Note Important Changes to L&I Crane Enforcement Protocols
The Department of Labor & Industries Division of Safety & Health (DOSH) has modified enforcement/ compliance protocols regarding documentation of Operator’s Hours for the Crane rules that went into effect on January 1 2010.
Originally DOSH was requiring all operators to have a signed and notarized affidavit to document previous hours of experience as required by WAC 296-155-533 and that those affidavits needed to be complete prior to January 1 2010 for previous hours to be accepted.
However the rule language refers to a “declaration” and did not state that hours had to be documented prior to Jan 1 2010 in order to be accepted. The rule language states “For experience obtained prior to January 1 2010 the employer may accept a signed declaration from the crane operator attesting to actual hours of crane operator experience and crane related experience separated out by crane type and capacity. Hours documented prior to 2010 will count towards the hour requirements of actual crane operating experience and crane related experience. Note: For experience obtained while working outside of the departments jurisdiction the employer may accept a signed declaration from the crane operator attesting to actual hours of crane operator experience and crane related experience separated out by crane type and capacity.”
For the purposes of compliance after January 1 2010 if you have already had an operator complete an affidavit it will be an accepted method of documentation. Moving forward all hours shall be documented and separated by type and capacity. A simple way to achieve that is to use one of the AGC Crane Log Books. These pocket-sized Crane Log books are available free for members and for a fee for non-members. For log books contact Penny Schmitt at 206-812-4864.
For guidance with the rules contact AGC Safety Director Mandi Kime at 206-812-4863.
For more info on the rules as established for Construction Cranes click here. For rule interpretations and consultation or information on the second phase of crane rulemaking contact Chuck Lemon or Larry Markee at L&I at 360-902-4943.