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A move from the state Department of Labor to certify crane operators makes plenty of common sense. Crane accidents in other states, and there have been far too many of them, have underlined the hazards involved in this necessary but potentially dangerous part of construction operations on big buildings.Of particular concern are "tower" cranes, which are built on construction sites to answer specific needs of a project. Of the 10 deaths involving crane operations in North Carolina over the last decade, none had to do with tower cranes. But the need for certification of those who operate cranes is obvious. A wrong move by an inexperienced operator can put many lives in danger.The department would have operators certified by a national organization, and the new rules proposed would be adjusted to recognize that the machines have changed a good bit in the last 30 years. Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry notes a pertinent problem -- that the national standards pertaining to crane operation haven't been updated since 1993. Someone apparently has been asleep on the job.
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