment.'' This list of equipment 
characteristics, which stakeholders identified as critical for safe 
operation (Reports #1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 25 of ID-
0673), is not comprehensive, but provides employers with some basic 
characteristics of equipment that might require different levels of 
knowledge and operating skills. For example, the employer must verify 
that the operator knows enough about how the safety devices, 
operational aides, and software work on a particular crane. The 
operator must be able to apply that knowledge to recognize when the 
particular characteristics of the equipment may contribute to 
potentially unsafe conditions or operations and to determine how to 
proceed safely. Such a determination might include using particular 
operating skills to safely land or maintain a suspended load if an 
operational aid malfunctions during use, or simply refusing to hoist 
the load until a safety issue is addressed.
    OSHA is including equipment software in this list because many 
stakeholders noted that operators must have the skills to use a 
computerized operating system if the crane has one (Reports #2, 4, 18, 
21 of ID-0673) and that specific operating systems (Reports #4, 9, 13, 
18, 19, 21, 22, 24 of ID-0673) or cranes by different manufacturers 
(Reports #4, 6, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24 of ID-0673) can require different 
skills or knowledge. Indeed, newer cranes often have integrated 
computer systems to protect workers and the crane. Operators must 
understand how these systems prevent damage to the crane that could 
impair safe operation of the crane, especially if the crane can be 
operated with the system turned off. That is not the only issue with 
newer cranes that may require evaluation. One construction company that 
also provides crane operator training noted that the materials used to 
make some new cranes can be more ``brittle,'' meaning that they have 
reduced safety factors and allow for less room for error (Report #21 of 
ID-0673). Exceeding these operating tolerances can lead to structural 
equipment failure such as a crane collapse or tipover, so evaluating 
operators is critical to ensure that they understand how to avoid 
exceeding specified tolerances.
    OSHA is including boom length in the list of characteristics 
because longer booms may require specialized depth perception skills or 
may be harder to control (Reports #2, 3, 22 of ID-0673). OSHA notes 
that at least one certification testing organization uses different 
boom lengths as a proxy for changing the capacity of the crane because 
the boom length can have a significant impact on the performance of the 
crane (see OSHA-2007-0066-0521, p. 268-69).
    The stakeholders OSHA interviewed also identified crane 
configurations (Reports #4, 6, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25 of ID-0673); 
the use of attachments (Reports #6, 18, 19, 20 of ID-0673); and the use 
specific safety devices and operational aids such as those listed in 
Sec.  1926.1416 Operational aids (Report #21 of ID-0673) as important 
crane characteristics that can require unique skills, knowledge, or the 
ability to recognize and avert risks.
    In proposed paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(f)(1)(i) (83 FR 23568), OSHA 
specified that the ``size and configuration'' of cranes, including 
lifting capacity, as well as boom length, attachments, use of a luffing 
jib, and counterweight set up, are important considerations in the safe 
operation of cranes. AGC of Texas specifically objected to the 
inclusion of ``lifting capacity'' in the listed evaluation criteria, 
noting that the capacity of a crane changes nearly every time an 
operator makes a lift because there are so many factors that affect the 
determination of what the capacity of the crane will include: The 
configurations of the crane (counterweight, attachments, boom 
configurations, etc.), radius, boom length, and boom angle. AGC of 
Texas wrote:

    It is not possible to evaluate an operator on each potential 
configuration that could be encountered throughout the day. Set up/
configuration will vary dependent on the work involved and will be 
job specific so this will vary from job to job. Rarely if ever would 
the required components for every possible configuration of any 
given crane be available on a job. E.G >500-ton lattice boom crane 
that has a max boom length of 200' may be configured for 100 feet of 
boom and enough counterweight to have 375 tons of capacity as that 
is all that is required for the scope or scopes of work involved. 
The components (boom and additional counterweight etc.) necessary to 
configure the crane for a 500-ton capacity and 200 feet of boom 
would not be available * * * Capacity is a function of many factors 
and not actual operation of the crane. Its effect on safe operation 
is taken into account with proper lift planning.

(ID-1615). That commenter suggested that if removal of ``lifting 
capacity'' was not possible, then OSHA should substitute: ``The ability 
to determine capacity based on the configuration of the crane, the 
load, and deductions as required by the manufacturer.'' William Smith 
appeared to disagree, stating: ``The capacity issue is mute [sic] since 
there is no requirement for a load to be placed on the crane'' (ID-
1623).
    OSHA has retained the language that lifting capacity is a component 
of ``size and configuration'' to be assessed during an evaluation. In 
response to removing the capacity from the certification requirement, 
some stakeholders explained that capacity as it relates to crane 
operation is better assessed by the employer (Report #20 of ID-0673, 
ID-1735, 1755). The revised rule does not require employers to evaluate 
their operators in every possible configuration of equipment or 
combination of configuration and boom length, etc., that would factor 
into a crane's capacity. Additional evaluations are only required when 
the operator's existing skills, knowledge, or ability to identify and 
avert risk are not sufficient for that operator to operate the 
equipment in a new model, configuration, etc.
    OSHA requested comment on items listed in paragraph (f)(1)(i). 
Besides the objection to the inclusion of ``lifting capacity,'' one 
commenter suggested a different approach:

    A performance-based assessment of an operator's ability to 
inspect (operational not detailed mechanical) and set up the crane 
for operation (to include the LMI); to utilize the manuals/load 
charts for determining capacities and to operate/handle a load, as 
well as a ``seat test'' to determine safe operating capabilities is 
all that is needed to evaluate an operator.

(ID-1615). While OSHA had previously rejected requests that the agency 
include minimum seat hours in the standard, OSHA expects that some 
``seat test'' time is implicit in the items already listed in paragraph 
(f)(1). Similarly, the ability to utilize the manual and load chart is 
required for certification, and the use of a particular manual or chart 
is inherent in possessing the skills and knowledge to operate a 
particular piece of equipment safely. As discussed in the NPRM, OSHA is 
not including specific references to assembly and disassembly or 
inspections because those are already addressed in other sections of 
subpart CC. Operators may not be assigned to perform these activities 
unless they are trained to safely perform activities in

[[Page 56223]]

accordance with the applicable sections of subpart CC.
    The lists in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (ii) are not exhaustive, so 
in addition to the items listed there, employers must consider still 
other differences that may be important to the safe operation of the 
equipment. For example, an operator who previously demonstrated 
competence in operating a small crane to hoist materials to and off of 
buildings being demolished does not necessarily have the knowledge and 
operating skills needed to safely swing a wrecking ball to demolish the 
same building. The physics of swinging a wrecking ball into a building, 
which can lead to equipment failure due to side loading or shock 
loading the boom, are different from smoothly controlling a load, which 
does not present these hazards. Similarly, an operator who has operated 
a crane in support of pile driving work, using pile driving 
attachments, does not necessarily have the skills necessary to smoothly 
control and place steel members suspended by multi-lift rigging or to 
safely control a suspended personnel platform.
    Paragraph (f)(1)(ii) requires the employer to evaluate the 
operator's ability to perform hoisting activities required for assigned 
work, including, if applicable, special skills needed for activities 
like blind lifts, personnel hoisting, or lifts involving more than one 
crane. This list of activities is not exclusive, but rather provides 
examples of lifts for which an employer must evaluate the operator's 
ability. The words ``if applicable'' are used to indicate that 
employers must evaluate operators only for the types of lifts they will 
perform and not all possible variants of hoisting procedures.
    As noted earlier, OSHA considered the training requirements of the 
powered industrial truck standard (Sec.  1910.178(l)) as a model when 
developing the evaluation requirements in the proposed standard. The 
powered industrial truck standard requires that employers evaluate an 
operator's ability to perform job-specific tasks that include 
``workplace-related topics,'' and refresher training when there are 
changes in a workplace condition that could affect safe operation of 
the truck (Sec.  1910.178(l)). Paragraph (f)(1)(ii) similarly requires 
the evaluation of an operator to cover the workplace aspects of the 
operator's job, including the specific hoisting activities that he or 
she will perform.
    Stakeholders who spoke with OSHA asserted that the performance of 
different types of work sometimes requires different skill sets. Many 
employers currently evaluate their operators based not only on their 
knowledge and skills regarding specific characteristics of the 
equipment, but also on their operators' ability to perform specific 
tasks with the equipment (Reports #1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 of ID-0673). Several of those stakeholders 
noted specific examples of operational challenges that may require 
additional operator skills to ensure safe operations. One crane rental 
company stated that if an operator who spends a year on a large project 
with repetitive work is then moved to a different job that involves 
different lifts and set-ups every day, that individual may not be 
competent to do some of that kind of work (Report #6 of ID-0673). A 
residential construction employer stated that residential jobs can be 
especially challenging to crane operators because lifts may have to be 
performed on previously disturbed soil, which can cause the cranes to 
lose stability and may necessitate special preparations and operations 
under some worksite conditions. However, this employer also said that 
residential construction crane operators might not gain necessary 
experience performing blind lifts or lifting heavy/unstable loads that 
may be typical to operating a crane on commercial projects (Report #16 
of ID-0673). A larger construction employer stated that it includes 
job-specific components in its evaluation of operators to ensure that 
operators have the ability to work on/around underground utilities and 
power lines (Report #18 of ID-0673). Finally, a crane operator training 
company noted that operators may require significant practice to 
develop the ability to control a dragline or perform operations with a 
clamshell or bucket attachment (Report #20 of ID-0673).
    OSHA requested comment on all aspects of proposed paragraph 
(f)(1)(ii). One commenter requested clarification on the requirement to 
evaluate the ``ability to perform hoisting activities required for 
assigned work:''

    The terms task-specific and assigned tasks, in our opinion, can 
potentially be interpreted to mean jobsite-specific training. If 
this is the intent, compliance with this proposed provision would be 
very onerous as operators may encounter jobsite conditions that are 
similar but not identical to the conditions for which they have been 
previously trained. In addition to the jobsite conditions being 
different, the loads which may be required to be hoisted may also be 
different. For example, a tower crane operator on a building project 
may lift materials and loads ranging from bundles of steel to 
bundles of plywood. * * * operators can be required to hoist a 
variety of materials and perform various lifts for the project such 
as hoisting concrete buckets or formwork, conducting blind picks, or 
picks below grade.

(ID-1801). As discussed earlier, the standard does not require separate 
evaluations for every conceivable difference in equipment or task. 
OSHA's intent is that the employer identify the substantive differences 
that require new skills, knowledge, or abilities that the operator has 
not already demonstrated during a previous evaluation. The standard 
does not require a new evaluation of the same tasks at a different 
jobsite unless the new jobsite requires the operator to have new 
skills, knowledge, or abilities. Absent special circumstances (very 
long pieces that would change the dynamics of a lift, significantly 
different bundling methods, etc.), OSHA expects that a certified tower 
crane operator who has been evaluated lifting a bundle of steel would 
also be qualified to lift a bundle of plywood. The employer would not 
need to re-evaluate the operator because lifting a bundle of lumber 
does not require any significant new skill, knowledge, or ability that 
the operator had not already demonstrated by lifting a bundle of steel.
    OSHA did not receive any other comments specifically addressing 
paragraph (f)(1)(ii) (other than the requests for broad revisions of 
(f)(1) discussed earlier) and is promulgating that paragraph as 
proposed.
    OSHA is adding a new paragraph (f)(2), which was not in the 
proposal, in response to several commenters raising concerns about the 
process of evaluating experienced operators during the transition 
period as the new evaluation and documentation requirements in the 
final rule take effect. Several commenters (ID-1623 and ID-1828) 
suggested ``grandfathering'' (exempting) currently certified operators 
from the evaluation requirements. One of these commenters explained:

    The challenge for the industry is that operators working for the 
same or several employers that have 15, 20, 25, even 30 years in the 
business and every crane that they have operated has not been 
documented. This is the impracticable and infeasible part of the 
rule where a Grandfather Clause may be required for all currently 
certified operators and any new operator entering the industry after 
the date of enforcement goes through a documentation process to move 
forward and make sense of the rule.

(ID-1828). While the comment focuses on the documentation aspect of the 
new rule (see later discussion of Sec.  1926.1427(f)(6)), the comment 
also raises the question whether employers will need to re-evaluate 
every operator. Under the new language in Sec.  1926.1427(f)(2), the 
answer is ``no.''

[[Page 56224]]

For operators already employed by an employer, paragraph (f)(2) allows 
that employer to rely on its ``previous assessments of the operator in 
lieu of conducting a new evaluation'' of that operator. OSHA's final 
rule does not require employers to make each existing operator re-sit 
for formal re-evaluations on all applicable equipment and perform 
different tasks when the employer has already previously assessed that 
operator prior to the effective date of the rule and determined that he 
or she is qualified to safely operate such equipment for certain tasks.
    Several terms may require additional explanation. For the purposes 
of Sec.  1926.1427(f)(2), an ``operator'' encompasses anyone who has 
been operating equipment covered by this subpart, including operators 
in training, such that the employer has had an opportunity to assess 
the operator's performance on the relevant equipment and tasks and has 
determined the operator can safely perform on those equipment and 
tasks. The reference to ``its previous assessments'' is intended to 
ensure that the operator was previously assessed, even if that 
assessment was not previously documented in accordance with new Sec.  
1926.1427(f)(6), and that the operator's employer (or its agent) 
conducted the assessment. The employer cannot rely on recommendations 
or evaluations from a previous employer. It is important that the 
employer have its own factual basis for its determination that the 
operator has the skills, knowledge, and ability to identify and avert 
risk necessary to operate particular equipment safely for particular 
tasks. But that factual basis does not require a previous formal 
evaluation by the employer's current evaluator. For example, the 
current evaluator might not have observed an operator's previous 25 
years of work. In such a case, the employer would satisfy the 
requirements of paragraph (f)(2) if it noted that the operator had 
operated specified equipment safely for that employer. OSHA has 
provided a corresponding exception in the documentation requirements of 
Sec.  1926.1427(f)(6), which is discussed later in this preamble.
    OSHA prefers this approach to any ``grandfather'' approach that 
would completely exempt existing operators from all evaluation. Such an 
exemption would not accomplish the purpose of providing a baseline of 
operator qualification against which an employer could compare future 
equipment and assignments to determine if they require new skills, 
knowledge, or the ability to identify and avert risks. Furthermore, 
completely exempting existing operators from all evaluation would not 
achieve a primary objective of the rulemaking: With respect to future 
assignments, there would be no employer duty to ensure that these 
operators have the skills, knowledge, and ability to safely operate 
assigned equipment for assigned tasks in a variety of contexts. Such an 
exemption would be a step backwards from the prior temporary employer 
duty in Sec.  1926.1427(k), which did not provide any exemption for 
previously employed operators.
    Paragraph (f)(4) establishes minimum criteria for the person who 
performs the required evaluation of an operator-in-training. The 
evaluation must be conducted by an individual who possesses the 
knowledge, training, and experience necessary to assess operators. This 
standard affords some flexibility to employers as they seek to ensure 
operator safety. An evaluator could be, for example, a current or 
former operator who is also trained to assess equipment operators. The 
key, however, much like the criteria for the person performing training 
and evaluation of operators under the powered industrial truck operator 
training standard (Sec.  1910.178(1)(2)(iii)), is that the evaluator 
possess the requisite knowledge, training, and experience for assessing 
an operator's knowledge, skill, and ability to recognize and avert 
risk. Such knowledge, training, and experience is not necessarily the 
same as the knowledge, training, and experience to perform the 
particular construction operations or processes oneself.
    Stakeholders spoke with OSHA at site visits and meetings about how 
they comply with the employer duty described in Sec.  
1926.1427(k)(2)(i) in the prior standard. Several of those companies 
specifically employ individuals to assess operators (Reports #18, 22 of 
ID-0673). A large construction company with a very robust and formal 
evaluation process has ``Authorized Examiners'' who perform evaluations 
of operator applicants for the company. These are personnel with 
significant experience and training, including completion of crane 
operator certification and rigger courses (Report #18 of ID-0673). In 
many other cases, the evaluations are performed by other personnel such 
as experienced riggers, maintenance personnel, signal personnel, or 
tradesmen who have demonstrated the necessary experience or training to 
conduct this assessment (Reports #1, 2, 3, 6, 15, 16, 20, 23 of ID-
0673). Day-to-day assessment of an operator's performance may be 
conducted by a qualified person who is often a manager or foreman at 
the job site. (Reports #1, 3, 6, 18 of ID-0673). A seasoned operator 
who has been designated by the employer to mentor an operator-in-
training may also make determinations about when an operator-in-
training is ready to perform certain tasks, and may weigh in on the 
evaluation or confirm that an individual is ready to operate without 
monitoring (see, e.g., Report #2 of ID-0673).
    Stakeholders who spoke with OSHA offered competing recommendations 
about whether OSHA should require that evaluators be certified as 
operators. Several employers who spoke with OSHA stated that an 
individual may have the ability to evaluate an operator without being a 
certified operator (Reports #1, 6, 18, 20, 26 of ID-0673). They 
indicated that evaluators may be safety managers or other senior 
employees with significant experience working around cranes, but who 
might not currently be certified (see, e.g., Reports #1, 6, 18, 26 of 
ID-0673). Others may be specifically trained to evaluate operators. But 
at the May 2015 ACCSH meeting, several representatives from the crane 
industry asserted that evaluators should be certified (OSHA-2015-0002-
0036).
    Based on information obtained from the stakeholders, OSHA opted in 
the proposal to maintain employer flexibility in choosing who may 
perform the required evaluation as long as those evaluators have, or 
develop, the requisite assessment knowledge and experience. OSHA noted 
that the national consensus standard for cranes (ASME B30.5-2014 Mobile 
and Locomotive Cranes, Chapter 5-3) does not require or recommend that 
evaluators of operators must be certified by third-party testing 
entities; a ``designated'' person who qualifies operators must be a 
qualified person by experience and training but need not be certified 
(B30.5, section 5-3.1.2(e)). Similarly, previous Sec.  
1926.1427(f)(3)(ii) required that the trainer of an operator-in-
training must have passed at least the written part of a certification 
test, but did not require that the trainer must be an operator or 
certified. Additionally, employers who spoke with OSHA and publicly 
commented at the March 2015 ACCSH meeting expressed the view that 
passing the written portion of a certification test alone does not mean 
an individual has the ability to effectively evaluate the competency of 
an operator (OSHA-2015-0002-0036). But along with other crane-related 
experiences, OSHA believes that, if a person has passed the written 
portion of the

[[Page 56225]]

certification test, it should be taken into account when deciding if 
that person has the knowledge and abilities necessary to evaluate crane 
operators.
    OSHA requested public comments on the proposed criteria, including 
whether OSHA should require that the evaluator be an operator, have 
been an operator, or at least have passed the written portion of 
certification testing. There was disagreement among the commenters on 
this issue. An insurance company representative expressed the view that 
evaluators must be both former operators and a trainer in accordance 
with Sec.  1926.1427(b) (ID-1623). NCCCO proposed certification for 
operators, or alternatively that evaluators should be required at least 
to have passed the written part of a certification test and have 
familiarity with the equipment's controls, consistent with the 
requirements previously required for trainers under the prior standard 
(ID-1755). Certification, that commenter explained, ``should be 
regarded as an appropriately necessary condition of establishing such 
competence and ensuring a `baseline' of knowledge and skills:''

    Requiring that an evaluator have a baseline of knowledge and 
skills as an operator is likely, not only to improve the quality of 
evaluations, but also to increase safety during any evaluation in 
the event the operator-in-training engages in an unsafe act and the 
evaluator must intervene. Since November 10, 2010, when the crane 
Rule became effective, no fewer than 685 candidates have been 
prohibited from continuing with their practical exams after engaging 
in unsafe acts as recorded by NCCCO Practical Examiners during 
practical exams. Had the Examiners not also been certified 
operators, with the training and experience to recognize hazardous 
and potentially dangerous crane operations, these unsafe acts that 
might have been allowed to continue, with consequent property 
damage, personal injury, or worse.

