No word on the new crane and hoist change of licensing requirements. No new proposal from the Department of Construction Services to be considered for public comment yet. As proposed, there would be both a written and practical hands-on test for applicants.
However, it appears that nationally, OSHA has reconsidered the need for a practical-hands on test. In an August 16, Letter of Interpretation from OSHA to the International Union of Operating Engineers, OSHA stated: Thank you for your April 6, 2011 letter to OSHA that asks for guidance regarding the application of Subpart CC of 29 CFR Part 1926, Cranes and Derricks in Construction. More specifically, the question was whether an independent testing organization's recertification of a crane operator could meet the requirements of 1926.1427 if the recertification process includes a minimum number of hours of crane experience in place of a practical exam. The answer is yes. How this federal OSHA Letter of Interpretation will affect CT's crane, derrick, and hoisting license requirements is not known at this time.
All crane, derrick, and hoist license holders in CT should continue to renew their licenses as usual for now.