Crane Operator & Crane Certification - Cal/OSHA

On a federal job, a crane is ready to lift when the operator is certified and the machine has had its inspections. California adds two checks that a crew from out of state may not expect. The operator must also pass a physical examination and a substance abuse test as part of certification. And any crane or derrick in lifting service over three tons rated capacity must be tested and examined every year by a certificating agency licensed by the state. This Cal/OSHA Crane Operator & Crane Certification Toolbox Talk covers both, and where the rules live since California consolidated its crane standards in 2022.

Where the boundary of this talk sits#

This talk covers California's operator requirements and crane certification. How to rig a load, stay clear of suspended loads, and work near power lines belongs to the crane lifting, suspended loads, rigging, and overhead power line talks.

The anchor#

Here is the distinction that carries this whole talk: in California a crane lift depends on two separate paper trails that the crew can ask to see — the operator's certification, which in California includes a passed physical examination and substance abuse test, and the crane's annual certificate from a state-licensed certificating agency — and neither one can stand in for the other; a skilled operator on an uncertified crane, or a certified crane with an operator who never passed the physical, is a lift California says should not happen.

Where the rules live now#

Until July 2022, California's crane rules for construction sat in Article 15 of the Construction Safety Orders. Cal/OSHA's fact sheet on the change says the consolidation took effect July 26, 2022: the construction sections, including the operator qualification sections, were repealed, and the requirements moved into Group 13 of the General Industry Safety Orders, which covers cranes and other hoisting equipment. Anyone still quoting the old Article 15 section numbers is quoting repealed text. The operator rule for construction is now Section 5006.2.

The operator: trained, certified, evaluated#

Section 5006.2(a) requires the employer to ensure that each operator is trained, certified or licensed, and evaluated under the section before operating any equipment covered under Group 13. The rule excludes some equipment, including derricks, sideboom cranes, equipment with a maximum capacity of 2,000 pounds or less, and certain articulating cranes used for material delivery.

Certification comes from an accredited certifying entity or a government licensing authority, and both routes require the physical examination and substance abuse test in Section 5006.2(g). To be certified, the operator must:

• pass a physical examination by a physician or other licensed health care professional, meeting the criteria in ASME B30.5-2000 or the U.S. DOT driver medical standards in 49 CFR 391.41 through 391.49;
• pass a substance abuse test, conducted by a recognized laboratory service, at a level consistent with standard practice for the industry;
• pass a written examination covering controls, emergency procedures, load calculations, load chart use, power line procedures, the equipment manual, and applicable regulations; and
• pass a hands-on examination showing proficiency operating the equipment.

Certificates are valid for a maximum of five years.

The physical and substance abuse test are the California difference. The federal construction rule, 29 CFR 1926.1427, requires training, certification or licensing, and evaluation, with certificates valid for five years, but it contains no physical examination or substance abuse testing requirement.

The employer's evaluation#

Certification is not the last step. Section 5006.2 also requires the employer to evaluate the operator, showing the skills and knowledge, and the ability to recognize and avert risk, needed to operate the equipment safely. The evaluator must have the knowledge, training, and experience to do it and must be an employee or agent of the employer. The evaluation is documented with the operator's name, the evaluator's name and signature, the date, and the make, model, and configuration of the equipment, and the record must be available at the worksite. A certificate says an operator can run a crane; the evaluation says they can run this crane.

Operators in training#

An operator-in-training may operate under direct supervision, which means the supervising person is in the immediate area, within visual sighting distance, and able to communicate effectively with the trainee. The rule lists tasks trainees may not do unless certified, including operating near power lines, hoisting personnel, multiple-equipment lifts, operations over shafts, cofferdams, or tank farms, and multiple-lift rigging, which is allowed only where the operator's trainer decides the trainee's skills are sufficient.

The crane: certified every year by a licensed agency#

Section 5021(a) says all cranes and derricks used in lifting service exceeding three tons rated capacity, and their accessory gear, shall not be used until the employer has ascertained that the equipment has been certificated, as shown by current and valid documents. Under Section 5021(a)(1), the tests and examinations are conducted annually by a currently licensed certificating agency, or a designee listed in the agency's license, and the agency issues the certificate. The certificates must be maintained for each crane or derrick in a form acceptable to the Division.

"Lifting service" has a defined edge: the section's note says "lifting service" does not include clamshells, draglines, and other similar equipment, or pile drivers other than those using gravity (drop) hammers.

Compare the federal rule. 29 CFR 1926.1412(f)(1) requires the equipment to be inspected at least every 12 months by a qualified person. California requires more than an annual inspection: it requires the annual tests and examinations to be performed by a certificating agency licensed by the state, with a certificate issued.