(Id.).
    Two other commenters disagreed. One commenter urged OSHA to ``grant 
employer flexibility in choosing who may perform the required 
evaluation'' and to ``leave the decision as to who may evaluate, and 
the qualifications of the evaluator, to the employer'' because the 
employer is in a better position to ensure that an operator is 
competent to complete an assignment safely (ID-1779). Another commenter 
agreed that the evaluator need not be certified, nor a former operator: 
``With a clearly defined evaluation process, an individual who is 
qualified, or competent in crane safety and operation would be able to 
assess an operator'' (ID-1615).
    OSHA is not requiring that evaluators must be certified or have 
previous experience as an operator. While experience as an operator and 
certification might be helpful, C-DAC did not recommend either for 
trainers and OSHA is not requiring it in the final rule because it does 
not think it is necessary to hold evaluators to a higher standard than 
C-DAC recommended for trainers. As stated in the NPRM, OSHA heard from 
stakeholders who have successfully involved a variety of personnel in 
the evaluation of operators, including riggers, maintenance personnel, 
signal personnel, tradesmen, managers, and foremen who have 
demonstrated the necessary experience to conduct this assessment. These 
personnel are typically not certified to operate cranes (See Reports 
#1, 2, 3, 6, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23 of ID-0673). Based on the record, OSHA 
does not wish to prevent these kinds of personnel from performing 
effective evaluations.
    OSHA acknowledges the certification organization's concern about 
safety during the evaluation (ID-1755), but the agency believes the 
standard already addresses that concern. An operator-in-training must 
remain under the supervision of a person who meets the definition of a 
``trainer,'' which includes ``the knowledge, training, and experience 
necessary to direct the operator-in-training on the equipment in use'' 
(Sec.  1926.1427(b)(4)(i)(B) (emphasis added)). Because the operator-
in-training cannot move out of that status until the completion of an 
evaluation, a trainer is required at the evaluation if the evaluator 
does not also meet the definition of a trainer (see later discussion 
about trainer also serving as evaluator).
    As OSHA explained in the NPRM, paragraph (f)(4) will allow 
employers the flexibility to contract with a third-party agent to 
conduct evaluations if the employer does not maintain the expertise on 
staff, or to identify existing staff who may not have operator 
experience but are capable of conducting an evaluation. OSHA wants to 
allow employers to continue using effective and safe solutions that 
they have already identified and are currently in use. For example, 
OSHA spoke with an employer that took steps to qualify its first 
operator without having an experienced mentor-operator on staff. This 
was accomplished by enrolling the operator-in-training in several 
outside classes, including a crane manufacturer's training and training 
with the local union, and then arranging for an experienced union 
operator to mentor the operator-in-training. Later, when the employer 
hired additional operators-in-training, the first operator, now 
experienced, was able to serve as the trainer and evaluator (Report #16 
of ID-0673).
    A sole proprietor OSHA spoke with followed a similar path when he 
first started operating cranes for a former employer by seeking out the 
mentorship of an experienced operator before beginning to operate 
independently. When the company later hired other operators, this 
individual trained new operators and supervised them for at least a 
month before evaluating them (Report #23 of ID-0673).
    One commenter suggested that OSHA clarify that it is the employer 
of the operator who ultimately bears the responsibility for ensuring 
that the operator is evaluated. The commenter stated ``if a crane 
operator has been made available through a third party and the third 
party also owns the crane, then [the operator] effectively works for 
the third party and thus, the third party should be responsible for the 
evaluation'' (ID-1615). A different commenter requested that OSHA add 
language to paragraph (f)(5) to clarify that an ``employer may not 
relinquish its duties under these paragraphs [by] delegating them to a 
third-party:''

    The evaluator must be an employee or agent of the employer. 
Employers that assign evaluations to an agent retain the duty to 
ensure that the requirements in paragraph (f) are satisfied.

(ID-1719). While this addition is arguably unnecessary because Sec.  
1926.1427(f)(1) includes the introductory text ``the employer must 
ensure,'' OSHA is adding the commenter's suggested text for 
clarification and consistency with the requirements for a trainer in 
Sec.  1926.1427(b)(4)(i)(A). OSHA requires operator trainers to be an 
``employee or agent of the operator-in-training's employer'' (Id.).
    Several commenters requested additional guidance regarding 
evaluators. One commenter asked for clarification about whether a 
trainer can also serve as the evaluator, expressing support for the 
idea because the ``process of properly training an operator-in-training 
should not be drastically different from successfully evaluating that 
same operator'' (ID-1801). Another commenter expressed support for 
trainers to also potentially serve as evaluators, stating that ``the 
employer should use its best judgment in identifying the suitable 
criteria for evaluator qualifications for the particular task, jobsite, 
and equipment at use for that employer'' (ID-1779). A different 
commenter opposed allowing a single person to serve in both roles, 
noting that national accrediting

[[Page 56226]]

standards bar the same person from performing both a training role and 
an evaluation role out of concern that an evaluator may not effectively 
evaluate of an operator the evaluator had trained:

    NCCCO proposes that trainers should be precluded from acting as 
evaluators within the framework of the Rule. Alternatively, NCCCO 
proposes that trainers should be precluded from acting as evaluators 
with respect to any operator whom the evaluator has previously 
trained. NCCCO submits that individuals responsible for training 
operators are less likely to be in a position effectively to 
evaluate operators for whom they provide training services. The 
evaluation contemplated by the proposed Rule should provide an 
independent assessment of the ``skills, knowledge, and judgment'' 
necessary to operate the equipment safely. If the training and 
evaluation functions are combined and not separated, and if the 
evaluator is called upon to exercise substantial judgment in 
evaluating the subject or potential subject of training, then the 
validity of the evaluation tool is likely to be compromised because 
an evaluator may lack the requisite objectivity when conducting 
assessments of operators who are former or potential trainees. * * * 
By separating the training and evaluation functions, the proposed 
Rule is more likely to result in outcomes that ensure the quality of 
evaluations and improve worksite safety.

(ID-1755).
    OSHA understands the arguments against allowing trainers to act as 
evaluators for operators that they trained, but declines to prohibit 
this practice. It has not traditionally prohibited this type of 
practice, where employers conduct trainings for employees and also 
ensure that they comprehend that training. In this context, moreover, 
the certification and evaluation requirements are intended to work in 
tandem, and the certification requirement ensures that the operator has 
demonstrated basic skills, knowledge, and abilities through an 
objective, third-party examination process. OSHA also seeks to maintain 
a flexible standard that will allow employers to continue current 
practices where possible and minimize any additional cost or burden, 
such as hiring additional staff, on employers and small firms. If OSHA 
prohibited trainers from also serving as evaluators, employers would be 
bound to a process in which a formal evaluation would take place only 
after the completion of training. While that model is acceptable under 
the standard, OSHA also intends to allow employers to maintain more 
flexible models in which operators may be allowed to try new equipment, 
configurations, or tasks under the guidance of a trainer as the 
opportunities present themselves at the worksite. If the trainer also 
meets the requirements of an evaluator, that person would be able to 
determine when the trainee has demonstrated sufficient skill, 
knowledge, and ability for particular equipment or tasks. The trainer/
evaluator could evaluate and document the trainee's success and move on 
to other areas of training. This model may be particularly useful in 
scenarios where an operator is expected to operate many different 
pieces of equipment for many different tasks, using different 
configurations or attachments, when there are significant differences 
that would require additional skills, knowledge, or ability. A trainer 
also serving as an evaluator would be able to evaluate the operator as 
the operator gains experience with those different tasks, 
configurations, and equipment differences; it could save significant 
time and effort that would otherwise be required to replicate all of 
those scenarios later in front of a different evaluator. Finally, by 
allowing a trainer to also evaluate the operator in actual work 
settings engaged in tasks that the operator will be expected to 
perform, the evaluations might actually provide a more realistic gauge 
of the operator's skills, knowledge, and ability than in a more sterile 
evaluation setting. For all of those reasons, OSHA is not prohibiting 
an operator's trainer from also serving as that operator's evaluator.
    One commenter asked how a small contractor could comply with the 
evaluation requirement when ``hiring a crane'' for a single lift, 
implying that the contractor does not have someone on staff who would 
qualify as an evaluator (ID-1476). There are at least two methods of 
compliance in that scenario. First, that contractor could select a firm 
that offers the crane along with a qualified operator who has been 
certified and evaluated by that firm. In that scenario the crane firm 
would be operator's employer and have the responsibility to ensure that 
the operator is certified and evaluated. Second, the contractor could 
hire a certified operator and contract with an outside party to 
evaluate the operator.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ The same commenter (ID-1476) asked about the role of 
Construction Manager in this requirement under multi-employer 
projects. OSHA notes that the commenter did not include enough 
information to allow for a response because, for example, the 
construction manager might or might not be an employee of the 
operator's employer and may or may not have the required 
qualifications to serve as an evaluator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A ``bare rental'' company that rents cranes without an operator 
asked for clarification about its duties under OSHA's standard:

    Who will be responsible for signing off on the operator's 
document of evaluation? As the owner of the crane that we rent it to 
a company, we do not know who they will select to operate the crane, 
and from a legal stand point we do not want to sign off on somebody 
we do not know.

(ID-1495). In that scenario, the crane rental company is not the 
employer of the operator and will not be on site or otherwise be 
controlling the operator. OSHA's standard does not require that crane 
rental company to ensure that the operator of its crane is certified or 
evaluated. That would be the responsibility of the employer of the 
operator.
    Paragraph (f)(5) permits the employer to allow an operator to 
operate equipment other than the specific equipment on which the 
operator was evaluated, as long as the employer can demonstrate that 
the new equipment does not require substantially different skills, 
knowledge, or abilities to operate. An additional evaluation would be 
required before an operator would be allowed to operate equipment that 
requires substantially different skills, knowledge, or abilities to 
operate.
    OSHA believes this approach addresses the concerns of some 
stakeholders about unnecessary competency evaluations while ensuring 
appropriate evaluations of operators. Many stakeholders warned that 
unnecessary competency evaluations could be very time consuming and 
burdensome without providing any real safety benefit. Many employers 
who spoke with OSHA during meetings and site visits explained, for 
example, that they assign operators to run the same crane every day, or 
to operate a crane from a specific group of the company's cranes that 
are all very similar (Reports #1, 2, 3, 6, 13, 16, 19 of ID-0673). 
Others said that they permit their operators to run similar cranes 
interchangeably (see Report #15 of ID-0673). But other stakeholders 
indicated that they already follow practices that may exceed what OSHA 
is requiring. One large construction company, for example, requires its 
operators to go through a formal evaluation for any different equipment 
that the operators are assigned to run, even if the operators have 
already demonstrated competency, through an evaluation, to operate 
other similar equipment (Report #11 of ID-0673). Another large national 
construction firm provides supplemental testing for different crane 
configurations (Report #18 of ID-0673). And one stakeholder at the 
March 2015 ACCSH meeting explained that it requires a ``seat check,'' 
an evaluation that may take a day or two, ``every time that operator 
goes to a new machine . . . [w]e want to do the walk around

[[Page 56227]]

inspection. We want to test him on what he's absorbed when we walked 
around . . . includ[ing] safety checks, prestart and post-start'' (see 
OSHA-2015-0002-0036, pg. 232-239).
    As previously explained, OSHA does not intend to require the 
additional evaluation of operators when it is not necessary, such as 
when there are minor differences between equipment models of the same 
type that do not necessitate substantially different skills, knowledge, 
or abilities to operate the crane safely. As discussed earlier in 
reference to the general requirements in Sec.  1926.1427(f)(1), OSHA's 
evaluation requirements will provide employers some flexibility when 
determining whether an additional evaluation is required.
    This flexibility is necessarily cabined, however, by the employer's 
duty to ensure that its operator's skills, knowledge, and ability to 
recognize and avert risk are sufficient for safe operation at the 
jobsite. Some employers explained to OSHA that they often need 
operators to operate very different sizes and configurations of the 
type of equipment (or equipment of a different type) on which they 
evaluated the operator, to perform various tasks (see Reports #2, 4, 6, 
and 22 of ID-0673). Even an experienced operator, when assigned to 
operate a different crane, may need time operating the equipment under 
supervision to become familiar with how to safely operate it. One 
owner/operator stated that when he used different cranes in the past, 
even if they were all boom trucks built by the same manufacturer, he 
needed a substantial amount of time to familiarize himself with the 
significant differences between the cranes before he had the skills, 
knowledge, and ability to recognize and avoid risks necessary to safely 
operate them (Report #23 of ID-0673). OSHA concludes that it is 
reasonable that the employer may need to conduct an additional 
evaluation of the operator before determining that the operator is 
competent to safely run a different piece of equipment alone (Reports 
#3, 6, 16, 22 of ID-0673).
    One commenter (ID-1615) requested clarification of the meaning of 
``that the employer can demonstrate'' in Sec.  1926.1427(f)(5), which 
relieves the employer of the need for additional evaluation for other 
equipment that the ``employer can demonstrate does not require 
substantially different skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and 
avert risk to operate.'' Specifically, the commenter asked whether an 
additional evaluation would be necessary for operation of two specific 
crane models: A 50-ton rough terrain hydraulic crane and a 60-ton rough 
terrain hydraulic crane, which the commenter stated are ``identical in 
operation, but different in capacity.''
    In requiring that employers demonstrate that the different 
equipment does not require substantially different skills, knowledge, 
or ability to identify and avert risk, OSHA intends that the employer 
will be able to justify the basis for its determination. An example of 
this justification could include an employer consulting an operator who 
has experience safely operating both pieces of equipment and could 
provide feedback about the differences in operation, or the employer 
could cite discussions with equipment manufacturers about the 
differences between models as justification for the basis of its 
determination. In response to the commenter, it is not likely that this 
change in capacity would require the employer to conduct an additional 
evaluation as long as the cranes are operated in similar configurations 
and other aspects of the crane (such as the computer operating systems, 
spatial arrangement of controls, control functions, safety devices, 
operational aides, mode of travel, and function of the equipment) are 
similar. However, changes in the configuration such as the use of 
different attachments (e.g., wrecking ball versus a clamshell), 
significant changes in boom length, or the addition of counterweights 
are a few examples of differences that may require an additional 
evaluation. Similarly, design differences like the location and 
function of the controls (e.g., the boom hoist control is located where 
the line hoist control was located on the other equipment) may also 
require the operator to become familiarized with these changes and some 
other limited evaluation of the operator's grasp of these changes. An 
evaluator meeting the requirements of Sec.  1926.1427(f)(5) must be 
able to make these determinations, but can consult other appropriate 
individuals like the crane manufacturer or additional operators 
experienced with the equipment. Ultimately, if the difference in the 
controls and functions of the equipment is significant enough that the 
operator's unfamiliarity with the equipment may create a hazardous 
condition, then the employer must conduct an additional evaluation.
    One of the certification entities, NCCCO, requested that OSHA 
``clarify the proposed Sec.  1926.1427(f)(3) to indicate that the 
employer is only determining whether additional evaluation is necessary 
for different equipment, and that the employer's approval to operate 
``other equipment'' may be given only if the operator is also certified 
or deemed to have complied with the certification requirements for type 
of the other equipment at issue'' (ID-1755). OSHA agrees that Sec.  
1926.1427(f)(5) has no impact on the requirements for operator 
certification. Regardless of the employer's determinations in the 
evaluations required under Sec.  1926.1427(f), the employer must ensure 
that the operator is certified or working as an operator-in-training.
    OSHA does not expect that the evaluation requirement will be overly 
burdensome for employers, particularly with the flexibility provided in 
paragraphs (f)(2) and (5). Although OSHA heard concerns from several 
commenters that OSHA would require that an operator be evaluated on 
every crane that their companies might use, or in every possible 
configuration, OSHA has explained that its revised rule does not 
require that. Furthermore, these commenters appear to have mistakenly 
assumed that OSHA would require each evaluation to be in the form of a 
time-consuming formal test rather than a much simpler observation of 
the operator performing construction operations using the crane. The 
required supplemental re-evaluation of a previously evaluated operator 
can focus on the operator's abilities to handle the differences between 
the new equipment and the one previously assigned; it would not require 
a complete evaluation of all of the operator's skills, knowledge, and 
abilities.
    In general, the determination whether a new evaluation is needed 
turns on whether the safe operation of the new crane requires 
additional skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and avert risk. 
For example, an employer may evaluate an operator and determine that he 
or she has demonstrated the ability to safely operate a large crane in 
a relatively complex configuration. If the employer determines that the 
operator has the skills, knowledge, and ability to identify and avert 
risk necessary to safely operate a smaller crane of the same type and 
operating system, in a simpler configuration with a shorter boom, then 
the operator would not need to be re-evaluated (assuming that the tasks 
are similar). Similarly, a new evaluation may not be necessary for an 
operator to operate a larger crane for the same task. Where the two 
cranes are configured similarly, and they have similar controls 
(including computer operating systems, spatial arrangement of controls, 
and control functions), safety devices, operational aides, mode of 
travel, and overall function, such that significant new skills, 
knowledge, and

