Crane Operators Must Be Trained and Certified

March 31 2015,

Written by TW Williams

Boom trucks viewed from the side and the back.

The LP Gas Dealer faces many challenges. One such challenge is in the regulation and compliance sector.

In 2000, an already existing federal law, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29CFR, part 1926, subpart cc, adopted by OSHA, (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), was revised. This law identifies equipment commonly used in the LP Gas industry, such as small truck-mounted cranes, (also known as boom trucks). It also covers maintenance, personnel training, and certification by the third party.

A boom truck or crane is identified as a straight, or articulating, (knuckle boom), ridged or telescopic mast controlled by either cables and pulleys or hydraulic pistons. It is capable of rising and lowering objects and can rotate up to 360 degrees. This covers all cranes capable of lifting 2,000 lbs. or greater.

National Commission logo

The change made to the law mentioned above states that all crane operators must be trained and certified. To become certified, you must pass a third party written exam and a practical exam as outlined by NCCCO, (National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators). NCCCO administers the exam, facilitated by an NCCCO accredited trainer, but does not train operators to take it. A quick Google search for “Boom Truck Certification Training” will provide you with a list of schools that will train you before taking the test.

The written exam covers interpretation of load charts, site conditions, equipment set up, lifting operations and technical knowledge including terminology, components, hand signals, maintenance, and inspection criteria. The practical exam includes pre-operation inspection and Schematic of a Boom Truck crane. hands-on skills assessment (includes placing a chain in a circle, lifting a weight while navigating an obstacle course and placing it back on a target), safe shut down and securing load procedures.

NCCCO certifications are good for five years and require only written exams with a passing grade to renew. The deadline to become certified was November 10, 2014, and has been extended to 2017 to allow the industry more time to comply with this federal regulation.

Below are the links to OSHA and the Propane Education and Resource Council, (PERC) for more information.

References by:

Title 29CFR, 1926, cc
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=1

PERC resources
http://www.propanemarc.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=009410