Washingtonstate pushes for new crane safety

Washington state legislators are pushing passage of new state laws for the regulatory control of construction cranes. Two bills have been proposed that would regulate crane safety and mandate crane operator certification. Public hearings on the legislation were taking place at press time. The proposed legislation comes as a result of a tower crane accident in Bellevue in November 2006 when the unit collapsed killing a man and causing major damage to three buildings. Speculation regarding the cause of the tower crane's collapse suggests the base failed, according to news reports. “I know the state is fast tracking the legislation to address this with Washington,” said Phillip Kinser, manager of program development at the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), speaking to ACT.