Where the duty sits#

8 CCR 5006.2 requires operator training, certification or licensing with a physical examination and substance abuse test, employer evaluation, and trainee supervision. 8 CCR 5021 requires annual certification of cranes and derricks over three tons in lifting service by a licensed certificating agency. For contrast, federal 29 CFR 1926.1427 has no physical or drug test requirement, and 29 CFR 1926.1412(f) requires an annual inspection by a qualified person.

What can go wrong?#

• An out-of-state operator arrives with a national certification but has never passed the required physical or substance abuse test.
• A rental crane arrives without a current annual certificate from a licensed certificating agency.
• The operator is certified, but no one evaluated them on this crane's configuration.
• A trainee runs the crane near a power line while the supervising operator is on the other side of the site.
• The site's crane procedure still cites repealed Article 15 sections.

How do we manage this properly?#

• Check the operator's certificate — current, for this type of crane, with the physical and substance abuse test behind it.
• Check the employer's evaluation — documented for this equipment and configuration, available on site.
• Check the crane's certificate — annual, from a licensed certificating agency, for any crane over three tons in lifting service.
• Keep trainees under direct supervision — and out of the restricted tasks.
• Update procedures to the current sections — Group 13, not repealed Article 15.

Before you start#

Before the first lift, ask to see three documents: the operator's certification, the employer's evaluation for this crane, and the crane's current annual certificate. If any one is missing, the lift waits.

Talk it over#

• Have you ever seen a crane's annual certificate? Do you know where it is kept on this job?
• Who evaluated the operator on this crane, and when?
• What would you do if a trainee started a lift near the power line?

The bottom line#

In California, a crane lift needs two checks. The operator must be trained, certified with a passed physical examination and substance abuse test, and evaluated by the employer on the equipment. The crane, if over three tons rated capacity in lifting service, must be certified every year by a state-licensed certificating agency. Neither check replaces the other.

Frequently asked questions about Cal/OSHA crane requirements#

Does California require a drug test for crane operators?

Yes. Under Section 5006.2(g)(1) and (g)(2), operators must pass a physical examination and a substance abuse test conducted by a recognized laboratory, whether they are certified by an accredited certifying entity or licensed by a government entity. The federal construction rule has no such requirement.

Which cranes need the annual Cal/OSHA certification?

Under Section 5021, all cranes and derricks used in lifting service exceeding three tons rated capacity, and their accessory gear. The tests and examinations are done annually by a currently licensed certificating agency, which issues the certificate.

Where are California's crane rules for construction now?

In Group 13 of the General Industry Safety Orders. Cal/OSHA's consolidation took effect July 26, 2022, and repealed the crane sections in Article 15 of the Construction Safety Orders, including the old operator qualification sections. The construction operator rule is now Section 5006.2, and crane certification is Section 5021.

Download the Cal/OSHA crane operator and certification toolbox talk PDF#

Download this Cal/OSHA Crane Operator & Crane Certification Toolbox Talk as a printable PDF in English and Spanish, and check the three documents before the first pick.

Related toolbox talks#

• Crane Lifting
• Cranes and Suspended Loads
• Rigging Inspections
• Overhead Power Lines

Sources#

• Cal/OSHA, Title 8 CCR §5006.2 — Operator Training, Certification, and Evaluation for Cranes and Derricks in Construction ((a) trained, certified/licensed, and evaluated before operating Group 13 equipment; exceptions; certification requires physical examination per ASME B30.5-2000 or 49 CFR 391.41–391.49, substance abuse test, written and hands-on examinations; certificates valid up to five years; employer evaluation and documentation at the worksite; operator-in-training direct supervision and restricted tasks; operative 7-26-2022): https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5006_2.html
• Cal/OSHA, Title 8 CCR §5021 ((a) cranes and derricks in lifting service exceeding three tons rated capacity not used until certificated; (a)(1) annual tests and examinations by a currently licensed certificating agency; lifting service exclusions): https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5021.html
• Cal/OSHA, Fact Sheet — Consolidated Cranes and Derricks Standards (October 2022; consolidation effective July 26, 2022; Construction Safety Orders Article 15 sections repealed and moved to General Industry Safety Orders Group 13): https://dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/Crane-fs.pdf
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1427 (federal operator training, certification, evaluation; certificates valid 5 years; no physical or substance abuse test): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1412(f)(1) (federal annual inspection by a qualified person): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1412

Written by FieldSafetyTalk's safety professional — a CSP, ASP, CHST and OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.

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