In this revision, which has been in the works since 2002, the B167 standard has been greatly expanded, says Shanahan. “It covers design and performance and operator qualification and training, which are all things that it didn’t cover before.”

Perhaps more importantly, he says that the new standard is “more harmonised” with international standards such as ISO and ASME.

Judy Mellott, president of ACTi (All Canadian Training Institute), Edmonton, Alberta, who is very supportive of the new standards, especially since it incorporates the ISO international standard, observes: “It puts all of Canada on the same playing field.”

Shanahan agrees, noting that some individual provinces and manufacturers have followed certain requirements found in the new standards, including those for the qualification and training of crane operators, “but nothing had been formally recognised on a national basis. With this standard people throughout Canada will have a recognised and transferable skill.”

He says that he believes the crane industry will be supportive of the new standard. “Most of the major crane manufacturers were part of the committee [that crafted it], as were members of service companies, end users and the provincial regional authority,” he says, adding: “It makes customers aware of the international standards for designing a crane and provincial regulators can refer to these standards. It results in one standard across the world.”

“Publish the standard. The industry will do the rest,” says Mellott. Jack Miner, president of Atlantic Crane and Material Handling Ltd., Saint John, New Brunswick, agrees, stating: “We have been waiting for some time to have CSA B167 revised,” voicing his impatience in the fact that the CSA delayed its introduction at least three times, stating: “This type of delay erodes any confidence that service/supply companies such as myself have in this organisation.”

Miner continues: “I believe the standard itself is comprehensive and when introduced will bring Canadian standards to an acceptable level. The tragic lack of leadership within the CSA itself in releasing this standard serves as an example of why industry and service providers have become impatient. I think the Canadian constitution was patriated from Britain in a shorter period of time.”

Shanahan admits that it took a long time. “It took a while to get all the players in place. We have also been working with the United States to make sure we do things parallel with them and to have our standards consistent of what is expected there and elsewhere in the world,” he says.

Mellott says that she sees no disadvantages to this standard. “It was time for a change. It makes it easier to meet compliance requirements in other provinces, states or other countries,” she says. “I’m not sure that it would make Canada more competitive, but I think Canada will be recognised for becoming proactive rather than reactive when it comes to improving the way we do things.”

Gilles Lafleur, sales manager for COH Inc., Boisbriand, Quebec, says he also supports the standards, voicing a need for a strong, nationwide standard. “Operating and training standards are needed. I’ve always been surprised that crane operators didn’t need to have a special permit. We need to have this addressed to make it a safer working environment,” he says.

One big problem previously, according to Darrin Richards, professional engineer at Red Associates Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta, “is that currently our standards are all over the map. Harmonising our standards with the rest of the world is a good thing.”

Mellott says the push for the update of the CSA B167 standard is coming from federal and provincial governments in light of the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities that have occurred in recent years. “This has been costing Canadians and companies billions of dollars a year,” she says.

“Resistance (to the standard revision) is getting less every year,” she says. “The industry is recognizing the need for change.”