Wash. governor OKs crane safety law |
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Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:25
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed a ripped-from-the-headlines law that gives Washington strict new regulation of huge construction cranes.The Legislature has been considering such safety legislation for five years, but this measure zipped through with little dissent in the wake of a fatal accident last fall in Bellevue. A 210-foot-tall tower crane collapsed, killing a Microsoft lawyer in his nearby condo and damaging three buildings.Two weeks after that accident, another tower crane in Bellevue was dismantled because of cracks that investigators blamed on water seeping into the steel legs and freezing.The legislation, described by sponsors as America's toughest crane safety law, includes strict regulation of cranes and crane operators.'We cannot allow a repeat of the tragedy from last November,' the governor said Tuesday in signing the bill. 'The new safety regulations in the bill will make work sites safer for all workers, not just those who operate cranes.'The measure, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2010, will require the state Department of Labor & Industries to set up a certification program for cranes used in construction, including inspection, regular testing and other requirements. It will create stringent requirements for operators.The law won't apply to cranes used in manufacturing facilities or powerhouses.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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