Washington Crane Operator Certification Requirements
Employers are prohibited from allowing a person who does not meet the requirements of this rule to operate a crane without direct supervision by a qualified crane operator
Crane operators must obtain a valid operator’s certificate issued by a crane operator testing organization that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency
Candidates must successfully pass written and practical examinations for the type/class of crane to be operated
Operators must have up to 2000 hrs of documented crane operator experience, based on the type of crane they operate (This is a one time requirement.)
Crane operators must recertify at least every 5 years
Crane operators must successfully pass a substance abuse test conducted by a recognized laboratory
Crane Operators Must have documented hours of experience per Table 1:
Actual Crane Operating Experience
Crane Related Experience
Crane Operator Experience for Cranes Used in the Construction Industry
Table 1
Beginning January 1, 2010, crane operator experience and crane related experience must be documented and separated out by crane type and capacity. If the employer is documenting crane operating and/or related crane experience hours, the employer must provide a copy of the hours to the operator as soon as practical, if requested.
The 5 Categories of Cranes and their Types |
Number of Hours of Actual Crane Operating Experience |
Number of Hours of Crane Related Experience |
(1) Mobile Cranes |
(a) Lattice Boom Crawler Cranes (LBC) |
300 tons and above
1000 Hours |
300 tons and above
1000 Hours |
| |
Under 300 tons
500 Hours |
Under 300 tons
500 Hours |
(b) Lattice Boom Truck Cranes (LBT) |
300 tons and above
1000 Hours |
300 tons and above
1000 Hours |
|
Under 300 tons
500 Hours |
Under 300 tons
500 Hours |
(c) Large Telescopic Boom Cranes (Swing Cab) (TLL) |
Over 130 tons
750 Hours |
Over 130 tons
750 Hours |
|
Over 40 tons to 130 tons
250 Hours |
Over 40 tons to 130 tons
250 Hours |
|
40 tons and under
40 Hours |
40 tons and under
40 Hours |
(d) Small Telescopic Boom Cranes (Fixed Cab) (TSS) |
15 tons and above
40 Hours |
15 tons and above
40 Hours |
|
Over 5 tons to 15 tons
20 Hours |
Over 5 tons to 15 tons
20 Hours |
|
5 tons and under
8 hours |
5 tons and under
16 hours |
(2) Articulating Boom Cranes |
20 Hours |
20 Hours |
(3) Tower Cranes |
(a) Hammerhead |
500 Hours |
500 Hours |
(b) Luffer |
500 Hours |
500 Hours |
(c) Self-Erecting |
50 Hours |
50 Hours |
(4) Overhead Cranes |
(a) Cab Operated |
40 Hours |
40 Hours |
(b) Pendant/Remote |
40 Hours |
40 Hours |
(5) Derricks |
20 Hours |
500 Hours |
Hours of actual crane operating experience . For all cranes: Time while the operator is at the controls of the crane; and/or has direct control of that crane; and/or a combination of operating hours within the same crane type. For mobile cranes: It also includes time while installing/removing boom sections, luffing boom, jib, extending and retracting outriggers/stabilizers, levelling crane, and replacing hoisting rope. For tower cranes: It includes time while jumping (increasing the height of the tower/mast).
Note: Additional actual crane operator experience may account for crane related experience.
Hours of crane related experience : Time as a signalman/bellman, oiler, crane mechanic, crane inspector, formal classroom training, crane simulator operation, and a combination of operating hours on other categories of cranes. |
Crane Operator Qualification Affidavit of State of Washington
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