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Crane operator physical qualification requirements

Summary A union asked whether physical qualification provisions in ANSI crane and derrick standards referenced by OSHA's construction rule applied to equipment operators. OSHA said those incorporated physical criteria did not apply to operators of the covered equipment. OSHA archives the letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1981-05-08
Date issued
May 8, 1981
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Cranes Operator Training Consensus Standards
Source
View the official document

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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

May 8, 1981

Mr. A. Bennett Hill, Jr.
Director of Safety and Health
International Union of Operating Engineers
[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. Hill:

This is in response to your letter to John Miles dated March 10, 1981. It concerned the applicability of operator physical qualification requirements contained in certain ANSI standards incorporated by reference in 29 CFR 1926.550. Specifically, these standards are:

  1. 29 CFR 1926.550(b)(2); ANSI B30.5-1968, Safety Code for Crawler, Locomotive and Truck Cranes, Qualifications for Operators, Chapter 5-3.1.2, paragraph b.

  2. 29 CFR 1926.550(d)(4); ANSI B30.2.0-1967, Safety Code for Overhead and Gantry Cranes, Qualifications for Operators of Cab-Operated and Pulpit-Operated Cranes, Chapter 2-3.1.2, paragraph b.

  3. 29 CFR 1926.550(e); ANSI B30.6-1969, Safety Code for Derricks.

a. Qualifications for Designated Individuals in Charge of Derrick Operations, Chapter 6-3.1.2, paragraph b.

b. Qualifications for Operators, Chapter 6-3.2.2, paragraph b.

It is the interpretation of OSHA that the physical qualification requirements incorporated by reference in 29 CFR 1926.550 do not apply to operators of equipment covered by these standards.

Your interest in this matter is appreciated. I believe that this letter will clarify this issue.

Sincerely,
Thorne G. Auchter
Assistant Secretary

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