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The rulemaking will identify criteria for employers to follow to ensure their crane operators are completely qualified to operate cranes safely on construction work sites. In the 2010 final cranes standard, the Agency established crane operator certifications as the sole criterion for operator safety. Certification is virtually always provided by third party testing entities. Following publication of the final crane standard, stakeholders informed the Agency that certification did not by itself establish a safe enough level of experience and competence--employers must be responsible to ensure that crane operators are qualified. The Agency responded by publishing a final rule postponing the deadline for operator certification and extending the employer duty to permit the Agency to conduct rulemaking, if necessary, on operatory qualification. This rulemaking will also clarify issues surrounding operatory certification, including the "type and capacity" requirement from the 2010 final construction cranes standard. Establishing clear benchmarks for employers to follow to ensure crane operator competence is essential for construction work site safety. OSHA will issue an extension of the effective date for one year to allow adequate time for the proposed rule to be published and finalized.  Employers will continue to benefit from the protections of the current requirements during the delay.