Crane rule deadline delayed in final ruling

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to further delay the Cranes and Derricks in Construction Rule compliance deadline by one year – until Nov. 10, 2018.

The ruling was issued on Nov. 9, 2017. OSHA cites the reason for the delay as “necessary to provide sufficient time for OSHA to complete a related rulemaking to address issues with its existing Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.”

With the further extension of the deadline, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) says it will continue to actively pursue regulatory and legislative avenues for a propane industry exemption.

Since the crane rule’s initial publication in 2010, NPGA has been seeking an exemption from the rule, which, if enforced, would cost industry members thousands of dollars, the association says. Though the Propane Education & Research Council has a mobile crane training module, the training would not be deemed adequate under the proposed rule, the association notes.

NPGA submitted comments to OSHA recommending another three-year extension of the rule, saying if the last three years were not enough time for OSHA to address the certification issues raised by stakeholders, then one additional year will likewise not be sufficient time in which to address the issues.