The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently selected 20 members for the newly created Crane and Derrick Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee. The purpose of the committee is to allow members of the construction industry to have more involvement in the revision of existing crane and derrick safety standards.
According to Justin Crandol, spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America, having a rulemaking committee for safety standards allows the construction industry to have more of a voice with OSHA.
“The negotiated rulemaking committee will review prior standards and propose changes, which allows us to have more of a say,” Crandol said. “[Members of the committee] will put together a final draft of the changes they think are necessary, and then OSHA will have final approval.”
Putting together the rulemaking committee started in July when OSHA requested nominations for membership. The final 20 applicants were chosen out of 55 nominees. Selection was based on each person’s prior experience, knowledge of crane and derrick safety and the demonstration of safe work practices within the nominee’s construction company.
Among those serving on the committee are nine AGC members.
“If all stakeholders in the negotiated rulemaking process have the interest of the industry at heart and work fairly together, then good results will occur,” AGC CEO Stephen E. Sanderr said.
