Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 25, December 15, 2023
A. An employee who is not qualified or
certified under Regulation .06 of this chapter is permitted to operate a crane
as a crane operator trainee only where the requirements of this section are
met.
B. An employer shall ensure
compliance with the following:
(1) The crane
operator trainee is familiar with and understands 29 CFR §
1926.1427(f)(1), (f)(2), and (f)(3)(i), (iii), and (iv);
(2) The crane operator trainer is qualified
or certified under Regulation .06 of this chapter and is familiar with the
proper use of the equipment's controls; and
(3) The crane operator trainee is directly
supervised by the crane operator trainer at all times.
C. The employer shall provide each crane
operator trainee with sufficient training prior to operating the equipment to
enable the crane operator trainee to operate the equipment safely under
limitations established by this section, including direct supervision, and
ensure that the crane operator trainee has a basic understanding of:
(1) Crane limitations;
(2) Standard hand signals as defined in ASME
B30.5-2007 Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks,
Jacks, and Slings"Mobile and Locomotive Cranes;
(3) Voice and radio communications;
(4) Crane dynamics involved in swinging,
controlling, and stopping loads;
(5) Boom deflection from hoisting
loads;
(6) Personal fall protection
methods; and
(7) Hazards and
restrictions associated with working adjacent to overhead electric lines and
equipment.
D. In lieu of
compliance with §C of this regulation, an employer may accept proof of
completion of training through an operating engineer apprenticeship program
that has been approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training
Council.
E. The crane operator
trainee shall not operate the equipment under any of the following
circumstances:
(1) If any part of the
equipment, load line or load, including rigging and lifting accessories, is
operated up to the equipment's maximum working radius in the work zone so that
the load line or load could get within 20 feet of a power line that is up to
350 kV, or within 50 feet of a power line that is over 350 kV;
(2) If the equipment is used to hoist
personnel;
(3) In lifts where 75
percent of the crane's capacity may be exceeded;
(4) If the equipment is used over a shaft or
cofferdam or in a tank farm; and
(5) Special-lift rigging operations, except
where the crane operator trainer determines that the crane operator trainee
skills are sufficient for this high-skill work.
F. Every 2 years, an employer shall ensure
that a crane operator trainee provides the employer with the following current
medical documentation:
(1) Proof of
successful completion of a physical examination conducted by a licensed
physician that includes, at a minimum, the examination criteria specified in
Paragraph 3.1.2 of the ASME B30.5-2007 Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes,
Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks, and Slings"Mobile and Locomotive Cranes;
or
(2) A certificate of medical
examination as required for a commercial driver's license that would be
acceptable to the U.S. Department of Transportation, unless the employee
provides documentation from a licensed physician that the failure to meet these
qualifications will not affect the individual's operation of a crane.
G. The employer shall require that
each crane operator trainee has successfully passed a substance abuse test
pursuant to the employer's drug and alcohol free workplace and substance abuse
policy.
