B.C. introduces stronger rules for construction crane workers

Key Takeaways:

• B.C. is introducing new WorkSafeBC licensing and permitting requirements for all crane-related workers — not just operators — after seven fatal incidents in five years exposed a critical safety gap for owners, maintainers, repairers and erectors.
• Crane activity in the province has surged dramatically, growing from 261 active tower cranes in 2021 to 409 in 2024, giving B.C. significantly more operating cranes than Toronto and 11 major U.S. cities combined.
• The changes follow recommendations from the Crane Safety Table, a collaborative body established in June 2025, and build on the province’s broader 2025 investment to double trades-training funding, including advanced certification for crane operators.

The Whole Story:

B.C. is moving to strengthen crane safety oversight with legislation enabling a new WorkSafeBC licensing and permitting program, responding to seven fatal incidents over the past five years and a surge in crane operations across the province.

The program will require those overseeing crane work—including owners, maintainers, repairers and erectors—to meet consistent safety standards. Currently, while crane operators must be certified and registered, others responsible for cranes face no licensing or registration requirements, creating what regulators have identified as a critical safety gap.

“Major nation-building projects are moving forward in B.C. and the people who build them must have the best level of safety we can provide,” Premier David Eby said in a statement. “British Columbia will be a leader in crane safety—with the highest standards of training, certification, technology and oversight—to protect workers and the public on every project, every time.”

The move follows recommendations from the Crane Safety Table, established in June 2025 by the Ministry of Labour to bring together regulators, industry leaders, labour representatives and technical experts. The collaborative process identified licensing and permitting as essential tools to close safety gaps in the high-hazard sector.

“Licensing and permitting are proven tools for reducing risks in high-hazard industries,” said Bryan Railton, business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115. “By ensuring that only qualified employers oversee crane work and operations, we can continue to help reduce the risk of catastrophic failures before they happen.”

Crane operations in B.C. have expanded significantly. The province had 261 active tower cranes in 2021, rising to 409 in 2024—a five-year high. As of now, 373 cranes are operating in B.C., compared with 106 in Toronto and a combined 127 across 11 major U.S. cities.

Minister of Labour Jennifer Whiteside said the action reflects a commitment to worker safety. “The workers who were killed because of catastrophic crane-related safety failures are deeply missed by their families and communities every day,” she said. “They deserve our commitment and action to ensure that every worker in British Columbia can come home safe at the end of their shift.”

The licensing program builds on the Province’s 2025 investment to double trades-training funding, which includes advanced certification for crane operators.