CIC returns to certifying crane operators

CIC currently tests and certifies operators to run telescoping-boom cranes, articulating-boom cranes and lattice-boom crawler/carrier cranes. Photo: Crane Institute of America Certification (CIC)

Crane operators who need to earn federally required certifications to work in the United States can once again take the required tests through Crane Institute Certification (CIC). The Sanford, FL-based company is now able to test crane operators and issue certifications that are recognized by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

CIC founder and CEO Jim Headley noted that although OSHA requires crane operators working in construction to be certified, the federal agency also requires more training and evaluation before it considers an operator to be qualified.

“For OSHA to consider a crane operator fully qualified to run a crane in construction, he or she must not only be certified, but also trained on the topics listed in OSHA 1926.1427, and be evaluated by a qualified person, with a record kept by the employer,” Headley added. “Certification by an accredited provider like CIC shows that the operator knows the general rules and skills needed to run a crane. The additional training and evaluation, for which the operator’s employer is responsible, make sure the operator can run the crane safely in a specific application and site conditions.”

Established in 2007, CIC has long been respected as an accredited certifier of crane operators. However, in 2019, a clerical delay caused the company’s accreditation to lapse. According to Headley, CIC’s application for re-accreditation was then delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors until it was finally completed in December 2023.