The Provincial Crane Inspection Team (PCIT) is WorkSafeBC's specialized crane and rigging inspection team within Prevention Field Services. The team has nearly tripled in size over the past two years and now operates with a risk-based focus on the worksites where the safety stakes are highest.

• 16 officers with specialized crane and rigging expertise — nearly tripled in two years
• 1,300 inspections completed in 2025 across B.C. (Q1 2026 completed 397)
• 1,400 orders issued, including
  • 110 stop-use orders (Q1 2026 issued 45)
  • 51 stop-work orders (Q1 2026 issued 5)
• Focus on complex and multi-employer worksites

Our programs cover certification, training, regulation, and safety guidance.

Operator certification

• Crane operator certification in B.C. is administered by the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) under section 14.34.1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR).
• On August 1, 2025, the number of questions on the provisional operator exam was increased and included Tower Crane Load Chart and Rigging exam questions being reinstated.
• BCACS is pursuing ISO standard 17024 Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons alignment for its certification framework.

Training and workforce skills

WorkSafeBC supports BCACS, Fulford Certification, and SkilledTradesBC on operator training pathways, supervision standards, and on-the-job competency development. Since the strategy was launched, the share of provisional operators has dropped approximately 50%, which means an improved ratio of trainee operators to fully certified operators.

Regulatory enhancements

The Notice of Project (NOP-TC) — Tower Crane regulation came into force October 1, 2024. It requires employers to give WorkSafeBC two weeks’ notice before erection, climbing, repositioning, or dismantling, and to confirm a qualified supervisor and a site-specific safe-work procedure.

A one-year compliance review in November 2025 reported more than 900 NOP-TC submissions received and good overall compliance.

Safe-for-Use Certification (in development)

A framework expected in 2027 will require major tower crane components (structural, mechanical, controls) to be certified by a professional engineer before operation, with annual recertification.

Rigging Part 15 (in development)

Regulations are being updated to ensure rigging equipment, procedures, and maintenance meet current industry standards, and to clarify the safety-critical competencies expected of workers and employers.

Regulation and Standards

• OHSR Part 14: Cranes and hoists, including NOP–Tower Crane requirements (October 1, 2024). In force.
• CSA Z248-2004: Code for Tower Cranes — primary B.C. reference standard. Current OSHR reference.
• ISO 17024: International standard for bodies that certify persons. BCACS pursuing accreditation. In development.

Tower crane safety in B.C. is a shared responsibility. The strategy is the product of a network of partners. Each brings a distinct role.

• WorkSafeBC
  Provincial regulator. Leads the strategy and operates the PCIT.
• Crane Safety Table
  Convened by the Minister of Labour (June 2025); shaped the March 2026 licensing announcement.
• BC Crane Safety (BCACS)
  Administers operator certification under OHSR 14.34.1; pursuing ISO 17024 alignment.
• Fulford Certification
  BCACS's independent testing partner. Administers exams and practical assessments.
• Engineers and Geoscientists BC
  Practice guidelines for engineer-of-record responsibilities on crane work.
• Minister of Labour
  Convened the Crane Safety Table; announced the crane licensing program (March 3, 2026).
• BC Building Trades
  Worker voice on the Crane Safety Table; direct operator and crew perspectives.
• IUOE Local 115
  International Union of Operating Engineers; represent crane operators.

No. Certification is administered by the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) under OHSR 14.34.1. Testing is conducted by Fulford Certification, an independent testing partner, on BCACS’s behalf and issues your card. This separation protects impartiality.

Provisional (Level B) certification lets you operate under qualified supervision while you build hours and complete exams. Full Scope (Level A) is the highest level and requires a successful practical assessment plus the relevant theory exams. They are employer-tied with specific conditions, including time limits and require supervised operation.

It depends on where your certification is from. BCACS generally recognizes credentials from other Canadian jurisdictions and from National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions (OECP) (USA), An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) (Ireland), the U.K., and parts of Europe. Contact BCACS directly to confirm.

Employers must submit an NOP-TC to WorkSafeBC at least two weeks before erection, climbing, repositioning, or dismantling a tower crane. The NOP confirms that a qualified supervisor and a site-specific safe-work procedure are in place.

Supervision is a defined role with specific competency requirements. Part 14 of the OHSR requires a qualified supervisor for tower crane erection, climbing, repositioning, and dismantling, and that they complete a report afterward. Qualifications are confirmed through the NOP submission.

The NOP-TC requirement covers erection, climbing, repositioning, and dismantling. Routine day-to-day crane operation does not trigger a separate NOP-TC, but day-to-day operation is governed by the rest of OHSR Part 14.

Responsibility is shared between the prime contractor and the employer of the tower crane crew. The prime contractor has overall responsibility for coordinating safety on a multi-employer site. Each employer remains responsible for their own workers. For tower crane work specifically, the employer of the crew performing the erection/climbing/dismantling must submit the NOP-TC and ensure the qualified supervisor is in place.

WorkSafeBC’s specialized crane and rigging inspection team within Prevention Field Services. The team has 16 officers.

No. The Crane Safety Table was established by the Minister of Labour in June 2025. WorkSafeBC participates, but it’s convened by, and reports to, the provincial government. Its recommendations underpinned the March 3, 2026 licensing announcement.

The provincial crane licensing and permitting program (rolling out through Ministry of Labour and WorkSafeBC), and a Safe-for-Use Certification framework expected in 2027 requiring engineer-certified components and annual certification.