OSHA Intends To Postpone Crane Rule Compliance Deadline

Washington, DC (June 1, 2017) — According to the most recent “NPGA Reports,” the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) announced in a brief statement on its website that it intends to postpone the November 10, 2017 compliance deadline for the Crane and Derricks in Construction regulation. OSHA has not announced the actual postponement or for how long the compliance deadline will be postponed. The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) immediately reached out to rulemaking staff at OSHA to obtain additional information on the delay, as well as potential next steps for the agency.

But on May 5, 2017, NPGA called on newly confirmed U.S. Department of Labor Secretary, Alexander Acosta, to immediately delay the compliance deadline for the regulation. NPGA demanded that Secretary Acosta immediately postpone the compliance deadline by an additional three years and instructed the agency to re-engage stakeholders in changing the regulation. In addition, NPGA is taking the matter to Congress, as well as re-emphasizing its concerns during Propane Days. The current compliance deadline is a three-year extension of the initial deadline during which OSHA intended to modify the crane operator certification component, but the agency failed to do so.

NPGA has long-held objections to the regulation and its applicability to the propane industry. NPGA challenged the regulation’s relevance to propane tank delivery and subsequently argued for exclusion from the regulation. However, OSHA maintains that the regulation is activity-specific rather than industry-specific; therefore, the requirements of the regulation may cover some propane tank deliveries by articulating or mobile cranes.

NPGA is preparing a White Paper detailing the requirements of the Crane and Derricks in Construction regulation as it is currently finalized. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Director of Regulatory Affairs, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Services.