May 2009 - Ten years ago this past February, a group of industry leaders gathered in Washington, DC to witness the signing of an historic agreement between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). 

The Agreement, the first of its kind between federal OSHA and an independent industry group, recognizes CCO certification as meeting OSHA’s and ASME’s operator qualification requirements. 

View the signing of the agreement:

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 "I want to say how much I appreciate what [NCCCO] has done," said then OSHA chief, Charles N. Jeffress upon signing the Agreement.  "This kind of certification will help us reduce the number of accidents that occur with cranes."

The Signing Ceremony, held at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC, was witnessed by senior representatives from various sectors of industry in what was described by Director of the Directorate of Construction, Russell “Bruce” Swanson, as an “impressive show of support.”

Pictured at the 1999 signing ceremony (with positions indicated current at that time) are (seated left to right): Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Charles Jeffress and NCCCO President Davis Lauve, President of Nichols Construction Corporation, Baton Rouge, LA.  Standing (left to right) are: Anthony Brown, OSHA Senior Specialist; Russell Bruce Swanson, Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction; Frank Hanley, General President of the IUOE; Glen R. Riechmann, SC&RA President and President, Riechmann Transport, Granite City, IL; Graham Brent, NCCCO Executive Director; Carson Huneycutt, NCCCO Immediate Past President and Vice President, J.A. Jones Construction Co., Charlotte, NC.

“This is a great day for crane safety,” said then NCCCO President, Davis Lauve. “OSHA’s recognition of the CCO crane operator certification program should have a significant and sustained impact on all those who work with and around cranes.”

“It’s inspiring, ten years on, to see the how the CCO program has impacted safe crane practices in the construction industry,” said Commission Chairman, Kerry Hulse.  “Those who were there that day did indeed participate in an historic event that has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on crane safety.”

See the signed agreement and additional coverage.