What changes mean for crew training, qualifications, and certifications
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recently updated its regulations for cranes and rigging in construction. There are many changes that affect day-to-day operations. Below are the changes that affect how you may need to train, qualify, and certify your crews if you perform construction-related activities in the state.
View the full rule: WAC 296-155, Part L
The rule is effective September 5, 2025, (some items have later dates noted below).
WA-Recognized Crane/Equipment Certifiers
WAC 296-155-53100 through 296-155-53110, and 296-155-53200 through 296-155- 53214
Being recognized to certify cranes in WA has been required for years; what’s changing is how you get and keep that authorization. You now need:
- A current national crane/equipment inspector/certifier credential (for the types you’ll certify) from a nationally accredited testing org (such as CCO Certification),
- A WA state certifier written exam (for each equipment type you’ll certify), and
- 40 hours of crane-related training in the prior 5 years.
Recognition is issued for up to 5 years and must be renewed with the same elements.
L&I also updated submission and posting steps after inspections—make sure your procedures reflect the new 5-day email and post/keep with the operator’s manual requirements.
Assign and Qualify Lift Director & A/D Directors
WAC 296-155-53301 and 296-155- 53303
As of September 5, 2025, a Lift Director (LD) must be present for hoisting work and directly oversee the lift and rigging team. They must be a currently qualified rigger and currently qualified signalperson and pass a documented qualification test; qualification is renewed on a 5-year cycle. LDs are also expected to know key rule sections (assigned-personnel duties, power-line safety, operator certification criteria).
The Assembly/Disassembly (AD) Director must be qualified (either by a third-party qualified evaluator or an employer’s qualified evaluator) and re-qualified every 5 years. Tower cranes only: the A/D Director must also hold a tower-crane A/D Director certification from a nationally accredited organization, such as CCO Certification, starting Jan 1, 2027 (or within 12 months after a qualifying program is approved).
During tower-crane assembly/disassembly/reconfiguration, the LD cannot serve simultaneously as the A/D Director, operator, or rigger.
Employers must ensure assigned LDs and A/D Directors are trained/qualified for their roles.
Fall Protection on Cranes
WAC 296-155-53403 (with 296-880)
L&I aligned crane fall protection with the unified fall-protection rule.
- Provide/use fall protection at over 6 feet for non-A/D crane work.
- Provide/use fall protection at over 10 feet during assembly, disassembly, or reconfiguration (including tower cranes).
- Handholds and steps references now point to WAC 296-880.
Ensure you update your fall-protection training content and crew briefings to these thresholds and provide refresher training when evaluations show it’s needed. Part L also requires employers to provide role-specific training and refresher training when evaluations show it’s needed.
Wire rope inspection & removal
WAC 296-155-53200
Your accredited crane/equipment certifier must review the prior three months of shift rope inspections as part of certification. Removal criteria and “no-splice / two wraps on drum after shortening” expectations are clarified.
Employers should consider refresher training for riggers and operators to recognize removal-from-service triggers and tighten inspection records.
Forklifts lifting a suspended load (Effective January 1, 2027)
WAC 296-155-53416
If you hang a load from a forklift (hook, shackle, boom, winch, etc.), the operator must follow all machine/attachment prohibitions and complete the operator evaluation required by WAC 296-155-53300(3). Documentation of the operator’s qualification/certification must be available at the site (digital is accepted).
How forklift operators qualify/certify based on configuration/attachment:
- Hook/shackle under forks: must meet crane-operator qualification/certification requirements in WAC 296-155-53300 (certification from a nationally accredited testing organization is required).
- Other attachments (e.g., boom, winch): must either hold the same crane-operator certification or be qualified by evaluation using one of two options (documentation kept on site; employer option is not portable):
- Option 1 – Third-party qualified evaluator; or
- Option 2 – Employer’s qualified evaluator with written/oral and practical tests.
Qualifications may be valid for up to 3-years.
How We Can Help
Let Crane Tech help you train crews, qualify key roles, prep for certifications, and tighten records/audits so you’re ready on day one.
Get a quote to make sure you’re up to date on training.