Summary: OSHA regulations and ASME standards require signal equipment and persons to be competent and qualified. Competent persons must understand potential lifting hazards and the authority to stop work to avoid them. Qualified people must be able to do the actual work required for a given task. Although certifications are not legally required for signaling equipment and individuals, they can help document and support worker capability and are increasingly required by project owners.
Heavy lifting operations are one of the most important components of commercial, industrial and civil construction. They are also among the stocks that represent the most risk.
To protect the project, the materials and of course the labor, it is important to have the right people on the job.
But what exactly does the “right person” mean for handling and signaling? Between OSHA, ASME, and the project owner’s requirements, there are many slightly different terms about the devices and signal people they comply with, such as:
- Competent person
- Qualified person
- Certified person
Here, we’ll define these terms, identify the distinctions between them, and share how contractors can use this knowledge to ensure compliance and support a safer project site.
What do ASME and OSHA require of signaling devices and persons?
Both ASME and OSHA are standard setting bodies that affect the lifting industry.
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) establishes best practices, codes and standards for proper work in industrial and manufacturing environments. Although ASME provides industry recommendations, they are not a legal enforcement group. ASME B30 guides standards related to signaling devices and persons.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal regulatory agency that establishes and enforces legal requirements. OSHA often refers to industry-leading organizations such as ASME when establishing relevant laws. Subpart CC OSHA 29 CFR 1926 governs requirements for tower cranes and towers in construction, including rigging and signage.
Do ASME and OSHA require signal equipment and people to be certified?
Unlike crane operators, ASME and OSHA do not explicitly require signaling devices and persons to be officially certified.
For rigging, OSHA states that “rig work must be performed by a qualified rigger.” For signal people, both ASME and OSHA say that signal people must be competent and qualified.
In this case, competent and qualified are not synonymous terms. They have unique definitions that are extremely important distinctions for compliance and security.
What is a person competent in handling and signaling?
According to OSHA 1926.1401, a competent person is:
- Able to identify existing and foreseeable risks in the environment or working conditions
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- It is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them
For riggers and signalmen, being competent means knowing the hazardous situations of cranes, loads and the environment, as well as having the power on site to stop the work and prevent an incident.
Both components are required: someone with knowledge but no authority, or authority with insufficient knowledge, is not considered a competent person.
Examples of a competent rigger or signal person in action
- A rigger notices that a load is too heavy and unbalanced and may prevent the load from being lifted until it is corrected.
- A signal person who sees a power line in dangerous proximity to an elevator in progress and can signal the crane operator to stop moving.
What is a Rigging and Signaling Qualified Person?
According to OSHA 1926.1401, a qualified person is someone who has:
- Successfully demonstrated ability to resolve/resolve subject matter, work or project related issues
For riggers and signalmen, being qualified means actually being able to do the specific task related to lifting operations. These skills are acquired through a combination of training and experience and demonstrated by putting them into practice.
Examples of a qualified rigger or signal person in action
- A rigger who knows and uses the proper technique for rigging a load.
- A signal person who knows and uses the correct hand signals to communicate with the crane operator.
What is a Rigging and Signaling Certified Person?
A certified person is a person who:
- You have been independently assessed and have been formally recognized by a recognized certification body as having the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out a task.
For signalers and signalers, being certified means having completed the requirements of a trusted signaler or signaler certification program, which may include a written test, practical exam, or other elements.
Why is certification important for signaling devices and people?
Although certification is not required for signalmen and signalmen under OSHA and ASME, it can be extremely beneficial to these workers and their employers. Unlike being a competent or qualified person, being certified includes independent, standardized and formal documentation. This documentation helps to support and reinforce that a person is suitable for fieldwork.
In today’s construction industry, a growing number of project owners are trying to mitigate risk by requiring contractors to have all of their lift crew certified, including riggers and signalmen. Although these additional owner requirements are not tied to OSHA enforcement, they may affect project bids and contract negotiations.
Is a surveyor or certified signage person considered competent and qualified?
It is important to note that a certification only verifies that a person has met the requirements of the certification program they completed. A certification does not necessarily confirm that a person is competent and qualified to be a surveyor or signal person on every project or for every task.
However, a high-quality and rigorous certification program will be designed to measure individuals against industry standards. Certifications from trusted institutions such as NCCER, which align their assessments with ASME and OSHA, will provide strong indicators of capability. Even with certifications, contractors should always conduct additional evaluation and verification that their equipment and signal personnel are competent and qualified for a specific job.
Like competency, qualification and certification work together to support a strong workforce
The three elements of surveyor and signal person compliance (competence, qualification and certification) work together. They complement and help support safe lifting operations.
- competition covers awareness and authority to prevent or avoid hazards.
- qualification covers the ability and skill to perform the job.
- Certification covers the formal documentation of industry standard capabilities.
To meet OSHA regulations and project owner expectations, employers have a responsibility to understand how these elements relate. They must ensure that their heavy-duty workforce meets or exceeds established industry standards. A strong and supportive workforce is better equipped to deliver results on time, on budget and with a clean safety record.
To learn more about how to create effective surveyor and signalman training and certification programs, watch our free webinar with Ray Rice, NCCER’s Lift Operations Expert.
