Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-155 - Safety standards for construction work › Part L - CRANES, RIGGING, AND PERSONNEL LIFTING › Section 296-155-53300 - Operator qualifications and certification

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Prior to operating any crane covered
				under chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, with the exception of the trainee/apprentice
				requirements outlined in subsection (2) of this section and those cranes exempt
				in WAC 296-155-52900(3),
				you must ensure that the operator meets the following requirements:
(a) Has a valid crane operator certificate,
				for the type of crane to be operated, issued by a crane operator testing
				organization which has an accredited program, accredited by a nationally
				recognized accrediting agency. The operator certification must include a
				successful passing of a written and practical examination for each crane
				category listed in Table 3 and by crane type for mobile cranes.
(b) A determination through a written test
				that:
(i) The individual knows the information
				necessary for safe operation of the specific type of crane/derrick the
				individual will operate, including all of the following:
(A) The controls and operational/performance
				characteristics.
(B) Use of, and
				the ability to calculate, load/capacity information on a variety of
				configurations of the crane/derrick.
(C) Procedures for preventing and responding
				to power line contact.
(D)
				Technical knowledge similar to the subject matter criteria listed in WAC
				296-155-56420 of this part
				applicable to the specific type of crane/derrick the individual will operate.
				Use of WAC
				296-155-56420 criteria meets the
				requirements of this provision.
(E)
				Technical knowledge applicable to:
(I) The
				suitability of the supporting ground and surface to handle expected
				loads.
(II) Site hazards.
(III) Site access.
(F) This part, 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 (i) of this subsection.
(c) A determination through a
				practical test that the individual has the skills necessary for safe operation
				of the crane/derrick, including the following:
(i) Ability to recognize, from visual and
				auditory observation, the items listed in WAC
				296-155-53405(2).
(ii) Operational and maneuvering
				skills.
(iii) Application of load
				chart information.
(iv) Application
				of safe shut-down and securing procedures.
Notes:
* An operator's certificate issued by the
						  accredited testing agency is valid for a 5-year period, and must be renewed to
						  ensure operators maintain qualified operator status.
* For self-erecting tower cranes, the
						  department will accept a tower crane certification issued by a nationally
						  accrediting testing agency.
* For derricks, the department will accept,
						  at a minimum, a lattice boom truck or crawler mobile crane operator's
						  certificate.
* An operator will be deemed qualified to
						  operate a crane if the operator is certified under (a) of this subsection for
						  the type and capacity of the crane or for higher-capacity crane of the same
						  type.
(d) If there is no accredited written or
				practical test for operator certification available, you must ensure the
				operator has been completely trained, evaluated and tested by you on the
				operating procedures for the piece of equipment in use as recommended by the
				crane/equipment manufacturer and the applicable ASME standard. This process
				must be documented and made available upon request.
(e) Has crane hours of experience as shown in
				Table 3; and
(f) Pass a substance
				abuse test conducted by a recognized laboratory.
Exemption:
When it is necessary in the performance of
						  their duties, manufacture representatives, factory representatives and
						  maintenance personnel are not required to be certified crane operators.
Crane Operator Experience for Cranes Used in the
				  Construction Industry
Table 3
The 5 Categories of Cranes and their
						  Types
Number of Hours of Actual Crane
						  Operating Experience
Number of Hours of Crane Related
						  Experience
(1) Mobile Cranes
(a) Lattice Boom Crawler Cranes
						  (LBC)
300 tons and above 1000 Hours
300 tons and above 1000 Hours
Under 300 tons 500 Hours
Under 300 tons 500 Hours
(b) Lattice Boom Truck Cranes
						  (LBT)
300 tons and above 1000 Hours
300 tons and above 1000 Hours
Under 300 tons 500 Hours
Under 300 tons 500 Hours
(c) Large Telescopic Boom
						  Cranes (Swing Cab) (TLL) (including digger derricks)
Over 130 tons 750 Hours
Over 130 tons 750 Hours
Over 40 tons to 130 tons 250 Hours
Over 40 tons to 130 tons 250 Hours
40 tons and under 40 Hours
40 tons and under 40 Hours
(d) Small Telescopic Boom
						  Cranes (Fixed Cab) (TSS) (including digger derricks)
15 tons and above 40 Hours
15 tons and above 40 Hours
Over 5 tons and under 15 tons 20 Hours
Over 5 tons and under 15 tons 20 Hours
5 tons and under 8 hours
5 tons and under 16 hours
(2) Articulating Boom Cranes
20 Hours
20 Hours
(3) Tower Cranes
(a) Hammerhead
500 Hours
500 Hours
(b) Luffer
500 Hours
500 Hours
(c) Self-Erecting
50 Hours
50 Hours
(4) Overhead/Bridge and Gantry
						  Cranes
(a) Cab Operated
40 Hours
40 Hours
(b) Pendant/Remote
40 Hours
40 Hours
(5) Derricks
(not including
						  digger derricks)
20 Hours
500 Hours
Hours of actual crane operating
						  experience.
For all cranes: Time while the operator is at the controls
						  of the crane; and/or has direct control of that crane; and/or a combination of
						  operating hours within the same crane type. For mobile cranes: It also includes
						  time while installing/removing boom sections, luffing boom, jib, extending and
						  retracting outriggers/stabilizers, leveling crane, and replacing hoisting rope.
						  For tower cranes: It includes time while jumping (increasing the height of the
						  tower/mast).
Note:
Additional actual crane
						  operator experience may account for crane related experience.
Hours of crane related
						  experience:
Time as a signalperson/bellman, oiler, crane mechanic, crane
						  inspector, formal classroom training, crane simulator operation, and a
						  combination of operating hours on other categories of cranes.
Note:
Cranes and other lifting machines covered
						  under this part that are exempt can be found in WAC
						  296-155-52900(3).