[[Page 56228]]

ability to identify and avert risk are not necessary to operate the 
cane safely, then a new evaluation would not be required.
    A commenter asked whether additional evaluations would be required 
if a crane and operator move to multiple locations (ID-1476). They 
would not, assuming that the operator remains employed by the same 
employer, the crane remains in the same configuration, and the operator 
would not be performing different tasks that require significantly 
different skills, knowledge, or ability to identify and avert risk. 
Evaluations are specific to the operators, equipment, and tasks, but 
are not dependent on location. However, if assigned work at multiple 
locations requires an operator to have substantially different skills, 
knowledge, or ability to recognize and avert risk, then an employer 
must perform an evaluation of the operator to ensure he or she can 
perform the assigned work.
    Paragraph (f)(6) requires the employer to document the evaluation 
of each operator and to ensure that the documentation is available at 
the worksite. OSHA, by requiring this documentation to be available at 
the worksite in the NPRM, implied that the documentation must be 
maintained by the employer for the duration of the operator's 
employment. OSHA is adding language to this final rule that states 
explicitly the documentation must be maintained while the operator is 
employed by the employer. This language is similar to language in Sec.  
1926.1428(a)(3) requiring employers to maintain documentation of a 
signal person's evaluation while the signal person is employed by the 
employer.
    This documentation requirement is also similar to documentation 
requirements in other OSHA standards that require competency 
evaluations, such as OSHA's powered industrial truck operator training 
requirements (Sec.  1910.178). The documentation under Sec.  
1926.1427(f)(6) must include: The operator's name, the evaluator's 
name, the date of the evaluation, and the make, model, and 
configuration of the equipment on which the operator was evaluated. But 
the documentation would not need to be in any particular format. 
Rather, employers would have the flexibility to capture this 
information using their own existing systems or create documentation 
that best meets the needs of their workplace. For example, employers 
could issue operator cards that include this information, keep records 
electronically in a database accessible at the worksite, develop logs 
for each piece of equipment, or use any other method that memorializes 
the mandatory information.
    The documentation requirement will ensure accountability and direct 
the employer's attention to the critical aspects of operating the 
assigned equipment that must be considered during the evaluation. The 
documentation of the evaluation will record key baseline information 
that an employer can use to help make subsequent determinations about 
whether the operator is competent to operate particular equipment on 
future projects. It will also provide a quick reference for site 
supervisors, lift directors, and any employee, such as a hoist crew 
member, whose safety is affected by crane operations. This information 
can help prevent any misunderstandings about, or mischaracterization 
of, an individual operator's established competency as determined by 
the employer, as in the Deep South fatal incident. There, an operator 
was assigned to operate a crane of a type for which he was certified, 
but the controls and operations were substantially different from those 
with which he was familiar. Had the employer conducted an evaluation 
and documented it rather than relying only on information specified on 
the operator's certification, this incident could have been prevented.
    The agency's discussions with stakeholders indicated that 
information about operators is typically collected but not necessarily 
for regulatory compliance purposes. Many employers who spoke with OSHA 
during meetings and site visits explained that they maintain for their 
own purposes a log or record to track operator experiences, 
certifications, and performance evaluations. For example, at least two 
employers reported that they issue cards to evaluated and competent 
operators with information about those operators' qualifications. 
(Reports #11, 18 of ID-0673). Others use written records to track 
operators' performance, training, or other criteria. (Reports #1, 2, 3, 
4 of ID-0673). And employers who own cranes and have long-term 
operators must provide lengthy and detailed operator information to 
their insurance providers.
    Many subcontractors, too, are becoming accustomed to maintaining a 
written record of their operators' experience and evaluations. Some 
employers explained that, on multi-employer construction sites, 
subcontractors are often asked by general contractors, insurers, or 
other employers on the site to provide documented information about 
their operators, such as certifications and verifications of training 
and ``qualification'' for the cranes operated. One crane rental company 
noted that it keeps records for each operator, and that this kind of 
information is often requested or required by customers. (Report #6 of 
ID-0673). Another company told OSHA that it frequently provides written 
information about its operators to contractors, even when not 
requested. (Report #26 of ID-0673). A contractor that sometimes works 
with subcontractors' operators noted that it maintains an in-house 
database of those operators, site supervisors, and directors that it 
has encountered on projects, with evaluations and notes about their 
performance. (Report #22 of ID-0673). Another company that employs 
operators as subcontractors keeps records of near misses involving its 
subcontractors, as well as documentation of operators that the company 
feels may not be qualified to operate equipment. (Report #14 of ID-
0673). Finally, OSHA notes that it is a common practice within the 
construction industry for operators to carry certification cards 
provided by the testing entities as proof of certification. The 
documentation requirement of this paragraph will be even more useful in 
communicating operator competency for employers who must consider crane 
safety on multi-employer worksites.
    As previously discussed, paragraph (f) permits the employer to 
evaluate the operator on one crane and then make a determination that 
the operator is also competent to safely run other equipment that 
requires the same level of operating skills, crane knowledge, and 
ability to recognize and avert risk. This provision allows employers to 
document these determinations collectively. For example, if an employer 
with five cranes, possibly configured in slightly different ways, 
determines that an operator's evaluation on Crane #2 also demonstrates 
the operator's competency with respect to the other four cranes, the 
employer could use a single document to record the operator's 
competence to operate all five cranes. In fact, the documentation for 
the original evaluation could simply be amended to state that it is 
also applicable to identified equipment that does not require 
substantially different skills, knowledge, or abilities. However, when 
the operation of a crane requires a level of operating skills, 
knowledge, or abilities that is significantly different from the crane 
on which the operator was evaluated, a new evaluation must be carried 
out and documented. Varying the facts in the earlier example, if two of 
that employer's cranes include

[[Page 56229]]

computer software to control safety devices and the three other cranes 
do not have such software but are otherwise similar, then an operator 
already evaluated on a crane without the software would need to be 
evaluated separately on the use of that software, with that evaluation 
also documented. However, the evaluation can be limited to only making 
determinations about the operator's ability to safely use the cranes 
that rely on computer systems.
    Several commenters expressed concern that the documentation would 
take too much time and effort, particularly if employers are required 
to take time to separately evaluate and document each operator on each 
potential piece of equipment, safety device, operational aid, software, 
and the size and configuration of the equipment (see IDs 1611, 1615, 
1623, 1801). One of these commenters asked OSHA not to require 
employers to document the make, model, and configuration of the 
equipment on which the operator was evaluated to ``further reinforce'' 
that operators are not required to be evaluated on every crane that 
their companies might use, or every possible configuration'' (ID-1801).
    These concerns are misplaced because, as OSHA explained earlier, 
the rule does not include any requirement that an operator must sit in 
the cab of each crane the company owns to be evaluated and documented 
as competent to run every make, model, or configuration of the 
employer's equipment. Moreover, when evaluations are required, the 
process of recording the specific information about the crane(s) in 
which the operator was evaluated (including the make, model, and 
configuration of the equipment) helps to avoid additional evaluations. 
The required documentation provides the baseline against which the 
employer can determine whether particular equipment used on future 
projects can be safely operated by that operator because it would not 
require substantially new skills, knowledge, or abilities. The make and 
model of the equipment provides a fixed reference point for the 
configuration and system of controls that are in particular machines as 
well as particular designs of safety devices and operational aids, etc. 
This information can be used in comparisons with other equipment that 
the operator may be assigned to operate on future projects. If 
employers do not preserve this information, it makes it more difficult 
for them to determine whether an operator requires a new evaluation to 
operate other equipment.
    Another commenter acknowledged some uncertainty about the impact of 
the documentation on its members and acknowledged documentation as 
``good corporate practice'' followed by its members, but nevertheless 
asked OSHA to remove the documentation requirement:

    Our view is that record keeping for evaluations is a good 
organizational practice, but should be not be a driver in a safety 
standard as it may divert resources away from activities that 
improve safety. Documentation and record keeping should be reserved 
as good corporate practice and should not be a requirement of the 
rule. * * * If documentation and record keeping are to remain a part 
of this rule, OSHA should ensure than small businesses, as qualified 
by SBREFA, are exempt in order to reduce undue burden on business 
operations or detract from safe work practices.

(ID-1779). A different commenter stated that it would ``make sense for 
an employer to track evaluations on operators, so they would know what 
cranes an employee has been evaluated to operate and to provide 
protection from liability,'' but then claimed that OSHA's documentation 
requirement is ``purely punitive in nature'' and ``only benefits 
OSHA.'' That commenter, however, offered no alternative means of 
tracking other than documentation (ID-1615).
    These comments support OSHA's observation in the NPRM that many 
responsible employers already have systems in place to evaluate their 
operators and document that process; OSHA disagrees that the 
documentation is merely a ``good corporate practice'' that diverts 
resources from safety or a ``punitive'' measure that provides no 
benefit to the employer. First, as discussed above, the documentation 
is a critical means of tracking an operator's baseline qualifications 
in order to avoid future evaluations. This documentation must be 
available at the worksite in the event there is some uncertainty about 
the operator's qualifications. OSHA notes that ``available at the 
worksite'' includes accessing this information at the worksite via a 
computer or other electronic means. Second, because not all employers 
follow this ``good corporate practice,'' the documentation requirement 
will help to ensure compliance with the standard. OSHA notes that 
``available at the worksite'' includes accessing this information at 
the worksite via a computer or other electronic means.
    Several commenters supported the documentation requirement. One 
commenter described OSHA's proposed documentation requirements as 
workable and providing sufficient flexibility to preserve existing 
employer practices:

    ABC appreciates that this proposal does not create a new system 
of documentation, and instead leaves employers the flexibility to 
capture this information in a way that makes sense for their 
workplace. * * * ABC members already have advanced operator 
competency programs in place, which include their own system of 
documentation, and therefore, any requirement from OSHA to document 
this information in a standardized form would be duplicative and 
unnecessary.

(ID-1735). The National Roofing Contractors Association expressed 
support for the proposed rule, which included the documentation 
requirement, as ``provid[ing] the necessary components to ensure the 
safety of NRCA members' workers and others while not altering 
significantly current compliance burdens members are obligated to 
meet'' (ID-1619). The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers too 
supported the rule, stating that OSHA's approach was ``aligned with'' 
their previous requests for documentation of the evaluations and making 
that documentation available at the worksite (ID-1628).
    OSHA is retaining the documentation requirement for the reasons 
discussed above. The agency views the documentation as critical to 
identifying the baseline for future evaluations of operators, similar 
to how documentation of monthly or annual inspections required under 
Sec.  1926.1412 is used by a competent person or qualified person 
during subsequent inspections as the basis for tracking potential 
issues with the equipment and making determinations about whether that 
equipment is suitable for planned tasks. OSHA has also concluded that 
the documentation requirement includes enough flexibility to address 
the concerns raised by commenters.
    In addition, OSHA is modifying the text of paragraph (f)(6) to 
provide a corollary to the new provision in paragraph (f)(2)) that 
allows employers to provide initial documentation for operators that 
they are employing on the effective date of the rule, based on prior 
evaluations of those operators by the employers--another evaluation of 
those operators is not required for initial compliance with paragraph 
(f)(2). Because paragraph (f)(6) requires the documentation of the 
``completion of the evaluation,'' thereby implying that some evaluation 
has occurred, OSHA is adding language to that paragraph to clarify how 
employers following the new alternative approach in (f)(2) may satisfy 
the documentation requirement. In such cases, employers need only 
ensure that the documentation reflects the date of the employer's 
determination

[[Page 56230]]

of the operator's ability to safely operate the ``make, model and 
configuration of equipment on which the operator has previously 
demonstrated competency.'' This documentation preserves the baseline 
measure for these operators against which their future crane operations 
can be measured. Again, the employer is only required to document the 
make, model, and configuration of the equipment on which the employer 
has previously assessed that operator. Employers are free to, but not 
required to, list all of the makes, models, and configurations of all 
of the equipment that the operator is permitted to operate. For 
example, the employer may document that the operator has previously 
demonstrated that he or she is qualified to operate Crane A, and then 
also record that, based on that qualification to operate Crane A, the 
operator is also qualified to perform the same tasks using the Cranes 
B, C, and D. In that example, the employer does not have to record the 
make and model of Cranes B, C, and D in order for the operator to 
operate them as long as it is clear which cranes are referenced.
    Paragraph (f)(7) requires the employer to re-evaluate an operator 
whenever the employer is required to retrain the operator under Sec.  
1926.1427(b)(5). Section 1926.1427(b)(5) requires retraining if the 
operator's performance or an evaluation of the operator's knowledge 
indicate that retraining is necessary. OSHA intends this requirement to 
ensure that when an employer becomes aware that an operator is not 
competent in a necessary aspect of safe crane operation, the employer 
provides additional training to the operator and re-evaluates the 
operator. Re-evaluation is needed to ensure that the operator is 
competent in the area of the observed deficiency.
    As discussed in the explanation for paragraph (b)(5), triggers for 
retraining under paragraph (b)(5) and re-evaluation under paragraph 
(f)(7) might include a wide variety of feedback, such as (but not 
limited to) information from an on-site supervisor or safety manager, 
contractor, or other person that the operator was operating equipment 
unsafely, OSHA citations, a crane near miss, or other incidents that 
indicate unsafe operation of the crane.\24\ The re-evaluation must 
target the deficiency in skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and 
avert risk that triggered the retraining, but need not include a re-
evaluation of other previously evaluated skills, knowledge, or ability. 
Re-evaluations would need to be conducted by a person who meets the 
requirements of paragraph (f)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ In proposed Sec.  1926.1427(f)(5), OSHA inadvertently 
referred to compliance with retraining requirements under a non-
existent paragraph (b)(6) instead of the correct reference to 
paragraph (b)(5). OSHA has corrected this error in the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA does not view this re-evaluation as a significant departure 
from typical practices in the industry. As discussed previously, many 
stakeholders who spoke with OSHA at meetings and site visits emphasized 
that observation and re-evaluation take place on an ongoing, daily 
basis (see the Background and Need for a rule sections). For example, 
several stakeholders told OSHA that they would re-evaluate an operator 
if there was a crane near-miss or other incident indicating unsafe 
operation of the crane, or if they received negative feedback about 
that operator's performance from the controlling contractor or another 
party on a jobsite. (Reports #1, 2, 3, 18, 19, 22, 26 of ID-0673). Some 
employers conduct random worksite audits. (Reports #2, 3, 15, 18, 19 of 
ID-0673). One large construction company stated that it conducts over 
100 safety audits of job sites each year to ensure operators are 
properly qualified. (Report #15 of ID-0673). Four companies that hire 
crane rental companies (crane rental with operators) noted that they 
raise any observed issues with the employer of the crane operator or 
the union from which the operator was selected. (Reports #12, 14, 15, 
16 of ID-0673).
    OSHA requested comment on the re-evaluation requirement, noting in 
the NPRM that the requirements for re-evaluation are also in line with 
the powered industrial truck operator training standard, in which OSHA 
requires re-evaluation if there is reason to believe that the operator 
is operating unsafely, if there is a near-miss or other incident, if 
the nature of the work to be performed changes, or if other factors 
indicate a deficiency (Sec.  1910.178(l)(4)) (see 83 FR 23554). One 
commenter generally agreed with this approach, but requested that OSHA 
not include a fixed time period for renewals such as the 3-year period 
required in the powered industrial truck standard. ``As a practical 
matter,'' the commenter stated, ``reevaluation of [powered industrial 
truck] operators employed in the construction industry occur far more 
frequently than triennially'' and ``contractors evaluate crane 
operators daily, mandatory reevaluations of crane operators at 
arbitrarily-selected intervals are unnecessary and will not advance 
crane safety'' (ID-1719). Another commenter suggested that re-
evaluation of an operator should be required ``if there is a 
demonstrated need, or the technology or operations controls or 
expectations change'' (ID-1615). A different commenter, however, 
asserted that, in addition to requiring re-evaluations following 
observations of unsafe operation, OSHA should specify a fixed time 
period for re-evaluations ``at least on the same cycle as 
recertification (that is, at least every 5 years)'' because 
``certification procedure does not ensure competency for the particular 
equipment the operator is assigned'' (ID-1768).
    OSHA agrees with the commenters opposing fixed evaluations times 
that the record does not indicate a compelling need for re-evaluations 
at fixed intervals. While the one commenter requesting fixed re-
evaluations is correct that the re-certifications required every five 
years do not serve the same function as re-evaluation on particular 
equipment, re-certification would at least ensure that the operator is 
familiar with significant changes in the industry. In general, 
operators should not require the same type of refresher for specific 
equipment that is not changing, particularly equipment that they are 
operating regularly. If there are significant changes to the equipment 
on which an operator was previously evaluated, such as the retrofitting 
of a new computer system or significant safety device onto that 
equipment, the employer would need to retrain the operator on that 
equipment and re-evaluate the operator's ability to operate the 
retrofitted equipment if an evaluation of the operator's knowledge 
indicates that retraining is necessary for the operator (this 
evaluation is required under paragraph (f)(1) because the employer must 
ensure that the operator demonstrates the skills and knowledge to 
operate the equipment safely, ``including those specific to the safety 
devices, operational aids, software'').
    Thus, the regulatory text addresses the commenter's concern about 
changes in technology (ID-1615). Near misses and other unsafe operation 
are examples of when the ``performance of the operator . . . [provides] 
an indication that retraining is necessary'' under paragraph (b)(5). 
OSHA is not clear about the intent of the same commenter's suggestion 
of re-evaluation when ``expectations change'' (ID-1615), but regulatory 
text would require evaluations when there is a change in the tasks to 
which the operator is assigned that would require new knowledge, skill, 
or ability to identify and avert risk.

Paragraph (g)--[Reserved]

    This paragraph is reserved because the text at previous Sec.  
1926.1427(g) was moved to revised paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(c)(4). The 
provision was

[[Page 56231]]

moved to improve clarity of certification program requirements.

Paragraph (h)--Language and Literacy Requirements

    Previous paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(h) allowed operators to be 
certified in a language other than English, provided that the operator 
understands that language. Revised paragraph (h) is nearly identical to 
previous paragraph (h) with one exception. The last sentence of 
paragraph (h)(2) has been reworded to clarify that an operator is 
permitted to operate equipment only when he or she is furnished 
materials that are necessary for safe operation of the equipment and 
required by subpart CC, such as operations manuals and load charts, in 
the language of the operator's certification. The reference to previous 
paragraph (b)(2) was not maintained in proposed (h)(2) because it is no 
longer needed.
    Paragraph (h) continues to allow ``tests'' in languages understood 
by the operator. In revised paragraph (h), ``tests'' encompasses both 
the certification test and the employer's evaluation of the operator. 
Either or both may be in any language understood by the operator. The 
language of the operator's manual or other furnished materials required 
by the standard would only need to match the language of the 
certification.

Paragraph (i)--[Reserved]

Paragraph (j)--Certification Criteria

    Paragraph (j) specifies criteria that must be met by an accredited 
testing organization under revised paragraph (d) and an audited 
employer program under revised paragraph (e). The criteria specified by 
revised paragraph (j) of this section are the same as those specified 
under previous Sec.  1926.1427(j). However, the introductory regulatory 
text in the previous version of Sec.  1926.1427(j) states that 
``qualification and certifications'' must be based, at a minimum, on 
several criteria for the written and practical tests found in Sec.  
1926.1427(j)(1) and (2). Revised paragraph (j) deletes the words 
``qualification and'' because they are no longer necessary: Under the 
revised rule, a certification issued by an audited employer program is 
intended to be equivalent to that of an accredited testing program for 
purposes of complying with OSHA's rule. In the NPRM, OSHA neglected to 
replace the word ``qualification'' with ``certification'' in paragraph 
(e)(6)(i), so it is making that revision in this final rule. The other 
references to ``qualification'' have been removed from paragraph (e) in 
the final rule.

