Aug 7, 2008 7:10 pm US/Eastern
Crane Operation Faces Standardized Rules In Md.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
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In Maryland, operating a construction crane may come under standardized rules.
It's one of the most dangerous jobs in construction, and in Maryland, it is finally coming under some standardized rules.
Alex DeMetrick reports crews that operate those huge construction cranes may soon be working under state imposed safety regulations.
Baltimore can't grow without them, but in Maryland, operating a construction crane does not fall under state regulation.
"I could go up and say, well I'm a crane operator and get hired, and I could go right on a crane. A contractor doesn't know whether I'm qualified or my experience or anything," said Joe Shanahan, operating engineer.
That's about to change for crane operators and the crews that work with them on the ground, after unions and contractors worked out a set of rules with Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
"Construction industry is very dangerous, particularly in the operation of cranes and lifting equipment, so we looked at it and we thought there was a definite need to improve the safety," said Ronald DiJulius, department commissioner.
A driving force behind the regulations are crane accidents like the one that killed a worker in Annapolis this past spring.
Taking cranes apart to raise or lower them is especially treacherous as tons of steal separate to add or remove sections.
There's no guarantee the new rules could have saved a life, but when it comes to cranes, safety precautions could be a deterrent to disaster.
If the crane regulations are approved by legislative committee, they could take effect in Maryland within 60 to 90 days.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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