“A competency-driven, crane operator certification will lead to a higher level of safety for all workers on a construction site and the general public,” said safety and workers’ compensation authority Worksafe BC. “For employers, this adds up to savings in both compensation expenditures and in related indirect costs such as lost productivity, damaged equipment and recruiting replacement staff.
“As well, a recognized, industry-led system will begin to address the serious shortage of operators. It will help attract experienced workers from other parts of North America, as well as offering young British Columbians a new and more accessible means of becoming a crane operator.” The BCACS does not accept US NCCCO certifications.
All operators who register before July 1, 2007 will be considered to be an incumbent operator. Certain incumbent operators will not be required to do the theory assessment by a written test but will have their theory knowledge assessed during the practical test.
Operators need to be registered with the BCACS by the 1 July deadline. The registration document puts the operator in the queue for assessment to obtain a Level 2 or 3 certification as soon as possible. Level 1 is a permit that allows a trainee operator to work under the direct supervision of a qualified operator. As the worker gains skills he may ask for assessment and be granted a higher level of certification. Previous certificates of qualification will not be accepted because they lack a practical assessment, Worksafe BC said. Operators will need to be assessed by 31 December.
There are approximately 5,000 tower, boom and mobile cranes working in BC, including 250 tower cranes, and 5,000 crane operators, according to Worksafe BC. Many operators are approaching retirement with up to 300 new operators required each year.
There were at least 30 mobile crane and boom truck crane incidents, and 26 tower crane incidents, reported in BC in 2006.
Related Files
Mobile crane accidents 2004-2006
WorkSafeBC crane certification guidelines