Paragraph (k)--Effective Date

    Almost all of Subpart CC has already been in effect since 2010, the 
certification requirements were scheduled to go into effect on November 
10, 2018 per OSHA's extension rule published last year (see 82 FR 51986 
(November 9, 2017)). The effective date of this final rule applies to 
the certification requirements and all but one of the amendments. As 
explained below and as an exception, OSHA has decided to allow 90 days 
after the publication of the final rule for employers to conform their 
practices for evaluating their operators, including documenting the 
evaluations, to the requirements of OSHA's standard.
    OSHA anticipates that most employers will require only minimal 
adjustment to their current practices, if any, such as documenting 
evaluations if they have not previously followed that practice. 
Employer assessment of operators has been a key part of the entire 
scheme of Sec.  1926.1427 in effect through Sec.  1926.1427(k) for 
eight years, so employers should already have a system in place that 
could be adapted as necessary to the new requirements.
    Nevertheless, several commenters requested additional time to 
adjust to the new evaluation requirements. Three commenters requested 
that OSHA extend the November 10, 2018, deadline for one year (ID-1605, 
1779, and 1801). One of these commenters stated that the extension was 
needed to provide ``an adequate amount of lead-time for instituting any 
new requirements for crane operator qualification'' and ``allow OSHA 
enough time and the opportunity to finalize the proposed rule'' (ID-
1605). The second of these stated that the additional time would 
``permit entities subject to certification requirements additional time 
to plan for and implement compliance'' and ``help alleviate any burden 
felt by small business affected by the rule'' (ID-1779). The third of 
this group of commenters suggested that the additional time was 
necessary to ``provide employers who have not currently certified their 
operators with sufficient time to do so,'' and encouraged OSHA to 
``align the effective date for successful evaluations of new or 
existing operators with that of the requested operator certification 
extension,'' but did not provide any additional rationale for their 
recommendation (ID-1801).
    Three commenters requested a six-month extension for OSHA to 
finalize the rulemaking and allow time for employers to adjust (IDs 
1611, 1735, and 1826). Another requested an indefinite extension of the 
operator certification requirement while OSHA reconsidered exemptions 
from the standard (ID-1707).
    OSHA agrees that some phase-in period is appropriate for the 
evaluation and documentation requirements, but disagrees that it is 
appropriate for the certification requirements. Employers have had 
ample notice since 2010 that certification requirements were going to 
go into effect.
    A trade association for the lumber industry (ID-1821) requested a 
year to develop training and evaluation programs that would comply with 
Sec.  1926.1427(b) and (f) because ``the training requirements in 
proposed Sec.  1926.1427(b) significantly differ from the current 
training requirements, and . . . would impose new measureable standards 
that will take time to incorporate in current training and evaluation 
programs'' (footnotes omitted). OSHA does not recognize any substantive 
difference between the revised training requirements in Sec.  
1926.1427(b) and the previous requirements in Sec.  1926.1427(f) except 
that the revised training requirements are clearer regarding the duty 
for continued training even after obtaining certification. The 
commenter's footnote 34, however, indicates that the commenter is 
comparing the revised training requirements to the phase-in operator 
competency requirements in Sec.  1926.1427(k), which are separate and 
different from the main training requirements in prior Sec. Sec.  
1926.1427(f) and 1926.1430. Those operator training requirements have 
been in effect since 2010.
    A labor organization (ID-1816) urged OSHA not to delay the 
effective date of the certification requirement or the amendments to 
the standard:

    Given the health of the construction economy there are, 
unfortunately, crane operators running types of equipment for which 
they are not fully qualified. In this way, the tight labor market 
places particular urgency on OSHA to implement the crane 
certification requirement thereby reducing the safety risks to 
workers as soon as possible. * * * we do not believe that a 6-month 
``phase-in'' period is necessary given the certainty that now exists 
for workers, employers, and other stakeholders in crane-operator 
certification.

    With respect to the evaluation requirements, there are more 
specific substantive differences between the revised standard and the 
previous standard, so it is understandable that employers may need some 
period of adjustment. The time periods suggested by the commenters 
appear excessive because the adjustment from the type of assessment 
required to comply with

[[Page 56232]]

prior Sec.  1926.1427(k) compared to the revised provisions should not 
be that significant. OSHA believes that the 90-day extension strikes a 
more appropriate balance to address the urgency expressed by the labor 
organization and the need for some transition period as outlined by 
other commenters.
Section 1926.1430(c)--Conforming Changes to Operator Training
    As noted earlier in this preamble, OSHA has amended only paragraph 
(c) of the training requirements in Sec.  1926.1430 by replacing the 
substantive operator training requirements with a reference to Sec.  
1926.1427(a) and (b). The primary purpose of this revision is to 
centralize the training requirements that are specific to operators in 
revised paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(b). However, OSHA has retained in 
Sec.  1926.1430 the training requirements that are more broadly 
applicable. OSHA requested comments on the proposed change, but 
received none. The paragraph is therefore revised as proposed.
    Paragraph Sec.  1926.1430(c)(1) requires that the employer train 
operators of equipment covered by subpart CC in accordance with Sec.  
1926.1427(a) and (b), which contain all of the requirements for 
training under the final rule. Operators of equipment that remains 
exempted from the training requirements of Sec.  1926.1427--derricks, 
sideboom cranes, and cranes with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 
2000 pounds or less--are addressed by paragraph Sec.  1926.1430(c)(2). 
Revised paragraph (c)(2), which is substantively the same as paragraph 
(c)(3) of the 2010 crane rule, provides a general requirement to train 
operators on the safe operation of the equipment. Paragraphs (c)(1) and 
(2) of this section work together to specify training requirements and 
clarify that all operators must be trained, regardless of whether an 
operator must be licensed/certified by any entity (including the U.S. 
military) to operate equipment.
    Section 1926.1430(c)(2) of the 2010 crane rule, Transitional 
Period, is no longer needed because employees need to train all 
operators under this final rule. The requirements of previous Sec.  
1926.1427(c)(4) have been moved to paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
Sections 1926.1436(q)--Derricks, 1926.1440(a)--Sideboom Cranes, and 
1926.1441(a) Equipment With a Rated Hoisting/Lifting Capacity of 2,000 
Pounds or Less
    As noted in the explanation for revised Sec.  1926.1427(a)(2), OSHA 
had proposed to apply the employer evaluation requirements to the 
following group of equipment otherwise exempt from the requirements of 
Sec.  1926.1427: Derricks, sideboom cranes, and equipment with a rated 
hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less. To accomplish the 
application of the evaluation requirements, OSHA had proposed revising 
Sec.  1926.1436(q) (Derricks), Sec.  1926.1440(a) (Sideboom Cranes), 
and Sec.  1926.1441(a) (Equipment with a Rated Hoisting/Lifting 
Capacity of 2,000 Pounds or Less) to require employers to evaluate 
operators according to the requirements in revised Sec.  1926.1427(f).
    One commenter (ID-1611) opposed any new evaluation requirements for 
derricks absent substantial evidence that this additional measure, 
which includes a requirement to document the evaluations, is warranted. 
In the 2010 final rule, OSHA relied on C-DAC's recommendation to 
exclude digger derricks, sideboom cranes, and low-capacity cranes 
(hoisting capacity at or below one ton) from the certification 
requirements of the standard and also went further in excluding this 
group of equipment from all of the requirements of Sec.  1926.1427, 
including the phase-in requirement for employer assessment of operators 
in Sec.  1926.1427(k). Instead, OSHA required employers to ``train each 
operator . . . on the safe operation of equipment the individual will 
operate'' (derricks and low-capacity cranes; see Sec. Sec.  
1926.1436(q) and 1926.1441(e)) or comply with the operator 
qualification provisions of ASME B30.14-2004 (sideboom cranes, see 
Sec.  1926.1440(c)(10)). In the NPRM of this rule, OSHA also clarified 
that sideboom cranes would need to comply with the training 
requirements in Sec.  1926.1430 (see proposed Sec.  1926.1427(a)(2)).
    In light of the concern about an unwarranted burden on employers 
raised by the commenter and the fact that OSHA had not previously 
explained its exclusion of this group of equipment from the phase-in 
assessment requirements in Sec.  1926.1427(k), OSHA has decided not to 
change the status quo that has existed for the last eight years with 
respect to this group of equipment. OSHA still requires employers to 
train operators of this equipment in accordance with the requirements 
of this standard. The agency therefore is not requiring employers to 
comply with the evaluation or documentation requirements in Sec.  
1926.1427(f) when their operators use derricks, sideboom cranes, or 
low-capacity cranes. As a result, operators of this group of equipment 
do not have to comply with any of the provisions of Sec.  1926.1427, so 
it is not necessary to revise Sec.  1926.1436(q), Sec.  1926.1440(a), 
or Sec.  1926.1441(a) as proposed because those paragraphs already 
state that compliance with Sec.  1926.1427 is not required.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ Another commenter was concerned that OSHA was changing the 
scope of the existing exemption for ``digger derricks,'' which is a 
group of equipment used primarily for electric utility and 
telecommunications construction (ID-1779). This limited exemption, 
which is in Sec.  1926.1400(c)(4), removes digger derricks from the 
entire cranes standard, but only to the extent that employers are 
using this equipment for work covered by OSHA's electric utility 
standard for construction (Subpart V of 29 CFR part 1926) or 
telecommunications construction (29 CFR 1910.268). OSHA did not 
propose to change this exemption for digger derricks and is not 
altering the exemption in this final rule, so the new evaluation 
requirements in this final rule do not apply to operators of digger 
derricks exempted from the scope of the standard by Sec.  
1926.1400(c)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Agency Determinations

A. Legal Authority

    The purpose of the OSH Act, 29 U.S.C. 651 et seq., is ``to assure 
so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and 
healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.'' 29 
U.S.C. 651(b). To achieve this goal, Congress authorized the Secretary 
of Labor to promulgate and enforce occupational safety and health 
standards. 29 U.S.C. 654, 655(b), and 658. A safety or health standard 
``requires conditions, or the adoption or use of one or more practices, 
means, methods, operations, or processes, reasonably necessary or 
appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of 
employment.'' 29 U.S.C. 652(8). A safety standard is reasonably 
necessary or appropriate within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. 652(8) if:
     It substantially reduces a significant risk of material 
harm in the workplace;
     It is technologically and economically feasible;
     It uses the most cost-effective protective measures;
     It is consistent with, or is a justified departure from, 
prior agency action;
     It is supported by substantial evidence; and
     It is better able to effectuate the purposes of the OSH 
Act than any relevant national consensus standard.

(See United Auto Workers v. OSHA, 37 F.3d 665, 668 (D.C. Cir. 1994) 
(Lockout/Tagout II).) In addition, safety standards must be highly 
protective. See id. at 669.
    A standard is technologically feasible if the protective measures 
it requires already exist, available technology can bring these 
measures into existence, or there is a reasonable expectation for 
developing the technology that can produce these measures. (See, e.g.,

[[Page 56233]]

American Iron and Steel Inst. v. OSHA (Lead II), 939 F.2d 975, 980 
(D.C. Cir. 1991) (per curiam).) A standard is economically feasible 
when industry can absorb or pass on the costs of compliance without 
threatening an industry's long-term profitability or competitive 
structure. (See American Textile Mfrs. Inst. v. Donovan, 452 U.S. 490, 
530 n. 55 (1981); Lead II, 939 F.2d at 980.) A standard is cost 
effective if the protective measures it requires are the least costly 
of the available alternatives that achieve the same level of 
protection. (See, e.g., Lockout/Tagout II, 37 F.3d at 668.)
    Section 6(b)(7) of the OSH Act authorizes OSHA to include among a 
standard's requirements labeling, monitoring, medical testing, and 
other information-gathering and information transmittal provisions. 29 
U.S.C. 655(b)(7). Finally, the OSH Act requires that when promulgating 
a rule that differs substantially from a national consensus standard, 
OSHA must explain why the promulgated rule is a better method for 
effectuating the purposes of the Act. 29 U.S.C. 655(b)(8). OSHA 
explains deviations from relevant consensus standards elsewhere in this 
preamble.

B. Final Economic Analysis and Regulatory Flexibility Certification

Introduction
    When it issued the final crane rule in 2010, OSHA prepared a final 
economic analysis (2010 FEA) as required by the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 651 
et seq.) and Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735 (Sept. 30, 1993)). OSHA 
also published a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis as required by 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612). Both the 2010 FEA 
and Regulatory Flexibility Analysis are in Docket ID 422. On September 
26, 2014, the agency included a separate FEA when it published a final 
rule extending until November 10, 2017, both the deadline for all crane 
operators to become certified, and the employer duty to ensure operator 
competency (79 FR 57785). In November 2017, OSHA published another 
extension for an additional year, until November 10, 2018 (82 FR 
51986), which closely tracks the 2014 FEA analysis. For each 
rulemaking, OSHA published a preliminary economic analysis (PEA) and 
received public comment on the analysis before publishing the final 
analysis.
    In the NPRM for the current rulemaking, OSHA included a PEA that 
relied on some of those earlier estimates, extensive agency interviews 
with industry stakeholders, crane incident data, and other documents in 
the rulemaking record. For example, the 2017 FEA for the deadline 
extension rule included a cost analysis of the employer evaluation to 
ensure operator competency. As a result, the cost estimates in the PEA 
in the current rulemaking were based on that analysis, which in turn is 
drawn from the 2014 FEA. Following the approach taken in the PEA, this 
Final Economic Analysis estimates new costs only for elements that have 
not previously been accounted for in either the 2010 final rule or in 
the deadline extensions. These are:
     Additional evaluations to ensure operator competency when 
there are changes not just in the type of crane (accounted for in the 
2017 FEA) but also changes that would require new skills, knowledge, or 
ability to recognize and avert risk necessary to operate the equipment 
safely, including those specific to the use of equipment or its safety 
devices, operational aids, software, or the size or configuration of 
the equipment.
     The permanent status of the employer duty to assess 
competency. While the cost of employer's duty to assess operator 
competency was estimated in the 2017 rule, the duty to assess was 
assumed to phase out after the deadline had passed. This final rule 
makes this duty permanent, so these costs are included in this FEA.
     Documentation by employers. This rule now requires 
employers to document the successful completion of operator 
evaluations.
     Additional training required beyond the training necessary 
for certification.
    Certain unit costs, such as the initial cost of operator 
certification and recertification every five years, are not re-analyzed 
in the FEA because they are unchanged by this rulemaking. The rule 
makes no changes that would impact the costs of certification by type 
of crane; OSHA simply allowed the existing operator certification 
deadline to be instituted as planned. The employer evaluation, which 
under the 2010 final crane rule (and the 2014 and 2017 extensions) was 
set to be phased out when certification took effect, remains in effect 
and is therefore a cost of the final rule. The unit costs of the 
employer evaluations were analyzed in the final rule of the deadline 
extension FEAs, and the agency relied on that analysis in calculating 
the ongoing evaluation costs in this FEA. In this FEA the agency has 
also updated wage rates to reflect the latest 2017 estimates that are 
from the same source as used in the PEA: Occupational Employment 
Statistics (OES), prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 
PEA relied on 2016 wages because the 2017 data was not yet available in 
time for the preparation of the PEA.
    The rule's cost savings are associated with withdrawing the 
requirement that crane operator certification be both for type and 
capacity of crane in favor of new regulatory text that certification be 
required only for type of crane.
    For the PEA, OSHA included an overhead rate when estimating the 
marginal cost of labor in its primary cost calculations. Overhead costs 
are indirect expenses that cannot be tied to producing a specific 
product or service. Common examples include rent, utilities, and office 
equipment. Unfortunately, there is no general consensus on the cost 
elements that fit this definition, and the lack of a common definition 
has led to a wide range of overhead estimates. Consequently, the 
treatment of overhead costs needs to be case-specific. OSHA adopted an 
overhead rate of 17 percent of base wages.\26\ This is consistent with 
the overhead rate used for sensitivity analyses in the FEA in the 2017 
final rule on Improved Tracking (81 FR 29624) and the FEA in support of 
the 2016 final rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline 
Silica (81 FR 16286). For example, to calculate the total labor cost 
for a crane and tower operator (SOC: 53-7021), three components are 
added together: Base wage ($26.78) + fringe benefits ($11.92, slightly 
more than 44% of $26.78) + applicable overhead costs ($4.55, 17% of 
$26.78).\27\ This increases the labor cost of the fully-loaded wage for 
a crane operator to $43.25. OSHA received no comments on this approach 
to estimating overhead costs and, as a result, has used the same 
approach in this FEA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The methodology was modeled after an approach used by the 
Environmental Protection Agency. More information on this approach 
can be found at: Cody Rice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
``Wage Rates for Economic Analyses of the Toxics Release Inventory 
Program,'' June 10, 2002 (ID-2025). This analysis itself was based 
on a survey of several large chemical manufacturing plants: Heiden 
Associates, Final Report: A Study of Industry Compliance Costs Under 
the Final Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule, Prepared for 
the Chemical Manufacturers Association, December 14, 1989.
    \27\ Throughout this chapter, OSHA presents cost formulas in the 
text, usually in parentheses, to help explain the derivation of cost 
estimates for individual provisions. Because the values used in the 
formulas shown in the text are shown only to the second decimal 
place, while the actual spreadsheet formulas used to create final 
costs are not limited to two decimal places, the calculation using 
the presented formula will sometimes differ slightly from the 
presented total in the text, which is the actual and mathematically 
correct total.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One change in costs for this FEA beyond updating economic data was

[[Page 56234]]

that the 2017 OES does not include the same occupation category for 
crane inspector (SOC 5353-1031 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation 
and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators) that was in the 2016 
OES and that was used in the PEA. The agency instead proxies the 2017 
mean hourly wage for this SOC category by adjusting the 2017 OES crane 
operator hourly wage by the percentage markup of the 2016 crane 
inspector hourly wage over the 2016 crane operator hourly wage (8%, 
28.75/26.58). The resulting estimated crane inspector hourly wage is 
$28.97 (26.78 x 1.08). Including a benefit markup of 1.45 (but not 
including overhead), the full hourly wages of a crane operator and 
crane inspector are $38.70 and $41.86, respectively.
    As noted earlier in the preamble, OSHA received a comment from the 
National Propane Gas Association (NPGA, ID--1631), echoed by many 
others, questioning whether OSHA had accurately estimated the number of 
operators in the propane gas industry affected by the standard as 
follows:

    OSHA states that there are approximately 117,130 crane operators 
subject to the proposal and an annual cost to the proposal of 
$1,425,133. There is no indication that these estimates include the 
propane industry, which has about 40,000 propane field technicians 
who perform delivery and retrieval functions and, thus, would be 
subject to the third-party certification required by the proposal. * 
* * [T]he industry uses two types of cranes interchangeably to 
deliver or retrieve propane containers . . . [so] propane field 
technicians would require two certifications; one for each type of 
crane.

