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Nate Mulcahy

Supp/Mfg./Whole/Assoc. II
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Everything posted by Nate Mulcahy

  1. ISA just hosted a webinar yesterday that discussed this very topic. What they said was that, as of right now, everything is on track to go into effect this coming November. It’s important to note that it may not be worth waiting to get your crane certifications, should you choose to lift anything over 2000 pounds, or utilize a crane that has the capability to lift over 2000 pounds (yes, that is correct...if your crane is a normal Altec or Elliott style truck that lifts 5900 pounds, you will not be able to use it without a certified AND qualified operator). The process to certify operators can be very cumbersome, and may not happen first time around. Best case scenario is that your operator passes first time, then waits 6-8 weeks to get their certification card. One point they brought up was that OSHA will be very strict about not only being “Certified” (NCCCO, CIC, NCCER, etc.), but the operator will have to be “Qualified” as well. Qualified is ONLY determined by the employer, and requires that all training and use of that particular piece of equipment be documented. Once the employer determines that operator is in fact trained on that specific piece of equipment (one crane is not the same as another, unfortunately), he/she can deem them “Qualified”. OSHA will want to see all of this documented, though. It was said multiple times in the webinar, so it is worth saying here again...”Operator Experience is Not Enough to Satisfy this Requirement.” Finally, you can expect that the wait for the certification courses and tests will just be increasing from now until far beyond the November deadline. Most crane certifiers are mostly booked up at this point, so it will be a tough last minute fix, especially when you add in the timeline to get it completed, as explained above. The sign industry isn’t the only industry affected by these regulations, so those other industries are in the same boat. And if you choose to get your crane de-rated or choose to get another crane to replace your current one (that is only rated to lift 2000 pounds), remember that lead times will likely be increased around that time due to demand and the fact that the end of the year purchasing will be in full swing. Bottom line is that there is quite a bit that needs to happen to make sure your operators and your company is in compliance with the upcoming regulation, and it might not be worth the wait to see if it hits or not. All indications at this point (according to ISA) suggest that this regulation will in fact be passed.
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