The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule that applies the requirements of the August 2010 cranes and derricks in construction standard to demolition work and underground construction on April 23. Application of this rule will protect workers from hazards associated with hoisting equipment used during construction activities.

“It is important that construction workers in these sectors receive the same safety protections as other construction workers,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels. “Extending this rule to demolition and underground construction work will help save lives and prevent injuries.”

This final rule applies the same crane rules to underground construction and demolition that are already being used by other construction sectors, and streamlines OSHA’s standards by eliminating the separate cranes and derricks standard currently used for underground and demolition work. The rule also corrects errors made to the underground construction and demolition standards in the 2010 rulemaking.

The final rule becomes effective May 23, 2013.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.

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