(ID-1631).
    OSHA has previously accounted for the propane gas industry. In its 
2010 FEA, OSHA estimated that ``each of the retail establishments has, 
on average, a truck-mounted crane that would be engaged occasionally in 
construction activity covered under the rule'' (see 75 FR 48087). OSHA 
also estimated in 2010 that there were a total of 5,567 establishments 
in the propane industry (NAICS 454312, Liquefied Petroleum Gas 
Dealers). Therefore, with an average of one crane per establishment 
affected by the standard, there were 5,567 cranes affected by the 
standard (Id.). OSHA continued to rely on these numbers in the economic 
analyses accompanying the two extension rulemakings in 2014 and 2017, 
treating the number of establishments as a proxy for the number of 
propane crane operators requiring certification under the standard.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ The NPGA did not dispute OSHA's estimates of the number of 
crane operators when it commented on the 2014 extension (ID-0487). 
In response to the 2017 extension, the NPGA only encouraged OSHA to 
``consider more recent cost estimates'' but did not specify any new 
numbers (ID-0648).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To support its claim that OSHA has underestimated the rule's cost 
to the propane industry, NPGA pointed OSHA to a recent study of the 
consumer propane industry in 2015 prepared by the Propane Education & 
Research Council (PERC) (see ID 1631, Part 2). NPGA relies on that 
study in asserting that OSHA underestimated the number of 
establishments, and therefore operators, in the PEA for this 
rulemaking. Specifically, NPGA claims that a new 4-Digit NAICS code for 
``Fuel Dealers'' (45431) encompasses relevant propane establishments 
that are covered by the cranes standard but were not accounted for in 
OSHA's previous analysis of NAICS 454312, Liquefied Petroleum Gas 
Dealers (Id.).
    Based on NPGA's comment, OSHA believes that it may have previously 
underestimated the number of covered establishments and has decided to 
increase its estimate in this analysis. Because the PERC study does not 
identify which establishments in the ``Fuel Dealers'' NAICS code are 
actually propane delivery firms that might occasionally engage in 
construction activity, OSHA has conservatively revised the industry 
profile to include all 8,341 of the establishments in that more general 
NAICS code. However, OSHA believes that many of these 8,341 
establishments may not be propane delivery firms that engage in 
construction activity. This revision adds 2,774 additional 
establishments to OSHA's previous estimate of 5,567 establishments in 
the PEA. Continuing OSHA's methodology of estimating one certified 
crane operator per establishment, OSHA is estimating that there are 
8,341 crane operators in this industry that occasionally use a crane 
for construction activity.
    The NPGA's analysis takes a different approach, disregarding OSHA's 
approach of estimating the number of operators engaged in construction 
work per establishment. Instead, as quoted earlier, NPGA asserts that 
every operator possible--``about 40,000 propane field technicians who 
perform delivery and retrieval functions''--will use two different 
types of cranes, with each technician evidently requiring two different 
certifications under the theory that each technician uses both types of 
cranes for work covered by OSHA's construction standard (ID-1631). 
Thus, NPGA asks OSHA to assume that every propane field technician in 
the industry operates two different cranes and does so in situations 
involving construction activity, and that propane gas employers are 
ignoring standard measures of economic efficiency by having all 
employees engage in all tasks.
    OSHA disagrees with this approach. Propane field technician 
operators would fall under the crane rule in only one very specific and 
limited scenario: Installation of new tanks (not replacement of 
existing tanks in kind) at a construction site. As the NPGA 
acknowledges, delivery occurs at a construction site ``a far lower 
percentage of the time'' than at non-construction sites and that OSHA's 
cranes standard applies to only ``a small percentage'' of propane 
delivery work (ID-1631). Indeed, another stakeholder from the propane 
industry estimated that only ``around 10 percent of new construction 
jobs (such as new homes in rural areas) annually will require propane 
delivery'' (Report #19 of ID-0673, p. 76). NPGA has not indicated that 
conversion of existing homes to propane from other sources (thus 
requiring the delivery of a brand new tank) constitutes any significant 
percentage of their deliveries. OSHA therefore concludes that propane 
deliveries covered by OSHA's construction standard constitute ten 
percent or less of propane employer activities.
    OSHA notes that its conclusion is confirmed by a review of 
additional data. Using New Construction starts data from the US Census 
(at https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/pdf/quarterly_starts_completions.pdf) the average number of construction 
starts (both single family and multi-unit) per year for the years 2015-
2017 was 1,163,000. If 10% of the new construction starts involve the 
installation of propane, then 116,300 deliveries subject to OSHA's 
standard would be required. The same research group that created the 
2015 propane report that NPGA relied on in its comments also provided 
an estimate that ``about 30,000 fuel oil households per year have 
converted to propane.'' \29\ Adding this to the new construction 
estimate above gives a total of 146,300 deliveries of new tanks per 
year, which, based on NPGA's estimate of 40,000 operators in the 
propane industry, results in an average of 3.66 jobs per

[[Page 56235]]

propane operator per year (146,300/40,000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ Sloan, Michael, 2016 Propane Market Outlook, ICF 
International for the Propane Education and Research Council), p. 
20, available at https://www.afdc.energy.gov/uploads/publication/2016_propane_market_outlook.pdf (visited 10/1/18).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Given that only operators engaged in construction activity must be 
certified under OSHA's standard, and that only a very small percentage 
of overall delivery activity constitutes construction activity covered 
by OSHA's standard, OSHA disagrees that all operators in this industry 
will require certification. While it is technically possible that every 
operator would go on two different jobs with two different cranes such 
that all would need two certifications, such an approach would ignore 
economic convention. As with specialized work in general, an 
economically rational employer will, in most cases, be able to assign a 
consistent operator to handle this small percentage of specialized 
activity rather than assuming the cost to have all of its employees 
prepared to engage in a small percentage of the employer's overall 
activity. OSHA therefore continues to estimate that each establishment 
on average will require one certified operator to handle the occasional 
delivery of tanks that would be covered by OSHA's construction rule.
    OSHA's estimate is consistent with the information OSHA obtained 
during its interview with a propane distribution company that told OSHA 
it operates approximately 50 delivery centers in 11 states and 
maintains a fleet of 49 truck cranes (Id.), which is an average of 
almost one crane per delivery center. It is possible that a few 
establishments may require more than one certified operator due to 
special circumstances, but OSHA expects that number to be offset by the 
number of smaller establishments that would not be covered by OSHA's 
construction standard because they use equipment that is outside the 
scope of the standard (rated lifting capacity of less than 2,000 
pounds). Such establishments would only engage in re-fueling existing 
tanks or replacing existing tanks in kind, or they only deliver new 
tanks to the ground at a construction site (see OSHA's June 27, 2016, 
response to Mr. Robert F. Helminiak, former Director of Regulatory 
Affairs for the National Propane Gas Association, that simply 
transferring propane tanks from the equipment directly to the ground is 
considered ``delivery'' and covered by applicable requirements of 
general industry standards, not construction standards. Included in 
NPGA's comments, ID-1631, Appendix b-3). Furthermore, OSHA believes 
that its adoption of the highest end of the potential number of 
establishments provides an adequate margin to account for differences 
between the one-operator-per-establishment estimate and the actual 
number of operators at each establishment who would be engaged in 
construction activity.
    Due to these factors, the agency is not persuaded by the NPGA's 
economic analysis for either the number of operators or the cost of 
certification. OSHA has increased the number of affected establishments 
(and thus affected operators) in this FEA for this industry, but not to 
the extent proposed by NPGA.
    The remainder of the FEA first discusses the estimates for each 
type of cost and cost savings and then summarizes the net cost savings. 
Subsequent sections discuss economic and technological feasibility, 
regulatory flexibility certification, and finally potential benefits of 
this final rule. For this FEA, OSHA reviews any comments about its 
estimates at the end of the relevant sections.
    Given the updating of economic data, and the changes from the 
proposal to the final rule, the revisions to the standard will result 
in a cost savings of $1,752,000, at a 3 percent discount rate (versus 
the PEA estimated cost savings of $1,828,000), and $2,388,000 at the 
discount rate of 7 percent (versus the PEA estimated cost savings of 
$2,469,000k).
Evaluation Costs
    This section evaluates two kinds of evaluation costs: (1) The 
addition of evaluations when operators change equipment, 
configurations, or tasks that require new evaluations; and (2) the 
addition of evaluation requirements for all new employees. OSHA also 
increased its estimates of how many operators would require evaluations 
as a result of the addition of more propane delivery operators, as 
discussed above.
    As noted in the preamble explanation of this final rule, OSHA 
received feedback during stakeholder meetings, site visits, and 
interviews that, for a small percentage of employers, the proposed 
rule's requirements for additional evaluations for specific situations 
may have increased the number of operator evaluations they would 
conduct. The increase from previous estimates would result if employers 
need to conduct additional equipment-specific or task-specific 
evaluations.
    To estimate the costs for the new evaluations required by this rule 
(evaluations of operator knowledge and skills required to operate 
different equipment or perform new tasks), the agency had taken the 
following steps in the PEA, and the agency followed the same 
methodology for the FEA. First, it estimated the number of new 
evaluations required by the proposed rule. Then it estimated the unit 
costs for each evaluation. Finally, the agency multiplied the number of 
evaluations times the unit cost to identify the total costs of the 
proposed rule due to new evaluations.
    OSHA began its preliminary estimate of the number of evaluations by 
looking to its former rulemakings. In the 2017 deadline extension 
economic analysis, OSHA estimated employers' evaluations due to 
turnover of crane operators between employers, changes in the type of 
equipment operated for the same employer, and evaluations of operators 
new to the occupation. OSHA used the same estimate of total number of 
evaluations in the original 2010 crane rule.
    In the 2017 deadline extension economic analysis, OSHA estimated 
the total number of new evaluations needed each year to be 30,981 
evaluations (26,940 successful initial evaluations as well as 4,041 (15 
percent of 26,940) for operators who have to be re-assessed (82 FR 
51993)). The added propane field technician operators, with the 
standard 23% turnover and 15% re-assessment, contribute another 733 
evaluations (23% * (1 + 15%) * 2,774) for a total of 31,715 evaluations 
each year.
    However, after conducting extensive interviews with crane industry 
stakeholders for this rule, OSHA preliminarily determined in the PEA 
for this rulemaking that the agency had previously overestimated the 
number of new evaluations that the rule would require to be performed 
because OSHA had assumed that, in the absence of the rule, no employer 
would conduct evaluations. In fact, stakeholders reported that almost 
all employers conduct evaluations of new employees. As a result, the 
agency modified its estimates to estimate that 50 percent of employers 
(rather than 100 percent) would need to conduct such evaluations and, 
as a result, 15,490 annual evaluations would be attributable to this 
rule (83 FR 23559). The addition of the propane field technician 
operators, discussed earlier, adds another 367 evaluations (50% of the 
733 total propane evaluations, as identified earlier) for a total of 
15,857 evaluations each year that will occur as a result of this rule. 
The agency believes that even this estimate likely overestimates costs 
given that most employers conduct such evaluations and that assessments 
have been required for at least the last eight years under Sec.  
1926.1427(k). None of the commenters questioned OSHA's estimate that at 
least 50 percent of

[[Page 56236]]

establishments already provided the appropriate evaluations, and thus 
OSHA has not changed this estimate for this FEA.
    In the PEA, OSHA also estimated a small increase in evaluation 
costs from those in the 2017 deadline extension analysis because of the 
additional specificity in this rule about when evaluations are required 
and what an employer must evaluate. Specifically, proposed Sec.  
1926.1427(f) required evaluation as necessary to ensure that the 
operator maintains the ``skills, knowledge, and judgment necessary to 
operate the equipment safely'' and to perform assigned tasks, including 
specialty lifts such as blind lifts or multi-crane lifts. A similar 
version of this requirement is included in this final rule (with the 
replacement of ``judgment'' with ``ability to recognize and avert 
risk'') and therefore OSHA retains this estimated increase in 
evaluation costs for this FEA.
    In the PEA, OSHA preliminarily estimated that the proposed rule's 
specificity would lead to an additional 15 percent of evaluations, on 
top of the 15,490 evaluations conducted to comply with the less 
specific prior rule (83 FR 23559), or 2,324 ``new evaluations.'' OSHA 
explained that the stakeholder meetings and extensive OSHA interviews 
indicated that this new language would not require many employers to 
change their existing operator evaluation practices. Even before its 
2010 rulemaking, OSHA required employers engaged in construction to 
ensure that their operators were capable of operating their equipment 
safely (Sec. Sec.  1926.550 and 1926.20(b)(4) prior to promulgation of 
the crane standard on November 10, 2010). So for most employers, this 
final rule will simply be a requirement to continue their existing 
evaluation practices. OSHA further noted in the proposal that none of 
the stakeholders OSHA met with expressed any concerns about their 
ability to comply with these requirements (83 FR 23559). None of the 
commenters contested OSHA's estimate of a 15 percent increase in 
evaluations or disputed the agency's assessment of existing practices.
    In this FEA the agency again estimates that this rule will add 15 
percent more evaluations, but that 15% is calculated from a higher 
total number of operator evaluations that includes the additional 367 
propane operators. Thus, in this FEA OSHA estimates that there will be 
an additional 2,379 (15% x 15,857) ``new evaluations'' as a small 
percentage of employers increase their evaluations of operators who are 
switching equipment or performing more difficult tasks. This represents 
a very small percentage of the total costs of evaluations.
    The second element needed in order to estimate the total cost of 
evaluations is the unit costs for these evaluations. OSHA's unit cost 
estimates for evaluations, which are unchanged from the PEA except for 
increases in wage rates, took into account the time needed for the 
evaluation, along with the wages of both the operator and the 
specialized operator evaluator who will perform the evaluation. In its 
2017 FEA, OSHA estimated that an initial evaluation of an experienced 
operator with a compliant certification would take, on average, one 
hour (82 FR 51992). The new evaluations generated by the specificity of 
the rule would all be for previously evaluated, experienced operators 
who are adding a new skill or new knowledge to an existing skill set, 
not an initial evaluation for a brand new operator or an experienced 
employee new to the firm. Thus, in many cases any evaluation time will 
be minimal.
    Due to the specificity of the evaluation requirement in this rule, 
OSHA included the ongoing cost for the initial evaluations, which it 
had estimated previously in the 2017 FEA. These evaluations will 
continue to be necessary because of turnover of crane operators between 
employers, changes in the type of equipment operated for the same 
employer, and evaluations of operators new to the occupation. The total 
cost for these evaluations in this FEA is lower than the total 
evaluation cost estimated in the 2017 FEA. This is partly because the 
evaluations cost in the 2017 FEA was for an operator population that 
was a mix of operators with a compliant certification (certified by 
both the type and capacity of crane), non-compliant certification (by 
type but not capacity), and no certification. The time for evaluation, 
and hence its cost, was linked to operator certification status and 
varied for these three types with the least time (one hour) for an 
evaluation of an operator with a compliant certification. The new final 
rule removes the existing requirement for certification by capacity, 
meaning there would be no operators in the previously estimated ``non-
compliant certification'' group. This means that all operators would 
receive evaluations for operators with a compliant certification and 
hence will have the same unit cost for a one-hour evaluation. The 
hourly wage of the evaluator was estimated to be the same as the hourly 
wage of occupation First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and 
Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators (SOC: 53-1031 from the 
BLS 2016 OES dataset updated to 2017) of $46.78 in 2017 dollars 
including a markup for fringe benefits and overhead.\30\ The operator's 
time is valued at the wage plus fringe benefits of occupation Crane and 
Tower Operators (SOC: 53-7021) plus overhead, at $43.25. Hence, the 
combined hourly cost for an evaluation or a training episode is $90.04 
($43.25 + $46.78).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ The fringe markup is 1.45, derived from the BLS Employer 
Costs for Employee Compensation, Private Industry Total Benefits for 
Construction Industries March 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Multiplying that unit cost by the 15,857 initial evaluations 
estimated in this FEA, the total annual cost for these ongoing initial 
evaluations is $1,428,000 ($90.04 x 15,857).\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total cost for the 2,379 new evaluations, which are for 
experienced operators who are adding a new skill or new knowledge to an 
existing skill set, is therefore the product of multiplying that unit 
cost by the total number of evaluations: $22.51 x 2,379 new evaluations 
= $54,000.
    The total annual cost for evaluations is therefore $1,481,000, 
which is the sum of the $1,428,000 in initial evaluations and the 
$54,000 for new evaluations.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    No commenter raised specific objections to the estimates used in 
the PEA for the costs of evaluation. Some comments suggested generally 
that OSHA's preliminary estimate of the number of evaluations was low, 
based on an apparent misunderstanding of the standard (see, e.g., ID 
1623, 1801). For example, one commenter (ID-1801) was concerned that 
OSHA's requirement to document the make and model of crane on which an 
operator was evaluated meant that OSHA would require a separate 
evaluation for every single make and model of crane that a crane 
operator might use. This is not the case. While the employer must list 
the make and model of the crane that the operator was evaluated on, the 
employer can then rely on that evaluation as a baseline and allow the 
operator to use other cranes that do not require significant new 
skills, knowledge, or ability to identify and avert risk in order for 
the operator to operate the equipment safely. Another commenter (ID-
1623) states that ``One crane company alone testified [at an ACCSH 
meeting] that the cost to document all of his employees on every crane 
he owns, with each capacity, configuration and new additional 
requirements would cost him more than ONE MILLION dollars.'' The 
commenter did not provide any explanation or basis for that

