Alliance to Protect Crane Operators – The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has today signed a two-year agreement with the national commission for the certification of crane operators (NCCCO) and the nccco foundation to improve the safety of workers operating or working near cranes.
The agreement will ensure that certified crane operators are trained and equipped with the resources necessary to reduce and/or prevent exposure to four of the most common construction workplace hazards: falls, trapped-in-or-between-objects or machinery, strikes-by-objects or equipment, or electrocution
“Workers working or operating near cranes are at risk of serious and life-threatening injuries if not properly trained and protected,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “Our alliance with the industry leaders is focused on training workers, and working closely with employers to ensure safety and health is a top priority by implementing industry best practices.”
Alliance participants will analyze data and review trend and incident data to create safety alerts for employers and crane operators and others who work around cranes. Participants will address safety issues in the vicinity of a crane’s load, update OSHA’s load-handling regulations and enforcement, including certifications and evaluation requirements. Participants will help employers and operators comply with OSHA regulations, and establish relationships between CCO’s testing sites and OSHA field offices to offer training opportunities for crane certifications and OSHA staff.
Established in 1995, the CCO was created to create effective performance standards to ensure safe load-hand handling equipment operation to support all segments of the general industry and construction sectors.
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The NCCCO Foundation was established in 2018 by the commission to conduct research, promote personnel safety and certifications, and provide scholarships and grants to young people, military personnel, and underserved communities for education, training, and certification.
Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with organizations such as trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies to share information about OSHA’s initiatives and compliance assistance resources with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.
