OSHA Introduces Final Rule on Cranes
The final rule adds several exemptions to account for unique equipment and circumstances that occur in railway roadway work.
- By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
- Sep 16, 2020
OSHA published a new final rule on September 14, 2020 that amends the agency’s crane standard to maintain protection for workers while also reducing compliance burdens.
The final rule adds several exemptions to account for unique equipment and circumstances that occur in railway roadway work. One of the exemptions is flash-butt welding trucks, a specialized piece of equipment used in railroad work that doesn’t pose the same safety hazards OSHA addresses in the crane standard despite meeting the technical definition of a crane.
Other exemptions include the use of rail stops and rail clamps, restricting out-of-level work, the prohibition of dragging a load sideways, having a boom-hoist limiting device for hydraulic cylinder equipped booms and following manufacturer’s guidance for the use and modification of equipment.
This is the latest final rule published by OSHA since the October 2019 rule on unemployment drug testing.
Certification and operator training will follow the FRA’s regulatory requirements. More information on workplace safety while doing railway roadway work can be found at osha.gov.
About the Author
Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.