[[Page 56237]]

amount, and the agency does not find this plausible and suggests it is 
a misreading of the rule. OSHA's single evaluation cost is $90.04, so 
to reach one million dollars in cost for a single employer, that 
employer would have to do 11,106 evaluations each year (1,000,000/
90.04).
    Other commenters expressed some confusion about who had to conduct 
the evaluation. Some asked if an employer renting a crane with an 
operator(s) had to conduct its own evaluation (see ID-1495, ID-1615). 
This is not required. The crane rental company is the employer of the 
operator in that scenario and carries the duty to evaluate its 
operator. Thus, there is no expense for an additional evaluation for 
operators who are provided with rented cranes. Some small businesses 
were concerned that they might not have an employee with the expertise 
to evaluate a crane operator (see ID-1495.) The employer is responsible 
for assuring that an operator has been evaluated, but need not conduct 
that evaluation itself. The employer can, for example, arrange for an 
evaluator from another organization, such as a labor organization or 
crane operator training company, to serve as its agent and evaluate a 
crane operator from a union hiring hall.
Employer Evaluation Documentation Costs
    The rule adds a new documentation requirement for a successful 
evaluation. In both the PEA and the FEA, OSHA estimated the annual 
evaluation documentation costs using the following three steps: It 
estimated unit costs of meeting this requirement; estimated the total 
number of cases of documentation that employers will need to perform in 
any given year; and multiplied unit costs of documentation by the 
number of cases to determine the annual costs.
    This final rule requires that employers document information about 
the equipment that the operators is evaluated on (make, model, and 
configuration) and include the evaluator's signature. Because of this, 
the agency determined that the evaluator will complete all 
recordkeeping related to this documentation. OSHA's unit cost estimates 
for evaluation documentation take into account the time needed and the 
wage of the employee who completed the documentation. The time needed 
for creating and filing the needed information is estimated to be 5 
minutes of the evaluator's time. As above, the hourly wage of the 
evaluator is estimated to be $46.78. Hence, the cost of documenting a 
successful evaluation is $3.90 ((5/60) x $46.78).
    The revised standard does not require employers to re-evaluate 
operators who have already previously demonstrated that they have the 
skills, knowledge, and abilities to operate the employer's equipment 
safely. The employer may rely on previous assessments of these 
operators, but must still document their qualifications (see preamble 
discussion of Sec.  1926.1427(f)(1)(iii) and (f)(4)). In the PEA, the 
agency preliminarily determined that employers would have documented 
most evaluations in the past, but estimated the number of past 
evaluations still needing documentation at 15 percent of the number of 
operators, or 17,570 (15% x 117,130) (see 83 FR 23560). This approach 
assumed that each employer would need to document employees evaluated 
within the year prior to effective data of the rule, but not all 
existing employees. To account for the one time need to document the 
evaluations for all existing employees, and not just those hired in the 
last year, OSHA is assuming all employees not hired in the last year 
(85 percent derived as 100 percent minus the 15 percent new in that 
year) would need to be documented. The FEA is thus raising the number 
of evaluations needing documentation to 85 percent of the number of 
operators, or 99,561 (85% x 117,130), thus taking account of the need 
to document past or ongoing evaluations of all employees.
    With the addition of 2,774 propane field technician operators, the 
total number of evaluations needing documentation is estimated to be 
102,335 (99,561 + 2,774) in this FEA. This estimate is based on the 
final rule's clarification that all evaluations of existing employees 
must be documented, but existing operators at the time the rule becomes 
effective do not need to be re-evaluated from scratch. This estimate 
assumes that all existing employees not subject to turnover or changes 
in equipment will need new documentation. This almost certainly 
overestimates the need for documentation because it ignores existing 
documentation practices, which OSHA's interviews with stakeholders 
indicate exist. This total extra first year cost is $399,000 ($3.90 x 
102,335). Annualized over 10 years at a 3 percent discount rate gives 
an annualized cost of $47,000. At a discount rate of 7 percent, this 
annualized cost is $57,000.
    Employers are only required to document successful evaluations, and 
OSHA estimates that 15% of the operators will fail their evaluations. 
As noted above, OSHA estimates 15,857 initial evaluations and 2,379 new 
evaluations, for a total of 18,236 evaluations. With this 15% failure 
rate, only 15,857 evaluations would require documentation (18,236/
1.15). OSHA calculated that the total annual documentation cost, absent 
the first year extra documentation costs for existing, previously 
evaluated operators, is $62,000 ($3.90 per evaluation x 15,857 
evaluations).
    In the PEA, OSHA requested comment on its estimates of the 
documentation costs. While none of the commenters dispute any of the 
individual components of OSHA's documentation cost estimates, most of 
the same comments that expressed concern about costs because of an 
apparent confusion about the number of evaluations that would be 
required also raised the same concern about the number of 
documentations and resulting costs (ID-1623, 1801).
Employer Costs for Operator Training
    The final rule clarified the operator training requirements as 
proposed, and OSHA retained the same methodology in its analysis of the 
training costs. As explained in the 2010, 2014, and 2017 rulemakings, 
employers were already required to train their operators prior to the 
2010 rule, and OSHA did not estimate additional training costs other 
than costs of optional certification preparation training classes in 
its recent rulemakings (see, e.g., 75 FR 48097). The revised rule 
clarifies that the training already required under the previous rule 
continues to be required even after an operator is certified, including 
training necessary when an operator requires new knowledge or skills 
because of a change in equipment or tasks. Although OSHA's site visits 
and interviews indicated that most firms are already providing the 
required training, including the additional training necessary to 
ensure that certified operators have the skills and knowledge to 
operate new equipment or perform new tasks, OSHA calculated costs for 
additional trainings that may occur as a result of this clarification.
    OSHA's calculation of the cost of these additional trainings 
required several steps. First, OSHA estimated the average annual number 
of equipment-specific or task-specific trainings as a percentage of the 
new evaluations required by the rule, as estimated earlier. OSHA 
expected the number of trainings to be a subset of the number of 
evaluations because in many cases the operator will already possess the 
required skills necessary for a new piece of equipment or a new task 
and be able to demonstrate competency after only a cursory explanation 
of the differences.

[[Page 56238]]

For example, an experienced operator conducting a blind lift for the 
first time may have sufficient mastery of the equipment such that she 
could pass an evaluation after only a very brief discussion of the 
signals to be used. In the PEA, the agency judged that 50 percent of 
the new evaluations, or 1,162 evaluations (50% x 2,324), would also 
require trainings (83 FR 23560-23561). OSHA did not receive any comment 
on this estimate. Using the same estimates for the newly included 
propane field technician operators adds 28 additional evaluations (15% 
of 366 evaluations is 55, and 50% of 55 is 28) that will require 
additional training for a total of 1,189 (1,162 + 28) instances where 
additional training will be needed.
    The second step is to identify an average amount of time that each 
training will take. Some trainings are likely to require detailed 
instructions about operating particular equipment and discussions of 
protocol prior to a lift. Other trainings might involve a very short 
period of instruction, such as to familiarize an experienced operator 
with the setup of standard controls in a different crane of the same 
type with which the operator already has experience. While OSHA lacked 
data about the frequency of these different types of trainings, it 
estimated in the PEA that the average time for each training is one 
hour (83 FR 23561). For context, this is the same amount of time that 
OSHA previously estimated that it would take for an inexperienced 
operator to take the practical portion of the standard crane operator 
test. OSHA solicited comment on this one-hour estimate, but received 
none. OSHA has therefore relied on the same estimate in this FEA.
    OSHA expects two employees to be occupied during this hour of 
training: The equipment operator and the trainer. Using the same wage 
estimates as above, the hourly wage for the operator would be $43.25 
and a supervisor's hourly wage of $46.78 for the trainer. However, not 
all of the training time will result in a loss of productivity to the 
employer. OSHA's site visits and interviews indicate that it is common 
for operators to spend at least some of the training time operating the 
crane under the instruction of the trainer, performing tasks that 
actually are useful for the employer. While all of the trainer's time 
is an opportunity cost for the employer, at least part of the 
operator's time results in productivity for the employer. OSHA 
estimated in the PEA that, on average, 75 percent of the operator's 
training time (45 minutes of the hour) would consist of pure 
instruction or other activities that would not be productive for the 
employer (Id.). OSHA requested comment on this estimate but received 
none and is therefore relying on that estimate in the FEA. Based on the 
estimated one hour for each training, the unit cost for each training 
is therefore the supervisor's wage for one hour ($46.78) plus $31.95 in 
operator's wages for the 45 minutes of non-productive time (Three 
quarters of the operator's hourly wage of $43.25), or $79.22 per 
training. Thus, the total cost of the training industry-wide is $94,000 
($79.22 x 1,189).
Cost Savings of Avoiding Additional Certifications
    Absent this final rule, all crane operators who are currently 
certified only by crane type would have needed to obtain certification 
both by type and capacity. This final rule removes the requirement for 
certification by capacity and allows employers to rely on either ``type 
and capacity'' or ``type only'' crane certifications, leaving only 
certification by crane type as the obligation of the crane standard. To 
calculate the cost-savings of additional certifications that would be 
avoided by the final rule, OSHA estimated the number of crane operators 
not yet in compliance with the type-and-capacity certification 
requirement and multiplied that estimate by the estimated cost of 
obtaining such certification.
    Based on OSHA's previous rulemakings, OSHA estimated that 71,700 
crane operators do not yet possess a type-and-capacity certification. 
(82 FR 51993). Although the 2014 FEA estimated a gradual decline over 
time of the number of such operators (an estimate of 61,474 in 2016, 
see Table 1, 79 FR 57796), the 2017 extension estimated that 71,700 
operators were not yet in compliance and would not be for much of 2017 
and 2018 leading up to the new 2018 deadline. (see Table 1, 82 FR 
51995). In the PEA, the agency accordingly estimated the number of 
operators certified by crane type only would remain at 71,700 each year 
and no commenters provided better data. OSHA adopted this approach 
because 71,700 was the last hard data point the agency had, and relies 
on it again in the final rule.\33\ Certification has likely gradually 
spread as an expected job qualification in the crane operator job 
market, so it is quite possible that the number of operators possessing 
a type, but not type-and-capacity certification, is actually higher 
today. The largest certification school issues a certificate by type 
only, which means there may be additional cost savings that OSHA is not 
attributing to this final rule since there are more operators certified 
by type only who would not have to become certified by type and 
capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ Note that this 71,700 operators is not impacted by OSHA's 
increase in the total number of operators to account for additional 
propane industry operators because this number only reflects 
operators certified by type of crane, but not capacity, who would 
have needed to obtain a new certificate by capacity. The NPGA has 
indicated that the majority of its operators have not yet obtained 
any certification under the hope that they would be excluded from 
the standard, so those operators are not included in the group of 
71,700.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA looked to the 2017 deadline extension rule to estimate the 
unit cost of a type and capacity certificate. There, the agency 
estimated that such a test would take 2.5 hours and require a $250 
fixed testing fee (82 FR 51994). At the hourly crane operator wage 
noted above ($43.25), the total cost for a compliant certification is 
$358.13 ($250 + (2.5 x $43.25)). If 71,700 crane operators needed to 
take the test, the cost would be $25,678,000 (71,700 x $358.13). These 
costs include only the time and costs necessary for certification, and 
do not include the costs necessary for training for the certification 
examination, which would occur prior to taking the type-only 
examination. Because this rule would remove the requirement for 
additional certifications by capacity, that amount becomes a cost 
saving.
    Commenters presented two different challenges to OSHA's estimates 
of the unit cost for certification. The NPGA's comment, mirrored in 
many of the comments that were part of a mass mailing from the propane 
industry, claimed that the unit cost for two certifications is $3,790, 
which would be $1,185 per certificate ((ID-1631, Part 2). However, the 
NPGA's estimates are for a brand new operator (including preparatory 
class time as well as the tests), which is different than the cost that 
OSHA estimated here for the purpose of determining costs savings from 
avoiding an additional certificate for an operator who already has a 
type-only certificate.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ The economic analysis used by the agency to estimate costs 
for new operators (those without any certificates) results in a 
comparable number that is actually slightly higher than NPGA's 
estimate. See, for example, the 2014 deadline extension analysis: 
``OSHA estimated that training and certification costs for an 
operator with only limited experience would consist of $1,500 for a 
2-day course (including tests) and 18 hours of the operator's time, 
for a total cost of $2,141.16.'' (79 FR 57794).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The IUOE identified a per-certification cost from NCCCO of $225, 
which is slightly lower than OSHA's estimate of $250 (ID-1816). But the 
IUOE estimate does not account for the hourly cost of the operator's 
time to take the certification exam. The agency notes

[[Page 56239]]

that its estimate costs the average price in the market, not a single 
firm, and believes its current costs are reasonable. Note to the extent 
the agency is underestimating costs this means its estimate of cost 
savings is too low.
    This, of course, is a one-time cost savings, while costs of 
continued evaluations and most of the other cost elements of the rule 
are ongoing. Using the agency's standard 10 year horizon, the result is 
an annualized cost savings of $3,010,000 at a discount rate of 3 
percent, and an annualized cost savings of $3,656,000 at a discount 
rate of 7 percent.
    The agency estimates there will also be ongoing cost savings due to 
a number of certifications that would have only been needed for a 
change in capacity (but not type) and hence no longer will be needed. 
More than half of certified crane operators have been certified by a 
certifying body (including state and local governments) that does not 
issue certificates by capacity, which indicates that many of these 
operators may not need multiple capacity certifications. OSHA 
conservatively estimated the value of this cost savings by taking 50 
percent of the 2,379 additional evaluations, or 1,189 (0.50 x 2,379) as 
an additional number of annual certifications that would have been 
required solely due to changes in crane capacity but not crane type. 
The unit cost for this certification follows previous analysis in 
assigning a $250 flat fee for the certificate, as well as 1.5 hours of 
the operator's time for the written exam and 1 hour for the practical 
exam. This gives a unit cost of $358.13 ($250 + (2.5 x $43.25)). 
Finally, the total annual cost savings for these avoided certifications 
is $426,000 (1,189 x $358.13). Hence, along with the one-time cost 
savings due to omitted certifications, the total cost savings for these 
two elements are $3,436,000 ($3,010,000 + $426,000) at a 3 percent 
discount, and total cost savings for these two elements of $4,082,000 
($3,656,000 + $426,000) at a 7 percent discount rate.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted above, OSHA may be somewhat underestimating the cost 
savings of this final rule, which would offset any potential 
underestimation of costs. Regardless, this has no effect on the 
economic feasibility of this rule.
Total Cost of the Final Rule
    The total annual cost of the final rule comprises the cost items 
identified above: Evaluations (those previously calculated with offsets 
from the removal of the requirements to certify by capacity and with 
the additional evaluation costs to account for new skills and tasks), 
documentation of the evaluations (including the one-time first year 
evaluation documentation for existing, currently employed operators 
without such documentation), and training costs. The cost savings is 
due to averting the need for all operators who currently have a type 
only certification to obtain a type-and-capacity certification. Since 
the last item is relatively large and primarily occurs in the first 
year while the other costs are ongoing, the discount rate and discount 
horizon have a significant impact on the final total cost. At a 
discount rate of 3 percent the sum of those parts is a cost savings of 
$1,752,000 ($1,428,000 + $54,000 + $62,000 + $94,000 + $47,000-
$3,010,000-$426,000). Using a discount rate of 7 percent there are cost 
savings of $2,388,000 ($1,428,000 + $54,000+ $62,000 + $94,000 + 
$57,000-$3,656,000-$426,000).\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Here is a summary table of all the costs:

                     Summary Table-Annualized Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            3% Discount     7% Discount
                                               rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
initial evaluations.....................      $1,428,000      $1,428,000
new evaluations.........................          54,000          54,000
ongoing documentation evaluation........          62,000          62,000
Training................................          94,000          94,000
initial evaluation documentation                  47,000          57,000
 (annualized)...........................
non-capacity certifications, current         (3,010,000)     (3,656,000)
 population (cost savings, 10 years
 annualized)............................
non-capacity certifications, ongoing           (426,000)       (426,000)
 (cost savings).........................
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................     (1,752,000)     (2,388,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Economic and Technological Feasibility
    The agency has determined that the proposal is technologically 
feasible because many employers already comply with all the provisions 
of the revised rule and the rule would not require any new technology. 
Ignoring cost savings, the cost elements of significance for this rule 
making are the evaluation requirement with associated training of 
$79.22 per training and $90.04 for each operator evaluation, for a 
total of $169.25 per operator, which should be a small expense for the 
businesses covered under this rule. The vast majority of employers 
already invest the resources necessary to comply with the provisions of 
the standard. Hence the agency preliminarily concludes that the 
standard is economically feasible.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ A number of commenters questioned the impact of the 
standard's requirement for operator certification on their 
industries (see for example 1612, 1631, 1746 and many other comments 
from the propane gas industry). The requirement for operator 
certification is already part of the standard and the removal of 
that requirement is beyond the scope of this rulemaking, as 
explained earlier in the preamble to this rulemaking. OSHA 
demonstrated the economic feasibility of operator certification 
requirement in the 2010 rulemaking; the agency need not re-analyze 
it in this rulemaking, which addresses certification only to the 
extent that it reduces the number of certifications required by the 
standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certification of No Significant Economic Impact on a Substantial Number 
of Small Entities
    The largest cost element of the revisions to the rule is an 
evaluation requirement with associated training of $79.22 per training 
and $90.04 for each operator evaluation, for a total of $169.25. Small 
businesses will, by definition, have few operators, and the $169.25 
cost for each operator evaluation with training will not be a 
significant impact for even the smallest businesses. At an hourly wage 
of $43.25, the annual salary for an operator is $86,500 ($43.25 x 8 x 5 
x 50), so this operator evaluation cost is 0.2% (169.25/86,500) of an 
operator's annual salary. Hence, OSHA certifies that this final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

[[Page 56240]]

