Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 13. Cranes and Other Hoisting Equipment
Article 98. Operating Rules

§5006.2. Operator Training, Certification, and Evaluation for Cranes and Derricks in Construction.

(a) General requirements for operators. The employer shall ensure that each operator is trained, certified/licensed, and evaluated in accordance with this section, prior to operating any equipment covered under this Group 13, or the person is operating the equipment during a training period as an operator-in-training in accordance with subsection (b).

(b) Operator training. The employer shall provide each operator-in-training with sufficient training, through a combination of formal and practical instruction, prior to operating the equipment to enable the operator-in training to operate the equipment safely under limitations established by this section and any additional limitations established by the employer.

(1) The employer shall provide instruction on the knowledge and skills listed in subsection (g) to the operator-in-training.

(2) The operator-in-training shall be continuously monitored on site by a trainer while operating equipment.

(3) The employer may only assign tasks within the operator-in-training's ability. However, except as provided in subsection (b)(3)(E), the operator-in-training shall not operate the equipment in any of the following circumstances unless certified in accordance with subsection (c):

(A) If any part of the equipment, load line or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), if operated up to the equipment's maximum working radius in the work zone [see Section 5003.1(a)(1)], could get within 20 feet of a power line that is up to 350 kV, or within 50 feet of a power line that is over 350 kV.

(B) If the equipment is used to hoist personnel.

(C) In multiple-equipment lifts.

(D) If the equipment is used over a shaft, cofferdam, or in a tank farm.

(E) In multiple-lift rigging operations, except where the operator's trainer determines that the operator-in-training skills are sufficient for this high-skill work.

(4) The employer shall ensure that an employee who is not qualified or certified under this section is permitted to operate equipment only as an operator-in-training and is monitored as follows when operating equipment covered by this Group 13.

(A) Trainees may be authorized to operate equipment provided they are under the direct supervision of an individual (“operator's trainer”) who meets all of the following requirements:

1. The term direct supervision means the supervising individual (“operator's trainer”) is in the immediate area of the trainee and within visual sighting distance and able to effectively communicate with the trainee. When performing direct supervision, the supervising operator shall have no other duties other than to observe the operation of the crane by the trainee.

2. The operator's trainer shall be an employee or agent of the operator-in-training's employer.

3. The operator's trainer has the knowledge, training and experience necessary to direct the operator-in-training on the equipment in use and possesses a valid certificate of competency for the type of crane operated by the trainee.

(B) For equipment other than tower cranes: The operator's trainer and the operator-in-training shall be in direct line of sight of each other. In addition, they shall communicate verbally or by hand signals. For tower cranes: The operator's trainer and the operator-in-training shall be in direct communication with each other.

(5) Retraining. The employer shall provide retraining in relevant topics for each operator when, based on the performance of the operator or an evaluation of the operator's knowledge, there is an indication that retraining is necessary.

(c) Operator certification and licensing. The employer shall ensure that each operator is certified or licensed to operate the equipment in accordance with subsection (d) Option 1, or (e) Option 2 as follows.

(1) Whenever operator certification or licensure is required under this section, the employer shall provide the certification or licensure at no cost to employees.

(d) Option (1): Certification by an accredited crane operator certifying entity.

(1) Certification. Certificates shall be valid for a maximum of five (5) years. An Accredited Certifying Entity shall issue the certificate of competency to operators who successfully demonstrate the qualifications set forth in subsection (g).

(A) An operator will be deemed qualified to operate a particular piece of equipment if the operator is certified under this subsection for that type, or type and capacity of equipment or for higher-capacity equipment of that type. If no accredited testing agency offers certification examinations for a particular type of equipment, an operator will be deemed to have complied with the certification requirements for this section for that equipment if the operator has been certified for the type that is most similar to that equipment and for which a certification examination is available. The operator's certificate shall state the type of equipment for which the operator is certified.

(B) A certification issued under this option (Option 1) is portable and meets the requirements of subsection (a)(2).

(2) For a certification to satisfy the requirements of this option, the crane operator testing organization providing the certification shall be accredited by an approved nationally recognized accrediting agency based on that agency's determination that industry-recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment, and personnel have been met.

(A) The accredited certifying entity shall have its accreditation reviewed by the nationally recognized accrediting agency at least every three (3) years.

(3) Re-certification. Crane operators shall re-certify every five (5) years and shall be required to meet all of the qualifications set forth in subsection (d)(1). Operators with at least one-thousand (1,000) hours of documented experience operating the specific type of crane for which re-certification is sought as covered by this section during the immediately preceding certification period and who meet the physical examination, substance abuse, and written examination requirements set forth in subsection (g)(1)-(g)(3) shall not be required to take the “hands-on” examination specified in subsection (g)(4) to re-certify.

(4) The accredited certifying entity shall have procedures for operators to re-apply and be re-tested in the event an operator applicant fails a test or is decertified.

(e) Option 2: Licensing by a government entity.

(1) For purposes of this section, a government licensing department/office that issues operator licenses for operating equipment covered by this Group 13 is considered a government accredited crane operator testing organization if the criteria in subsection (e)(2) are met.

(2) Licensing criteria.

(A) The requirements for obtaining the license include passing a physical examination and a substance abuse test as prescribed in subsections (g)(1) and (g)(2) and an assessment, by written and practical tests, of the operator applicant regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills listed in subsections (g)(3) and (g)(4).

(B) The testing meets industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment and personnel.

