BC Crane Safety Newsletter Fall 2026
Mobile and Tower Cranes Becoming Compulsory Trades
The Province of B.C. has announced that mobile and tower crane trades will become Skilled Trades Certifications (compulsory trades), effective July 5, 2027.
A one-year transition period starting July 6, 2026, will allow affected crane operators to register with SkilledTradesBC as an apprentice or trade qualifier, or be certified as a journeyperson. You can learn more by reading SkilledTradesBC: Mobile Crane Operator and Tower Crane Operator Announced as Skilled Trades Certification Trades.
Affected Crane Classifications
The new requirement applies ONLY to mobile crane and tower crane trades. All other classifications under the BC Crane Safety Hierarchy of Crane Classifications are not affected.
Mobile Crane classification includes the former certifications of Lattice Boom Friction, Lattice Boom Hydraulic, and Hydraulic Unlimited Tonnage.
Operators currently holding a BC Crane Safety full scope operator certificate in either mobile crane or tower crane, together with the applicable B.C. Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal Endorsement, have already met the requirement and do not need to pursue any further action.
Operators with provisional, limited-scope, out-of-jurisdiction or other credentials recognized by BC Crane Safety should confirm their status with SkilledTradesBC.
Provincial and Federal Support
Eligible apprentices may be able to access provincial and federal supports for certain training-related costs, including tuition, travel, and child care. Employer sponsors can also explore available financial supports, including tax credits and employer training grants.
SkilledTradesBC provides Apprenticeship Advisors, Certification Advisors, exam-preparation resources, accommodations, and other transition and examination supports.
Written certification examination fees for mobile crane operator and tower crane operator trade qualifiers are waived until July 5, 2027; practical-assessment fees continue to apply.
How BC Crane Safety Can Help
As B.C.’s crane operator registration and certification body, BC Crane Safety is working alongside SkilledTradesBC to help operators and employers navigate this shift—clarifying how existing BC Crane Safety credentials map to the new requirements, pointing members toward the right advisors and funding streams, and keeping the industry updated as policy details are finalized. Look for upcoming newsletters and check the BC Crane Safety website for transition timelines, guidance, and answers to classification-specific questions.
If you have questions about your certification status, reach out to BC Crane Safety or contact a SkilledTradesBC Certification Advisor.
Building Supervisor Competency and Qualification
Supervisors are the critical link between an employer’s safety program and the workers carrying out their tasks. They translate policies and procedures into clear direction, safe work practices, and consistent decisions in the field.
Supervision is not defined by a job title alone. WorkSafeBC defines a supervisor as "a person who instructs, directs and controls workers in the performance of their duties". Anyone who performs these duties, regardless of their job title, shares responsibility for how work is performed safely.
A Practical Resource for Supervisors
BC Crane Safety’s Managing Safety from the Supervisor’s Perspective infoflip helps supervisors apply The Four Cornerstones of Due Diligence: Information, Instruction, Training, and Supervision.
This compact field resource covers more than 30 topics, including legal responsibilities, hazard and risk assessment, communication, due diligence, young and new workers, workplace inspections, incident investigations, and return-to-work processes.
The infoflip can support work planning, toolbox talks, worker orientation, and everyday safety conversations.
While the Managing Safety from the Supervisor’s Perspective infoflip is a printed flip‑card booklet for use in the field, we have made an online adaptation so that you can preview the content on your computer.
This online edition is best viewed on a desktop, as the images of the printed panels may be challenging to view for mobile devices with smaller screens.
BC Crane Safety For information on how to obtain printed copies, please contact us.
Explore the Supervision Knowledge Base
The BC Crane Safety Supervision knowledge base brings together the infoflip, practical guidance, checklists, and other online resources. It is a resource to help supervisors understand their responsibilities and apply an essential risk management process to identify hazards, assess risks, implement effective controls, and continually monitor and improve workplace conditions.
Whether developing a new supervisor or strengthening an experienced leader’s skills, these resources help turn safety expectations into consistent action on every jobsite. Knowledge, leadership, and engaged supervision are essential to building a stronger crane safety culture.
Track Your Experience and Build Your Career
Documenting experience and demonstrating skills is critical to support your career advancement as a crane operator. Whether you are working toward certification, changing employers, or moving between jobsites, maintaining an accurate and up-to-date logbook provides a verifiable record of your qualifications and operating experience.
As best practice, crane operators should record daily activities with supporting photos and track operating hours to maintain a comprehensive record of their professional experience.
For provisional crane operators in B.C., maintaining a logbook to track their hours and experience is required and a condition of their provisional operator certificate. WorkSafeBC prevention officers may also request to review provisional operator logbooks as part of compliance verification.
Operators registered with BC Crane Safety have access to the SkillRecord Passport app, a digital logbook and records management system, to manage their records at no cost.
This app allows crane operators to conveniently maintain all their records in one place, using a device they usually have with them, their phone. SkillRecord Passport offers several key benefits:
- Simplified record keeping by storing certifications, qualifications, and logged hours in one convenient location.
- Verifiable proof of experience to support compliance with industry standards and safety requirements.
- Supervisor review and endorsement of logbook entries to help verify the accuracy of recorded experience.
- Improved career opportunities by providing employers with a clear and accessible record of skills, qualifications, and work history.
To get started, register with BC Crane Safety. Once your BC Crane Safety registration is approved, login instructions for SkillRecord Passport will be sent to the you by email.
If you are already registered with BC Crane Safety, look for your SkillRecord Passport invite email. Be sure to check your junk email folder.
For more information, visit our knowledge base page Crane Operator Logbook & SkillRecord Passport.
Additional information is also available through the following Toolbox Talks:
Toolbox Talks: SkillRecord Passport Overview
Toolbox Talks: Using SkillRecord Passport
If you require assistance with SkillRecord Passport, please contact us and our team will be happy to help.
Can a crane operator proceed with a lift if the load weight is only an estimate?
An estimate should not be treated as a confirmed load weight. Under Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) Section 14.36, the load weight must be determined and communicated to both the crane operator and any person rigging the load.
The weight may be established using reliable information such as manufacturer specifications, shipping documents, engineered drawings, material calculations, or verified weighing records.
As per OHSR 14.36(2), if the load weight cannot be accurately determined, the crane or hoist must have a load-weight indicator or overload-prevention system.
Regardless of how the weight is established, OHSR Section 14.38 requires the operator to be satisfied that the load can be handled safely before moving it.
Does holding a full-scope crane operator certificate automatically qualify someone to supervise a provisional operator?
No. A full-scope certificate is relevant evidence of technical knowledge, but it does not automatically establish that the person is qualified and competent to supervise a particular provisional operator.
The sponsoring employer of the provisional operator must confirm that the supervisor’s training, practical experience, and knowledge are appropriate for the crane, assigned work, and trainee’s development needs. The supervisor must also be capable of assessing competency, identifying competency gaps, and providing the necessary instruction and oversight. Depending on the equipment and work activities, an employer may assign different qualified supervisors to oversee different parts of the operator’s training.
I’m a provisional tower crane operator and I won’t be able to get my Full Scope by July 5, 2027, when the Skilled Trades Certification changes come into effect. What do I need to do first?
The first step for anyone holding a provisional certificate prior to July 5, 2027, is to register as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC. Continue to compile and track your hours and register to write the level exams you’re eligible to do or book your practical assessment if possible. Contact BC Crane Safety or SkilledTradesBC certification advisors for more information if required.