    As with economic feasibility, there were a number of commenters 
focused on the impact of the standard's requirement for operator 
certification on OSHA's preliminary determination that the rule would 
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
businesses. As noted in the economic feasibility analysis, this 
rulemaking addresses certification only to the extent that it reduces 
the number of certifications required by the standard.
Benefits
    OSHA's 2010 Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard included 
an extensive analysis of the benefits attributed to preventing crane-
related fatalities and serious injuries. In that analysis, OSHA relied 
on IMIS injury data made available in 2008 (see 75 FR 48093), finding 
that the standard would prevent 175 injuries and 22 fatalities per year 
for a total annual benefit of $209.3 million (75 FR 48079-48080).
    OSHA, in the proposal for this rule, preliminarily concluded that 
allowing certification by type only would result in no loss of 
benefits. OSHA received only one comment challenging that conclusion. 
That commenter, a representative of a certification body that issues 
certifications by capacity, claimed that ``[r]etaining capacity will 
require more stringent testing resulting in an increase in crane 
safety, thus fewer accidents,'' (ID-1235), but this commenter did not 
provide further explanation of why the testing would be more stringent 
or any evidence that it would increase safety.
    While testing organizations differed over whether a certification 
by capacity provided any useful information to an employer, the 
remainder of the commenters agreed that capacity is just one factor to 
be considered in the employer's overall evaluation of the operator's 
ability. Only one commenter opposed removing certification by capacity, 
but even that commenter did not point to any specific loss of safety 
benefits. The majority of commenters that responded to this issue 
support removing the certification by capacity requirement (ID-0690, 
0703, 0719, 1611, 1616, 1619, 1628, 1632, 1719, 1735, 1744, 1755, 1764, 
1768, 1801, 1816, 1826, 1828). None of the commenters supporting the 
removal of the requirement for certification by capacity indicated that 
the removal of that requirement would result in any loss in safety 
benefit. An industry group whose membership uses cranes for roofing 
work stated that capacity ``did very little to advance the safe 
operation of cranes at construction jobsites'' (ID-1619). A local 
chapter of a labor union noted that the two certification bodies that 
offer certification by capacity did not offer any safety evidence to 
the agency in OSHA's previous public hearings or stakeholder meetings 
(ID-1719). Referring to consensus standards and industry best 
practices, a national labor organization implied that there is no 
industry recognition of a safety benefit from certification by 
capacity, noting that ASME B30.5 ``does not describe testing or 
examination by capacity,'' and the organization ``is not aware of any 
state or local regulatory body . . . that requires certification or 
licensing by both type and capacity'' (ID-1816). In its request for 
comments on this issue, the agency specifically asked for information 
that demonstrated the safety benefits of certification by capacity, but 
it did not receive any such information.
    As noted in the sections on ``Background'' and ``Need for a Rule,'' 
OSHA received significant feedback from stakeholders following the 2010 
final rule indicating that the standard, to be fully effective, would 
need to preserve the employer duty to evaluate operators separately 
from the general operator certification requirement. Certifications are 
intended to address basic operator knowledge and skills, but do not 
assess operators' familiarity with the actual equipment they will 
operate or the specific tasks they will perform. The amendments to the 
standard in this rulemaking make that employer duty permanent and add 
specificity, thereby ensuring that the full benefits of the standard 
will be realized.
    The safety benefit of the rule is the prevention of injuries or 
fatalities resulting when operators certified to operate the type of 
crane assigned still lack the knowledge or skill to operate that crane 
for the assigned task. As noted earlier, there are many variables in 
equipment and controls between different models of the same type of 
crane, and there are many crane operations that require additional 
knowledge and skill beyond that demonstrated during certification 
(e.g., swinging a ``headache ball'' instead of lifting a load, 
performing a blind lift, participating in a multi-crane lift, etc.). 
Certification does not address these variables or provide assurance 
that the operators are qualified to safely operate the equipment for 
the task assigned, so without these amendments operators could be 
permitted to perform equipment operations after November 2018 that they 
are not qualified to operate safely. OSHA has already determined that 
there is a significant risk of injury when operators are allowed to 
operate heavy machinery that they are not qualified to operate.
    The 2010 crane rule estimated annual net benefits at $55.2 million 
in 2010 dollars (75 FR 47914). Since there are cost savings for this 
final rule, net benefits of the joint 2010 final rule and this final 
rule are vastly greater than zero.
    While this rule attempts to realize the full benefits already 
identified in 2010 for the standard, and OSHA need not parse the 
benefits of each provision of the standard separately, OSHA recognizes 
that the revision to the standard is also likely to generate additional 
benefits from the more specific requirement for employers to evaluate 
operators on specific equipment for specific tasks. To explore this, 
OSHA conducted further analysis of recent IMIS incident reports in an 
effort to illustrate the new benefits of the evaluation requirements 
beyond the benefits that would be achieved through the previous 
standard with operator certification alone.
    OSHA looked at IMIS accident reports for 2009-2013, years 
subsequent to the data used for the FEA for the 2010 rulemaking. All 
accidents with any of the search terms ``boom,'' ``crane,'' or ``pile 
driver'' in either the event description or in the abstract were 
examined, the same keywords as used in the analysis for the 2010 final 
rule. OSHA identified incidents where there was an express mention in 
the IMIS description that the crane operator was unfamiliar with the 
specific crane equipment used during the incident, or with the specific 
task. Using this methodology, the agency has been able to identify 
three fatalities that may have been prevented if the updated evaluation 
requirement had been in place at the time. It is true that there was a 
general duty to ensure operator competency at the time of these 
incidents (see Sec. Sec.  1926.20(b)(4) and 1926.1427(k)(2)). But, as 
explained above, that previous employer duty was stated very generally 
and employers might have believed that a preliminary general 
examination of the operator could satisfy the requirement without 
accounting for evaluation of the operator's ability to operate 
different models of the same type or perform new tasks.
    OSHA believes that the revised rule, which makes the evaluation 
duty permanent and includes more detailed evaluation documentation 
requirements, would make it more likely an employer conducts the 
appropriate type of evaluation and therefore more likely that such 
incidents would be avoided in the future. By specifying the elements to

[[Page 56241]]

be evaluated, OSHA expects the evaluations to be more effective at 
preventing injuries by identifying operator limitations in a timely 
manner. For example, the employer might have believed it was complying 
with the previous general employer duty if it evaluated an operator and 
found that the operator was qualified to operate a particular crane to 
lift pallets of material, even though the employer did not perform any 
additional evaluation before assigning the operator to a lift that 
required additional skills, such as a blind lift or lifting poles 
instead of pallets. As indicated by the second IMIS example below, 
there is greater risk of injury if the operator is not qualified to 
perform the new task. OSHA expects the documentation requirement to 
assist employers in complying with the different evaluation elements of 
the standard. And OSHA expects that the documentation requirement will 
facilitate communication between supervisors and operators and help 
avoid assignment of an operator to equipment or tasks for which he or 
she is not qualified, thereby reducing the risk of injury from 
unqualified operation.
    The IMIS summaries are not particularly detailed or uniform, so 
many more of these incidents may also have involved similar operator 
failures that were not explicitly detailed in the IMIS summary. But the 
complete IMIS abstract of each fatal incident follows.

    Case One: Operator not competent to use specific equipment:
    At approximately 2:50 p.m. on June 16, 2009, an employee was 
walking toward a seawall the company was reconstructing when a 
section of the boom failed and fell on him. The employee was killed. 
The crane had been built in 1964, and was bought by Ray Qualmann 
Marine Construction, Inc. on April 29, 2008. The company never 
performed an annual inspection of the crane or a monthly one, and 
documentation was not available to indicate any maintenance had been 
done to the crane. The only documentation available for the crane 
was an inspection report dated June 10 2009, made by a crane 
operator who worked for the company, which failed to identify that 
the crane did not have a boom angle indicator, that several lacings 
were bent on it, and that the angles and spacing of the repaired 
lacings were uneven. In addition, neither the crane operator who 
operated the crane on the day of the accident, nor the foreman, had 
ever seen the operator's and maintenance manual for the crane 
involved in the accident. The crane operator was not familiar with 
the controls of the crane. The operator did not know the weight of 
the load, and did not know the length of the boom. The crane was 
overloaded when the accident occurred.

    The general manager of Ray Qualmann Marine Construction claimed 
that the operator had extensive crane experience and had worked for the 
company for more than 20 years. OSHA concluded in its investigation, 
however, that the company allowed the operator use of the Link-Belt LS-
58 crane with no training for this equipment. The abstract indicates 
that the lack of familiarity with the specific equipment used 
contributed to the fatality. An evaluation of the operator's competency 
on the specific equipment, rather than the general skills and knowledge 
tested as part of the third-party certification process, would have 
been more likely to identify the problem in this case and avoid the 
resulting fatality.

    Case Two: Operator not competent to perform specific task:
    On November 17, 2009, employees with Moreau's Material Yard were 
driving pilings for an oil rig foundation in which a 4,000 lb 
hammer, attached to the top of the lead, was used to drive 70 to 75 
ft poles into the ground. Employee #1 was working on a crawler crane 
platform approximately 20 to 25 ft above the ground. He was wearing 
a harness with a lanyard connected to a ladder rung. When the crane 
tipped over, Employee #1 attempted to jump from the platform to the 
ground below. He was struck by the crane and killed. The crane 
operator sustained minor injuries. Other employees indicated that 
the employer had never lifted poles of that size and the crane boom 
may have been used at an improper angle for the load being carried.

    It is clear from the IMIS report that the operator was familiar 
with crane equipment but had never lifted poles of that size. While all 
of the details of the task are not included in the abstract, the note 
about the different pole size and the operator's use of an improper 
boom angle suggest that the activity was significantly different from 
previous activities such that it would have required different 
knowledge or skills. This incident and resulting injuries might have 
been prevented if the employer took the time to evaluate the operator 
for the specific task assigned.

    Case Three: Operator inadequately trained:
    On June 23, 2011, Employee #1, an ironworker, was installing a 
structural steel bracing and painting structural steel beams in the 
ceiling of a manufacturing plant addition. Employee #1 was working 
alone from a boom-supported aerial work platform that was borrowed 
from another employer. At approximately 11:15 a.m., an electrician 
walked into the area and found the aerial work platform elevated 
with Employee #1 slumped over the controls. Employee #1 was crushed 
between the work platform and one of the ceiling beams. Other 
tradesmen at the worksite used the ground controls to lower Employee 
#1 to the floor. Employee #1 died from the injuries. Employee #1 had 
been trained in operating a boom-supported aerial work platform by 
his employer, but was not trained in the differences between those 
aerial work platforms that were owned by the employer and the 
borrowed lift being used the morning of the incident. The drive 
controls on the borrowed aerial work platform may have been reversed 
from the actual direction that they would operate.

    The abstract does not include enough information to be certain as 
to whether the ``boom-supported aerial work platform'' was equipment 
that would be covered by the crane standard (it could be a simple 
aerial lift not covered by the standard, or a boom crane or multi-
purpose machine configured to support the work platform in a manner 
that would be within the scope of the standard). Nevertheless, the 
incident illustrates the potentially fatal consequence of requiring an 
employee to operate new equipment without ensuring that the employee 
can account for differences in control locations and functions. Like 
the previous cases, the employee received training for certain crane 
equipment but lacked the skills necessary to operate the borrowed 
machinery used on the day of the accident. Had the employee been 
evaluated by his employer before using the equipment, the employee's 
unfamiliarity with the equipment could have been identified earlier and 
the fatality might have been prevented.
    OSHA presented the same analysis of benefits, including these IMIS 
summaries, in the NPRM and received no comment challenging OSHA's 
analysis of the benefits of the rule or of the IMIS summaries provided. 
As discussed in the Summary and Explanation, most commenters agreed 
with OSHA's conclusion that evaluation improves safety, even if the 
effect could not readily be quantified. While there were many 
suggestions as to the best approach to the requirements for employer 
evaluation, there was virtually no opposition to the basic concept of 
requiring employers to evaluate their operators.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

Overview
    The final ``Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator 
Qualification'' rule contains information collection (paperwork) 
requirements that are subject to review by OMB. The Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and its implementing 
regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require that the Department consider the 
impact of paperwork and other information collection burdens imposed on 
the public. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information, and the public is generally not required to

[[Page 56242]]

respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by OMB 
under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In 
addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person may 
generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection 
of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See 5 
CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
Solicitation of Comments
    OSHA published two separate Federal Register notices that allowed 
the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed Information 
Collection Request (ICR) containing the information collection 
requirements in the proposed rule for 60 days, as required by 44 U.S.C. 
3507). The NPRM provided an initial 30 days for the public to comment 
on the ICR corresponding to the general comment period for the 
rulemaking (83 FR 23534), and OSHA published a second companion notice 
to the NPRM on July 30, 2018 (83 FR 36507), allowing the public an 
additional 30 days to comment on the information collection 
requirements contained in the proposal. Concurrent with the proposed 
rule, OSHA submitted the ICR to OMB for review (ICR Reference Number 
201710-1218-002) in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
    On July 31, 2018, OMB issued a Notice of Action (NOA) assigning the 
proposal's ICR a new control number, 1218-0270, to be used in future 
ICR submissions. OMB noted that this action had no effect on any 
current approvals. OMB also noted that the NOA is not an approval to 
conduct or sponsor the information collection contained in the 
proposal. Finally, OMB requested that, ``Prior to publication of the 
final rule, the agency should provide a summary of any comments related 
to the information collection and their response, including any changes 
made to the ICR as a result of comments. In addition, the agency must 
enter the correct burden estimates.''
    The proposed rule invited the public to submit comments to OMB, in 
addition to OSHA, on the proposed information collection requirements 
with regard to the following:
     Whether the proposed information collection requirements 
are necessary for the proper performance of the agency's functions, 
including whether the information is useful;
     The accuracy of OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and 
cost) of the information collection requirements, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
     Ways to minimize the compliance burden on employers, for 
example, by using automated or other technological techniques for 
collecting and transmitting information.
    OSHA received three public comments \38\ on the proposed ICR that 
are addressed in the agency's final ICR analysis. In addition, OSHA 
received a number of comments in response to the proposed rule, 
described earlier in this preamble, that also addressed several 
information collection requirements (primarily the requirement to 
document evaluations) and contained information relevant to the burden 
hour and costs analysis in the ICR. Responses to these comments are 
found above in Section III, Summary and Explanation of the Proposed 
Amendments to Subpart CC. OSHA considered them when it developed the 
revised ICR associated with the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ See www.Regulations.gov, docket numbers: OSHA-2018-0009-
0003; OSHA-2018-0009-0004; and OSHA-2018-0009-0005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Concurrent with publication of this final rule, the Department of 
Labor submitted the final ICR, containing the full analysis and 
description of the burden hours and costs associated with the final 
rule, to OMB for approval. A copy of this ICR is available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201809-1218-001 (this link 
will become active on the day following publication of the final rule). 
OSHA will publish a separate notice in the Federal Register that will 
announce the results of OMB's review. That notice will also include a 
list of OMB-approved information collection requirements and total 
burden hours and costs imposed by the new standard. The Agency will 
also codify the OMB control number for the standard into Sec.  
[thinsp]1926.5, which is the central section in which OSHA displays its 
approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Summary of Information Collection Requirements
    This final rule establishes new information collection 
requirements. It also modifies a small number of information collection 
requirements in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard (29 
CFR part 1926, Subpart CC) Information Collection (IC) previously 
approved by OMB. If the new information collection requirements are 
approved by OMB, OSHA will request a second OMB approval to amend the 
comprehensive Cranes and Derricks in Construction Information 
Collection (OMB control number 1218-0261) to incorporate the ICR 
analysis associated with the final Cranes and Derricks in Construction 
Standard: Operator Qualification and to discontinue the new control 
number (1218-0270).
    Below is a summary of the major differences in the information 
collection requirements contained in the revised rule from the 
information collection requirements previously approved in the ICR. 
Also, the summary includes a brief description of the significant 
changes between the proposal and the final rule's information 
collection requirements. These differences are discussed in more 
specific detail in Section III: Summary and Explanation of the 
Amendments to Subpart CC. The impact on information collection 
requirements is also discussed in more detail in Item 8 of the ICR.
    Some of these adopted revisions resulted in changes to the previous 
burden hour and/or cost estimates associated with the current OMB-
approved information collection requirements contained in the Cranes 
and Derricks in Construction Standard Information Collection. Others 
did not change burden hour or cost estimates, but would substantively 
modify language contained in the currently OMB-approved ICR. Still 
others revised previous standard provisions that are not information 
collection requirements. This summary addresses the first two 
categories to ensure that the ICR reflects the updated regulatory text, 
but does not address the last category of revisions. In addition, this 
summary does not address the provisions that are substantively 
unchanged from the current, OMB-approved information collection 
requirements. Discussion and justification of these provisions can be 
found in the preamble to the final 2010 crane rule (75 FR 48017) and 
also in the Supporting Statements for this final rule, as well as in 
the approved Information Collection.
Section 1926.1427(a)--Operator Training, Certification, and Evaluation
    The introductory text in paragraph (a) sets out the employer's 
responsibility to ensure that each operator is certified/licensed in 
accordance with subpart CC, and is evaluated on his or her competence 
to safely operate the equipment that will be used, before the employer 
permits him or her to operate equipment covered by subpart CC without 
continuous monitoring. The revised approach provides a clearer 
structure than the previous standard, which was not designed to

[[Page 56243]]

accommodate both certification and evaluation.
Section 1926.1427(c)--Operator Certification and Licensing
    Under paragraph (c), the employer must ensure that each operator is 
certified or licensed to operate the equipment. Paragraph (c) retains 
the certification and licensing structure of the previous standard with 
only a few minor modifications intended to improve comprehension of 
certification/licensing requirements. For example, OSHA removed the 
reference to an ``option'' with respect to mandatory compliance with 
existing state and local licensing requirements that meet the minimum 
requirements under federal law.
Section 1926.1427(d)--Certification by an Accredited Crane Operator 
Testing Organization
    Revised paragraph (d) retains the requirements of previous 
paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(b), except that the revision removes the 
requirement for certification by capacity of crane, as required in 
previous paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(B) and (b)(2). The need for this change 
is explained in the ``Need for a Rule'' section of the preamble. The 
revised rule also makes some non-substantive language clarifications. 
Compliance with the requirements of revised paragraph (d) is the option 
that OSHA expects the vast majority of employers to use.
Section 1926.1427(e)--Audited Employer Program
    The substantive content of revised paragraph (e) is the same as 
previous Sec.  1926.1427(c). It sets out the parameters for a 
nonportable certification program administered by the employer and 
audited by a third party. The changes to the regulatory text for the 
audited employer program are to remove the word ``qualification'' and 
to replace three cross references with updated references to their new 
locations in the final rule.
Section 1926.1427(f)--Evaluation
    Paragraph (f) sets out new specific requirements that employers 
must follow to conduct an operator evaluation and re-evaluation, 
including documentation requirements. Paragraph (f)(6) requires the 
employer to document the evaluation of each operator and to ensure that 
the documentation is available at the worksite while the operator is 
employed by the employer. OSHA is adding language to this final rule 
that states explicitly the documentation must be maintained while the 
operator is employed by the employer. This paragraph also specifies the 
information that the documentation needs to include: The operator's 
name, the evaluator's name and signature, the date of the evaluation, 
and the make, model and configuration of the equipment used in the 
evaluation. However, the documentation would not need to be in any 
particular format. The employer must make the document available at the 
worksite for the duration of the operator's employment.
    The final rule also permits the employer to rely on its previous 
assessments of an operator employed by that employer prior to December 
10, 2018, in lieu of conducting a new evaluation of that operator's 
existing knowledge and skills. Thus, for those operators assessed under 
this provision of the final rule, the evaluation documentation must 
reflect the date of the employer's determination of the operator's 
abilities and the make, model and configuration of equipment on which 
the operator has previously demonstrated competency. The proposed rule 
did not include the provisions permitting employers to rely on previous 
assessments of current employees in lieu of conducting new evaluations 
and the associated documentation.
Section 1926.1427(h)--Language and Literacy
    Previous paragraph Sec.  1926.1427(h) allowed operators to be 
certified in a language other than English, provided that the operator 
understands that language. Paragraph (h) in the final rule is nearly 
identical to previous paragraph (h) with the exception that it removes 
the reference to the previous qualification language in paragraph 
(b)(2), which has been replaced.
    Title of Collection: Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator 
Qualification.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0270.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 119,904 (117,130 employers 
of operators and 2,774 employers of propane field technician officers).
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 102,144.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden Hours: 7,173.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs (capital, operation and 
maintenance) Burden: $84.

D. Federalism

    OSHA reviewed the revisions to the cranes standard in accordance 
with the Executive Order on Federalism (Executive Order 13132, 64 FR 
43255, August 10, 1999), which requires that Federal agencies, to the 
extent possible, refrain from limiting State policy options, consult 
with States prior to taking any actions that would restrict State 
policy options, and take such actions only when clear constitutional 
and statutory authority exists and the problem is national in scope. 
Executive Order 13132 provides for preemption of State law only with 
the expressed consent of Congress. Federal agencies must limit any such 
preemption to the extent possible.
    Under Section 18 of the OSH Act, Congress expressly provides that 
States and U.S. territories may adopt, with Federal approval, a plan 
for the development and enforcement of occupational safety and health 
standards. OSHA refers to such States and territories as ``State Plan 
States.'' Occupational safety and health standards developed by State 
Plan States must be at least as effective in providing safe and 
healthful employment and places of employment as the Federal standards 
(29 U.S.C. 667).
    OSHA previously concluded from its analysis for the 2010 final rule 
that promulgation of subpart CC complies with Executive Order 13132 
(see 75 FR 48128-29). The amendments in this final rule do not change 
that conclusion. In States without an OSHA-approved State Plan, this 
revised rule will limit state policy options in the same manner as 
every standard promulgated by OSHA. But the revised rule also requires 
compliance with State and local crane operator licensing programs that 
meet certain minimum standards. Section 18 of the OSH Act, as noted in 
the previous paragraph, permits State-Plan States to develop and 
enforce their own cranes standards provided these requirements are at 
least as effective in providing safe and healthful employment and 
places of employment as the requirements specified in this final rule.