(C) The government authority that oversees the licensing department/office, has determined that the requirements in subsections (e)(2)(A) and (B) have been met.

(D) The licensing department/office has testing procedures for re-licensing designed to ensure that the operator continues to meet the requirements in subsection (g).

(3) A license issued by a government accredited crane operator testing organization that meets the requirements of this option:

(A) Meets the operator qualification requirements of this section for operation of equipment only within the jurisdiction of the government entity.

(B) Is valid for the period of time stipulated by the licensing department/office, but no longer than 5 years.

(f) Evaluation.

(1) The employer shall ensure through an evaluation that each operator is qualified by a demonstration of:

(A) The skills and knowledge, as well as the ability to recognize and avert risk, necessary to operate the equipment safely, including those specific to the safety devices, operational aids, software, and the size and configuration of the equipment. Size and configuration includes, but is not limited to, lifting capacity, boom length, attachments, luffing jib, and counterweight set-up.

(B) The ability to perform the hoisting activities required for assigned work, including, if applicable, blind lifts, personnel hoisting, and multi-crane lifts.

(2) For operators employed prior to April 6, 2020, the employer may rely on its previous assessments of the operator in lieu of conducting a new evaluation of that operator's existing knowledge and skills.

(3) The evaluation required under subsection (f)(1) shall be conducted by an individual who has the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to assess equipment operators.

(4) The evaluator shall be an employee or agent of the employer. Employers that assign evaluations to an agent retain the duty to ensure that the requirements in subsection (f) are satisfied. Once the evaluation is completed successfully, the employer may allow the operator to operate other equipment that the employer can demonstrate does not require substantially different skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and avert risk to operate.

(5) The employer shall document the completion of the evaluation. This document shall provide: The operator's name; the evaluator's name and signature; the date; and the make, model, and configuration of equipment used in the evaluation. The employer shall make the document available at the worksite while the operator is employed by the employer. For operators assessed per subsection (f)(2), the documentation shall reflect the date of the employer's determination of the operator's abilities and the make, model and configuration of equipment on which the operator has previously demonstrated competency.

(6) When an employer is required to provide an operator with retraining under subsection (b)(5), the employer shall re-evaluate the operator with respect to the subject of the retraining upon completion.

(g) Certification criteria. The employer shall only permit operators who have a valid certificate of competency (certificate) issued in accordance with this section by an Accredited Certifying Entity for the type of crane to be used to operate a crane covered by this Group 13. Certificates shall be issued to operators who:

(1) Pass a physical examination conducted by a physician or other licensed health care professional (e.g. physician's assistant or nurse practitioner) which at a minimum shall include the examination criteria specified in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.5-2000 standard, Chapter 5-3.1.2(a)(1-5, 7, 8) or the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) physical examination requirements contained in 49 CFR Sections 391.41 through 391.49.

(2) Pass a substance abuse test. The level of testing shall be consistent with the standard practice for the industry where the crane is in use and this test shall be conducted by a recognized laboratory service;

(3) Pass a written examination developed, validated, and administered in accordance with generally accepted industry best practices. The exam shall test knowledge and skills identified as necessary for safe crane operations and shall, at a minimum, demonstrate the following:

(A) The individual knows the information necessary for safe operation of the specific type of equipment the individual will operate, including all of the following:

1. The controls and operational/performance characteristics.

2. Emergency control skills, such as a response to fire, power line contact, loss of stability, or control malfunction;

3. Use of, and the ability to calculate (manually or with a calculator), load/capacity information on a variety of configurations of the equipment.

4. Procedures for preventing and responding to power line contact.

5. Technical knowledge of the subject matter criteria listed in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart CC, Appendix C, applicable to the specific type of equipment the individual will operate. Use of the Appendix C criteria meets the requirements of this provision.

6. Technical knowledge applicable to the suitability of the supporting ground and surface to handle expected loads, site hazards, and site access.

7. This Group 13, including applicable incorporated materials.

(B) The individual is able to read and locate relevant information in the equipment manual and other materials containing information referred to in subsection (g)(3)(A).

(4) Pass a “hands-on” examination to demonstrate proficiency in operating the specific type of crane, which at a minimum shall include the following:

(A) Ability to recognize, from visual and auditory observation, the items listed in Section 5031 (shift inspection).

(B) Operational and maneuvering skills.

(C) Application of load chart information.

(D) Application of safe shut-down and securing procedures.

(h) Reciprocity. Operators trained, certified under Option 1, evaluated, and certified under this Section 5006.2, are qualified to work on projects in construction and in general industry.

Exceptions to Section 5006.2:

(1) Operators of derricks and sideboom cranes, or equipment with a maximum manufacturer-rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less are not required to comply with this section. Note: The training and qualification requirements of Section 5006 will continue to apply in those cases.

(2) Operator qualification or certification under this section is not required for operation of articulating/knuckle-boom cranes having a boom length of less than 25 feet or a maximum rated load capacity of less than 15,000 pounds when used to deliver material to a construction site.

(3) Operators of electric line trucks (digger derrick trucks) as defined in Section 2700 of the Electrical Safety Orders, and regulated by Section 2940.7 of the High Voltage Electrical Safety Orders. This exception does not include mobile truck cranes designed and built in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.5 standards.

(4) Marine terminal operations regulated by Article 14 of these Orders.

Credits

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

History

1. New section filed 7-26-2022; operative 7-26-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 30). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20.