California Crane Operator Exemptions

Certain crane operators may be exempt from California’s crane operator certification requirements, but they may still be subject to employer training, qualification, supervision, and other Cal/OSHA safety requirements.

California Construction — §5006.2 exemptions

Crane-operator certification is not required in these situations:

1. (h)(1) Derricks and sideboom cranes, as well as equipment with a maximum manufacturer-rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 lb or less. However, the operator still falls under the basic training/qualification requirements of §5006.
2. (h)(2) Certain articulating/knuckle-boom cranes used to deliver material to a construction site, when either:
   1. boom length is less than 25 feet, or
   2. maximum rated load capacity is less than 15,000 lb.
3. (h)(3) Electric line trucks / digger derricks as defined by California’s Electrical Safety Orders and regulated by §2940.7. However, this exemption does not include mobile truck cranes built to ASME B30.5 standards.
4. (h)(4) Marine terminal operations regulated by Article 14.

It’s worth noting that ‘training’, though not listed as an exception, may require some ‘practical’ training needed to be considered ‘sufficient.’ However, this would likely be in a highly supervised environment and not to fall under the category for general crane operation.

“Operator training. The employer shall provide each operator-in-training with sufficient training, through a combination of formal and practical instruction, prior to operating the equipment to enable the operator-in training to operate the equipment safely under limitations established by this section and any additional limitations established by the employer.”

General industry — §5006.1 exemptions

The exemptions are a little different for general industry. Certification under §5006.1 isn’t required for:

• Exemption (1) Mobile cranes with a boom under 25 feet OR a maximum rated load capacity under 15,000 lb
• Exemption (2) Electric line trucks / digger derricks, subject to the same limitation concerning ASME B30.5 mobile truck cranes
• Exemption (3) Marine terminal operations regulated by Article 14.

Cal-OSHA Title 8

• Subchapter 7 – General Industry Safety Orders
  • Group 13 – Cranes and Other Hoisting Equipment
    • Article 98 – Operating Rules
      • 5006 – Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operators – Qualifications.
      • 5006.1 – Mobile Crane and Tower Crane — Operator Qualifications and Certification
      • 5006.2 -Operator Training, Certification, and Evaluation for Cranes and Derricks in Construction.

Read More on Cal-OSHA Title 8 ‘Unique Requirements’