Glenn Johnson TestifiesLocal 49 crane operators are potentially helping shape national standards for keeping their colleagues safe across the United States.

Recently, the International Union of Operating Engineers invited Local 49’s Business Manager Glen Johnson to testify at an Occupational Safety and Health Administration hearing in Washington D.C. During his March 17th testimony, Johnson pointed to the 49ers’ current training and certification methods as the ideal industry standard for crane operators.

“Local 49 has been and will continue to be committed to producing highly skilled crane operators through our training program so that we can supply qualified craftsmen to our signatory contractors,” Johnson told the OSHA Committee.

In Minnesota, Johnson has been an instrumental leader in improving training and certification methods for crane operators. With his guidance, Local 49 was the engine that drove legislators to enact Minnesota’s current crane operator certification law.

In an industry with nearly 90 crane-related deaths every year, according to federal safety records, tighter national safety standards have been long overdue. OSHA estimates its wide variety of proposed rule changes could cut fatalities by more than half. However, Johnson’s testimony suggests proposals for crane operator certification should go even further to adequately protect workers.

Johnson focused on two main categories while testifying. First, he looked at Minnesota’s current certification law. Then, he addressed on-the-job training standards.

In Minnesota, crane operators must have sufficient class room and hands-on training and pass both a written and practical test to get their certification. Local 49’s requirements are even more stringent, taking at least two years to complete. However, at least four organizations in Minnesota have developed and marketed crane certification services that undermine current state standards. Their advertisements promise people they can obtain enough training to pass written and practical tests in two to four days without prerequisites.

“In my opinion, an operator with no prior crane experience cannot become a competent crane operator within a matter of days,” said Johnson, a 16-year crane operator.

Therefore, Johnson recommended OSHA mandate organizations providing crane certification testing require operators prove they have at least 1,000 hours of crane-related, on-the-job experience or training.

Johnson also focused on several areas where OSHA should strengthen rules to ensure trainees have enough experience before operating cranes on a job site and instructors monitoring them are properly certified.

Currently, proposed rules would allow those monitoring non-certified operators working toward full certification to have only passed the written certification test and be familiar with the proper use of the equipment. They wouldn’t mandate that those overseeing trainees have passed a practical test.

“If an overseer of the non-certified operator cannot pass a minimum standards test, the overseer is not qualified to safely monitor the work of the non-certified operator,” Johnson said, as he recommended OSHA change the rule so monitors are fully certified on the specific crane they’re overseeing.

OSHA is in the process of evaluating Johnson’s input along with testimony from dozens of others in construction, engineering and the business community. While the revised rules should be released by the middle or end of May, the actual regulations will take several years to go into effect.

This story is reprinted from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 website.