Section 6.1. Findings and purpose

(a) The Board finds that:

(1) The improper operation of a crane may cause a catastrophic event on a work site, resulting in fatality, other bodily harm and property damage.

(2) Although any machine or man-made activity may cause fatality, other bodily harm or property damage, the magnitude of the loads borne by cranes, the associated tension and stress on structural elements of cranes, the motor power required to operate winches, the mobility of cranes and other factors that are peculiar to cranes, lead to exceptional hazards and risk of harm arising from crane operation that warrant additional regulation by the Commonwealth.

(3) Operator error is a significant cause of bodily harm and property damage arising from the use of cranes.

(4) A uniform standard of testing, certification and licensure as a prerequisite to admission to the occupation of crane operator is necessary to reduce the incidence of error and promote a higher degree of conformity to safe crane operation.

(5) Reduction of crane-related incidents will save lives, reduce bodily injury to the public and construction workers, reduce property damage, increase efficiency and raise productivity of businesses in this Commonwealth.

(b) The Board promulgates this chapter to:

(1) Protect people from bodily harm by reducing the incidence of operator error through a process of objectively measured testing, certification and licensure as a prerequisite to admission to the occupation of crane operator.

(2) Protect people from bodily harm by establishing standards of conduct applied to crane operators in order to restrict or remove from the occupation of crane operation those persons proved to have engaged in conduct, habits, behavior or judgment that has caused bodily harm or is reasonably likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm in the future.

(3) Protect crane operators and trainees from undue influence to engage in unsafe practices.

(4) Protect crane operators and trainees from unfair practices in the process of certification or recertification.

(5) Promote competitiveness and economic efficiency in the crane industry without impairing safety, training or certification.

(6) Preserve the value of crane operator certification for the benefit of licensees, their employers and consumers of crane services.