NEW YORK CITY-In the wake of several construction fatalities atdevelopment sites on the Far West Side and Manhattanville, city officials are nowrequiring new tests and requirements to up the safety standards forcrane operators citywide. According to new administrative rulesfrom the New York City Department of Buildings,new applicants must now obtain certification from either theNational Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, anon-profit that develops performance assessments for craneoperations nationwide, an organization accredited by the NationalCommission for Certifying Agencies or the American NationalStandards Institute, beginning in May.

Developed by experts nationwide, exams offered by thesecertification organizations are updated more frequently than thosecurrently used by the city to reflect updates in technology andrequire applicants to be tested on a variety of cranes rather thana single piece of equipment, the DOB says. By 2014, the USOccupational Safety and Health Administration will require allcrane operators to pass the exams offered by a nationallyaccredited organization as well as undergo re-testing every fiveyears.

Steven Spinola, president of the RealEstate Board of New York, an industry group that lobbieson behalf of the commercial real estate industry,applauded the action, saying that the new licensing program will“dramatically improve” the education, training and oversight ofcrane operators.