Governor to sign Eddy’s crane safety bill

April 9, 2007

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire is scheduled to sign legislation tomorrow enacting safety standards for construction crane use in Washington state. Momentum for creating standards built after the accident in November that damaged three buildings and killed one person.

Rep. Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) sponsored the legislation which passed the Senate on March 31, and represents Bellevue, the city where the accident took place.

“These multi-ton stories-high cranes really are sleeping giants in our cities,” Eddy said. “We’re lucky that more accidents haven’t occurred, but for the family of Matthew Ammon this legislation is bittersweet.”

Matthew Ammon, a young Microsoft lawyer, was killed in the November accident. His family visited Olympia this session to talk with Eddy and others about the legislation and about their son.

“The Ammons are still grieving their son, of course. But they’re gratified that we’re passing this bill and preventing any further loss of life.”

Eddy believes having support from across the construction crane industry, including the International Union of Operating Engineers, the City of Bellevue, the Department of Labor and Industries, and industry support from businesses like Sicklesteel Cranes, helped pass the law this session.

“Many, many bills take years to pass. We needed quick action, and the Legislature responded. Coming into this session, we had nothing. We’ll leave this year with a bill on the books.”

Details of the legislation:

- Creates a crane certification program under the Department of Labor and Industries

- Certified third-party inspections of cranes, their installation and its design

- Establishes requirements to be qualified as a crane operator

- Cranes may be operated by qualified persons only, or under supervision a qualified operator

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Staff contact: Andrew Dziedzic, (360) 786-7218

Bill information

HB 2171: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2171&year=2007

Radio and TV News Directors

To obtain broadcast-quality audio on this issue, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact Caucus Broadcast Coordinator Dan Frizzell at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7208.