Paying Attention
What to watch in OSHA’ s proposed crane standard changes
BY TROY CLARK
For those of us in the crane industry, any mention of OSHA( Occupational Health and Safety Administration) updating the Subpart CC Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard immediately gets our attention. Currently, the agency’ s regulatory agenda includes amendments to the standard, with a proposed rule expected in November of this year.
Whenever OSHA announces changes, rumors usually spread faster than facts. Some assume major new requirements are coming. Others dismiss the proposal as nothing worth watching. Based on what OSHA has published so far, neither reaction is accurate. But that doesn’ t mean that crane contractors should ignore the latest proposals.
The latest proposed OSHA amendments appear to be focused primarily on clarifying existing requirements, correcting inconsistencies, and modernizing language rather than creating entirely new crane regulations.
Purposeful Language
When OSHA published the current Cranes and Derricks standard in 2010, it represented one of the most significant regulatory updates the crane industry had seen in decades. The rule addressed everything from operator qualifications and assembly / disassembly procedures to power line safety, inspections, signaling, and lift planning.
For the most part, the standard has served the industry well. But 15 years of
14 November 13, 2026 www. contractorshotline. com