E. State Plans

    When Federal OSHA promulgates a new standard or a more stringent 
amendment to an existing standard, State Plans must either amend their 
standards to be identical or ``at least as effective as'' the new 
standard or amendment, or show that an existing State standard covering 
this area is already ``at least as effective'' as the new Federal 
standard or amendment (29 CFR 1953.5(a)). State Plan adoption must be 
completed within six months of the promulgation date of the final 
Federal rule. When OSHA promulgates a new standard or amendment that 
does not

[[Page 56244]]

impose additional or more stringent requirements than an existing 
standard, State Plans do not have to amend their standards, although 
OSHA may encourage them to do so. The 28 OSHA-approved State Plans are: 
Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New 
Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, 
South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Virgin Islands, 
Washington, and Wyoming. Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, 
Maine, and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans that apply 
to State and local government employees only.
    The amendments to OSHA's cranes standard in this final rule require 
employers to permanently implement evaluations of crane operators, 
whereas the previous evaluation duty had been temporary with a fixed 
end date. These evaluations must be documented and include more 
specificity than the previous temporary employer duty to assess and 
train operators under Sec.  1926.1427(k)(2). Accordingly, State Plans 
are required to adopt an ``at least as effective'' change to their 
standard.
    OSHA is also removing the previous requirement for crane operators 
to be certified by crane capacity as well as crane type. Because this 
change removes a requirement rather than imposing one, State Plans are 
not be required to make this change, but may do so if they so choose.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    When OSHA issued the final Cranes and Derricks in Construction rule 
in 2010 (75 FR 47906), it reviewed the rule according to the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA; 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) and Executive 
Order 12875 (56 FR 58093). OSHA concluded that the final rule did not 
meet the definition of a ``Federal intergovernmental mandate'' under 
the UMRA because OSHA standards do not apply to State or local 
governments except in States that voluntarily adopt State Plans. OSHA 
further noted that the 2010 rule imposed costs of over $100 million per 
year on the private sector and, therefore, required review under the 
UMRA for those costs, but concluded that its 2010 final economic 
analysis met that requirement.
    As discussed above in Section III.A (Final Economic Analysis and 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis) of this preamble, this final rule has 
cost savings of approximately $1.8 million per year. Therefore, for the 
purposes of the UMRA, OSHA certifies that this final rule would not 
mandate that State, local, or tribal governments adopt new, unfunded 
regulatory obligations, or increase expenditures by the private sector 
of more than $100 million in any year.

G. Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments

    OSHA reviewed this final rule in accordance with Executive Order 
13175 (65 FR 67249) and determined that it will not have ``tribal 
implications'' as defined in that order. The final rule will not have 
substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the 
relationship between the Federal government and Indian tribes, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes.

H. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs

    Consistent with E.O. 13771 (82 FR 9339, January 30, 2017), OSHA has 
estimated at a 3 percent discount rate, there are net annual cost 
savings of $1,752,000, and at a discount rate of 7 percent there is an 
annual cost savings of $2,388,000. This rule is an E.O. 13771 
deregulatory action. Details on the estimated costs and cost savings 
estimates for this rule can be found in the final rule's economic 
analysis.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1926

    Certification, Construction industry, Cranes, Derricks, 
Occupational safety and health, Qualification, Safety, Training.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 5, 2018.
Loren Sweatt,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble of this final rule, OSHA is 
amending 29 CFR part 1926 as follows:

PART 1926--SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION

Subpart CC--Cranes and Derricks in Construction

0
1. The authority citation for subpart CC continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; 
Secretary of Labor's Order No. 5-2007 (72 FR 31159) or 1-2012 (77 FR 
3912), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911.

0
2. Revise Sec.  1926.1427 to read as follows:

Sec.  1926.1427   Operator training, certification, and evaluation.

    (a) General requirements for operators. The employer must ensure 
that each operator is trained, certified/licensed, and evaluated in 
accordance with this section before operating any equipment covered 
under subpart CC, except for the equipment listed in paragraph (a)(2) 
of this section.
    (1) Operation during training. An employee who has not been 
certified/licensed and evaluated to operate assigned equipment in 
accordance with this section may only operate the equipment as an 
operator-in-training under supervision in accordance with the 
requirements of paragraph (b) of this section.
    (2) Exceptions. Operators of derricks (see Sec.  
[thinsp]1926.1436), sideboom cranes (see Sec.  [thinsp]1926.1440), or 
equipment with a maximum manufacturer-rated hoisting/lifting capacity 
of 2,000 pounds or less (see Sec.  [thinsp]1926.1441) are not required 
to comply with Sec.  1926.1427. Note: The training requirements in 
those other sections continue to apply (for the training requirement 
for operators of sideboom cranes, follow section 1926.1430(c)).
    (3) Qualification by the U.S. military. (i) For purposes of this 
section, an operator who is an employee of the U.S. military meets the 
requirements of this section if he/she has a current operator 
qualification issued by the U.S. military for operation of the 
equipment. An employee of the U.S. military is a Federal employee of 
the Department of Defense or Armed Forces and does not include 
employees of private contractors.
    (ii) A qualification under this paragraph is:
    (A) Not portable: Such a qualification meets the requirements of 
paragraph (a) of this section only where the operator is employed by 
(and operating the equipment for) the employer that issued the 
qualification.
    (B) Valid for the period of time stipulated by the issuing entity.
    (b) Operator training. The employer must provide each operator-in-
training with sufficient training, through a combination of formal and 
practical instruction, to ensure that the operator-in-training develops 
the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and avert risk 
necessary to operate the equipment safely for assigned work.
    (1) The employer must provide instruction on the knowledge and 
skills listed in paragraphs (j)(1) and (2) of this section to the 
operator-in-training.
    (2) The operator-in-training must be continuously monitored on site 
by a trainer while operating equipment.

[[Page 56245]]

    (3) The employer may only assign tasks within the operator-in-
training's ability. However, except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(v) 
of this section, the operator-in-training shall not operate the 
equipment in any of the following circumstances unless certified in 
accordance with paragraph (c) of this section:
    (i) If any part of the equipment, load line, or load (including 
rigging and lifting accessories), if operated up to the equipment's 
maximum working radius in the work zone (see Sec.  1926.1408(a)(1)), 
could get within 20 feet of a power line that is up to 350 kV, or 
within 50 feet of a power line that is over 350 kV.
    (ii) If the equipment is used to hoist personnel.
    (iii) In multiple-equipment lifts.
    (iv) If the equipment is used over a shaft, cofferdam, or in a tank 
farm.
    (v) In multiple-lift rigging operations, except where the 
operator's trainer determines that the operator-in-training's skills 
are sufficient for this high-skill work.
    (4) The employer must ensure that an operator-in-training is 
monitored as follows when operating equipment covered by this subpart:
    (i) While operating the equipment, the operator-in-training must be 
continuously monitored by an individual (``operator's trainer'') who 
meets all of the following requirements:
    (A) The operator's trainer is an employee or agent of the operator-
in-training's employer.
    (B) The operator's trainer has the knowledge, training, and 
experience necessary to direct the operator-in-training on the 
equipment in use.
    (ii) While monitoring the operator-in-training, the operator's 
trainer performs no tasks that detract from the trainer's ability to 
monitor the operator-in-training.
    (iii) For equipment other than tower cranes: The operator's trainer 
and the operator-in-training must be in direct line of sight of each 
other. In addition, they must communicate verbally or by hand signals. 
For tower cranes: The operator's trainer and the operator-in-training 
must be in direct communication with each other.
    (iv) The operator-in-training must be monitored by the operator's 
trainer at all times, except for short breaks where all of the 
following are met:
    (A) The break lasts no longer than 15 minutes and there is no more 
than one break per hour.
    (B) Immediately prior to the break the operator's trainer informs 
the operator-in-training of the specific tasks that the operator-in-
training is to perform and limitations to which he/she must adhere 
during the operator trainer's break.
    (C) The specific tasks that the operator-in-training will perform 
during the operator trainer's break are within the operator-in-
training's abilities.
    (5) Retraining. The employer must provide retraining in relevant 
topics for each operator when, based on the performance of the operator 
or an evaluation of the operator's knowledge, there is an indication 
that retraining is necessary.
    (c) Operator certification and licensing. The employer must ensure 
that each operator is certified or licensed to operate the equipment as 
follows:
    (1) Licensing. When a state or local government issues operator 
licenses for equipment covered under subpart CC, the equipment operator 
must be licensed by that government entity for operation of equipment 
within that entity's jurisdiction if that government licensing program 
meets the following requirements:
    (i) The requirements for obtaining the license include an 
assessment, by written and practical tests, of the operator applicant 
regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills listed in paragraphs 
(j)(1) and (2) of this section.
    (ii) The testing meets industry-recognized criteria for written 
testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, 
grading, facilities/equipment, and personnel.
    (iii) The government authority that oversees the licensing 
department/office has determined that the requirements in paragraphs 
(c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section have been met.
    (iv) The licensing department/office has testing procedures for re-
licensing designed to ensure that the operator continues to meet the 
technical knowledge and skills requirements in paragraphs (j)(1) and 
(2) of this section.
    (v) For the purposes of compliance with this section, a license is 
valid for the period of time stipulated by the licensing department/
office, but no longer than 5 years.
    (2) Certification. When an operator is not required to be licensed 
under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the operator must be certified 
in accordance with paragraph (d) or (e) of this section.
    (3) No cost to employees. Whenever operator certification/licensure 
is required under this section, the employer must provide the 
certification/licensure at no cost to employees.
    (4) Provision of testing and training. A testing entity is 
permitted to provide training as well as testing services as long as 
the criteria of the applicable governmental or accrediting agency (in 
the option selected) for an organization providing both services are 
met.
    (d) Certification by an accredited crane operator testing 
organization. (1) For a certification to satisfy the requirements of 
this section, the crane operator testing organization providing the 
certification must:
    (i) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency 
based on that agency's determination that industry-recognized criteria 
for written testing materials, practical examinations, test 
administration, grading, facilities/equipment, and personnel have been 
met.
    (ii) Administer written and practical tests that:
    (A) Assess the operator applicant regarding, at a minimum, the 
knowledge and skills listed in paragraphs (j)(1) and (2) of this 
section.
    (B) Provide certification based on equipment type, or type and 
capacity.
    (iii) Have procedures for operators to re-apply and be re-tested in 
the event an operator applicant fails a test or is decertified.
    (iv) Have testing procedures for re-certification designed to 
ensure that the operator continues to meet the technical knowledge and 
skills requirements in paragraphs (j)(1) and (2) of this section.
    (v) Have its accreditation reviewed by the nationally recognized 
accrediting agency at least every 3 years.
    (2) If no accredited testing agency offers certification 
examinations for a particular type of equipment, an operator will be 
deemed to have complied with the certification requirements of this 
section for that equipment if the operator has been certified for the 
type that is most similar to that equipment and for which a 
certification examination is available. The operator's certificate must 
state the type of equipment for which the operator is certified.
    (3) A certification issued under this option is portable among 
employers who are required to have operators certified under this 
option.
    (4) A certification issued under this paragraph is valid for 5 
years.
    (e) Audited employer program. The employer's certification of its 
employee must meet the following requirements:
    (1) Testing. The written and practical tests must be either:
    (i) Developed by an accredited crane operator testing organization 
(see paragraph (d) of this section); or
    (ii) Approved by an auditor in accordance with the following 
requirements:
    (A) The auditor is certified to evaluate such tests by an 
accredited crane

[[Page 56246]]

operator testing organization (see paragraph (d) of this section).
    (B) The auditor is not an employee of the employer.
    (C) The approval must be based on the auditor's determination that 
the written and practical tests meet nationally recognized test 
development criteria and are valid and reliable in assessing the 
operator applicants regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills 
listed in paragraphs (j)(1) and (2) of this section.
    (D) The audit must be conducted in accordance with nationally 
recognized auditing standards.
    (2) Administration of tests. (i) The written and practical tests 
must be administered under circumstances approved by the auditor as 
meeting nationally recognized test administration standards.
    (ii) The auditor must be certified to evaluate the administration 
of the written and practical tests by an accredited crane operator 
testing organization (see paragraph (d) of this section).
    (iii) The auditor must not be an employee of the employer.
    (iv) The audit must be conducted in accordance with nationally 
recognized auditing standards.
    (3) Timing of audit. The employer program must be audited within 3 
months of the beginning of the program and at least every 3 years 
thereafter.
    (4) Requalification. The employer program must have testing 
procedures for re-qualification designed to ensure that the operator 
continues to meet the technical knowledge and skills requirements in 
paragraphs (j)(1) and (2) of this section. The re-qualification 
procedures must be audited in accordance with paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) 
of this section.
    (5) Deficiencies. If the auditor determines that there is a 
significant deficiency (``deficiency'') in the program, the employer 
must ensure that:
    (i) No operator is qualified until the auditor confirms that the 
deficiency has been corrected.
    (ii) The program is audited again within 180 days of the 
confirmation that the deficiency was corrected.
    (iii) The auditor files a documented report of the deficiency to 
the appropriate Regional Office of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration within 15 days of the auditor's determination that there 
is a deficiency.
    (iv) Records of the audits of the employer's program are maintained 
by the auditor for 3 years and are made available by the auditor to the 
Secretary of Labor or the Secretary's designated representative upon 
request.
    (6) Audited-program certificates. A certification under this 
paragraph is:
    (i) Not portable: Such a certification meets the requirements of 
paragraph (c) of this section only where the operator is employed by 
(and operating the equipment for) the employer that issued the 
certification.
    (ii) Valid for 5 years.
    (f) Evaluation. (1) Through an evaluation, the employer must ensure 
that each operator is qualified by a demonstration of:
    (i) The skills and knowledge, as well as the ability to recognize 
and avert risk, necessary to operate the equipment safely, including 
those specific to the safety devices, operational aids, software, and 
the size and configuration of the equipment. Size and configuration 
includes, but is not limited to, lifting capacity, boom length, 
attachments, luffing jib, and counterweight set-up.
    (ii) The ability to perform the hoisting activities required for 
assigned work, including, if applicable, blind lifts, personnel 
hoisting, and multi-crane lifts.
    (2) For operators employed prior to December 10, 2018, the employer 
may rely on its previous assessments of the operator in lieu of 
conducting a new evaluation of that operator's existing knowledge and 
skills.
    (3) The definition of ``qualified'' in Sec.  1926.32 does not apply 
to paragraph (f)(1) of this section: Possession of a certificate or 
degree cannot, by itself, cause a person to be qualified for purposes 
of paragraph (f)(1).
    (4) The evaluation required under paragraph (f)(1) of this section 
must be conducted by an individual who has the knowledge, training, and 
experience necessary to assess equipment operators.
    (5) The evaluator must be an employee or agent of the employer. 
Employers that assign evaluations to an agent retain the duty to ensure 
that the requirements in paragraph (f) are satisfied. Once the 
evaluation is completed successfully, the employer may allow the 
operator to operate other equipment that the employer can demonstrate 
does not require substantially different skills, knowledge, or ability 
to recognize and avert risk to operate.
    (6) The employer must document the completion of the evaluation. 
This document must provide: The operator's name; the evaluator's name 
and signature; the date; and the make, model, and configuration of 
equipment used in the evaluation. The employer must make the document 
available at the worksite while the operator is employed by the 
employer. For operators assessed per paragraph (f)(2) of this section, 
the documentation must reflect the date of the employer's determination 
of the operator's abilities and the make, model and configuration of 
equipment on which the operator has previously demonstrated competency.
    (7) When an employer is required to provide an operator with 
retraining under paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the employer must 
re-evaluate the operator with respect to the subject of the retraining.
    (g) [Reserved].
    (h) Language and literacy requirements. (1) Tests under this 
section may be administered verbally, with answers given verbally, 
where the operator candidate:
    (i) Passes a written demonstration of literacy relevant to the 
work.
    (ii) Demonstrates the ability to use the type of written 
manufacturer procedures applicable to the class/type of equipment for 
which the candidate is seeking certification.
    (2) Tests under this section may be administered in any language 
the operator candidate understands, and the operator's certification 
documentation must note the language in which the test was given. The 
operator is only permitted to operate equipment that is furnished with 
materials required by this subpart, such as operations manuals and load 
charts, that are written in the language of the certification.
    (i) [Reserved].
    (j) Certification criteria. Certifications must be based on the 
following:
    (1) A determination through a written test that:
    (i) The individual knows the information necessary for safe 
operation of the specific type of equipment the individual will 
operate, including all of the following:
    (A) The controls and operational/performance characteristics.
    (B) Use of, and the ability to calculate (manually or with a 
calculator), load/capacity information on a variety of configurations 
of the equipment.
    (C) Procedures for preventing and responding to power line contact.
    (D) Technical knowledge of the subject matter criteria listed in 
appendix C of this subpart applicable to the specific type of equipment 
the individual will operate. Use of the appendix C criteria meets the 
requirements of this provision.
    (E) Technical knowledge applicable to the suitability of the 
supporting ground and surface to handle expected loads, site hazards, 
and site access.

[[Page 56247]]

    (F) This subpart, including applicable incorporated materials.
    (ii) The individual is able to read and locate relevant information 
in the equipment manual and other materials containing information 
referred to in paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section.
    (2) A determination through a practical test that the individual 
has the skills necessary for safe operation of the equipment, including 
the following:
    (i) Ability to recognize, from visual and auditory observation, the 
items listed in Sec.  1926.1412(d) (shift inspection).
    (ii) Operational and maneuvering skills.
    (iii) Application of load chart information.
    (iv) Application of safe shut-down and securing procedures.
    (k) Effective dates. (1) Apart from the evaluation and 
documentation requirements in paragraphs (a) and (f), this section is 
effective on December 10, 2018.
    (2) The evaluation and documentation requirements in paragraphs (a) 
and (f) are effective on February 7, 2019.

0
3. Amend Sec.  1926.1430 by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (c)(1) and (2);
0
b. Removing paragraph (c)(3); and
0
c. Redesignating paragraph (c)(4) as paragraph (c)(3).
    The revisions read as follows:

Sec.  1926.1430  Training.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) The employer must train each operator in accordance with Sec.  
1926.1427(a) and (b), on the safe operation of the equipment the 
operator will be using.
    (2). The employer must train each operator covered under the 
exception of Sec.  1926.1427(a)(2) on the safe operation of the 
equipment the operator will be using.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-24481 Filed 11-7-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P