September 8, 2010

Deadline approaching for British Columbia crane certification

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

VANCOUVER

The deadline is approaching fast for all crane operators in British Columbia and the Yukon to become certified and be in compliance with new safety regulations.

“Our main message is don’t wait for the deadline,” said Lee Middleton, managing partner with Fullford Harbour Group, which is the company responsible for offering CraneSafe certification in B.C. and the Yukon.

“We will fill up and if thousands of people wait for 2011, they won’t be served before the enforcement deadline.”

Crane operators in B.C. must have a valid safety certificate by Feb. 28, 2011 to be legally permitted to work on a crane in the province.

“We are concerned about getting the word out,” said Middleton.

“This is for real and WorkSafeBC has every intention to enforce the regulations.”

In December 2008, the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) identified and registered more than 10,000 crane operators, who needed to be assessed and certified. Their names were forwarded to Fullford CraneSafe Certification.

“It’s a logistics issue,” said Fraser Cocks, executive director of the BCACS. “Waiting until the very last moment won’t get you through. This is a process. You can’t show up and just expect it to occur.”

Cocks said there are currently about 7,000 people involved in the process, which means they have received a certificate, are scheduled to be assessed or have been unsuccessful. About 3,000 people in B.C. are certified to operate a crane.

“It does take time to get yourself through the system,” said Cocks. “People can’t assume that it will take a few weeks to get certified. It will take a good few weeks to get an application together and schedule the practical and theory tests.”

As a result of recent changes to Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in B.C. and the Yukon, it is necessary for all operators of boom, tower and mobile cranes to pass a mandatory written and hands-on exam

“One of the unexpected things is the amount of volume that is happening outside the Lower Mainland,” said Middleton.

“About three quarters of our assessments are taking place outside the Lower Mainland. We have had to put a plan in place to certify operators throughout the province.”

Middleton said a schedule is coming out this week with all the dates and times that assessors will be available in different locations.

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