27.10.2008

Oklahoma looks at crane and lift regulation

After a number of crane and aerial lift accidents this year, Oklahoma began the process to draft new regulations and operator certification fro heavy equipment, with a focus on cranes and aerial lifts..

A total of 12 construction industry experts have joined an advisory board for crane and aerial lift safety. Fields plans to meet with the committee in December to prepare a ‘road map’ that could lead to a new state law, with the hope to present a bill for consideration next year.

Oklahoma City, currently requires heavy machinery working on the city streets to have a city work zone permit, which requires safety guidelines such as cordoning off the work area or closing a street if necessary.

The committee will primarily look at the requirement for a crane or aerial lift operator’s license for anyone operating such equipment in the state.

Vertikal Comment

This move comes after last week’s accident with a 80ft telescopic boom in downtown Oklahoma City. The focus has also been on crane and lift accidents following the high profile fatal accidents in New York earlier this year.

The US crane industry has an operator certification that is most likely will be adopted in Oklahoma, while the aerial lift industry does not. This emphasises the need for the industry to universally adopt a programme that includes a standardised test and an audited syllabus before it is too late.