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Parts one and two of this series explored how inspections, incident investigations and data from the field shaped our crane safety strategy. But ultimately, crane safety is delivered by people — the prime contractor, supervisors and workers who determine what happens on the ground.

This final part of the series looks at how training, supervision and leadership turn plans and procedures into safe, consistent work every day.

Competency and training: More than a credential

Crane safety starts with ensuring people have the right skills and knowledge for the work they are assigned. We’ve seen that workers are sometimes assigned crane-related tasks without the instruction, training or supervision needed to perform these tasks safely. In addition, some supervisors may lack the technical training required to oversee specific activities, like crane assembly, maintenance, operator or rigger assessment or co-ordination of work. These are not minor gaps; they are weaknesses that can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

WorkSafeBC’s crane safety strategy will formalize qualification and competency standards for supervisors, riggers, lift co-ordinators and those responsible for assembly and disassembly. The strategy also strengthens training requirements and streamlines certification pathways to ensure workers and supervisors can perform their roles safely as equipment and workplace practices evolve.

Training that works: Key elements of competency

Effective training is a combination of technical learning in a classroom and hands-on experience that is continually evaluated to ensure it translates into real-world capability. Through partnerships with Skilled Trades BC and the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS), WorkSafeBC has developed new training and competency tools and guides, regulatory and technical guidance and other resources to support employers in training their workers.

A lack of provisional (trainee) crane operator training and supervision has been identified as a serious industry risk. Throughout 2024 and 2025, WorkSafeBC issued 39 stop-work orders to employers that sponsored provisional tower crane operators but failed to adequately manage, monitor and supervise workplace training programs. Officers also issued 125 orders where employers did not ensure crane operators demonstrated competency with the equipment they were assigned to operate.

The BCACS, WorkSafeBC’s certification partner, plays a key role in guiding, strengthening and streamlining the training framework for crane‑related occupations. SinceÌý2024, focused efforts by BCACS, Skilled Trades BC, and WorkSafeBCÌý have already resulted in a reduction in the number of provisional tower crane operators, cutting that number by approximately 50 per cent. This reduction is significant because provisional operators require intensive supervision and are at higher risk of making errors. Having fewer provisional operators means more tower crane operators are fully trained, competent and able to work safely without close oversight, reducing the likelihood of serious incidents.

Supervisors’ responsibilities

Training only works when it’s backed by active supervision — the kind that ensures knowledge is applied consistently and safely on the ground.

Supervision is not just a job title — it is a legal and practical role with defined responsibilities. Supervisors are responsible for knowing the regulations, spotting and correcting hazards, enforcing safe work procedures and confirming workers are competent for the tasks assigned.

In tower crane work, supervision spans the entire lifecycle of the equipment: placement, assembly, rigging, maintenance and day‑to‑day operation. On multi‑employer sites, this can make accountability less clear. That’s where the prime contractor’s role becomes essential, co-ordinating qualified personnel, documented procedures, timelines and communication so that every layer of supervision works as a coherent system.

How the strategy strengthens this system

Our crane safety strategy is focused on improving supervision and planning. Provisional tower crane operators must now be part of a training program and follow a supervision plan, so they receive structured, hands-on guidance before operating on their own.

The Notice of Project–Tower Crane (NOP-TC) requirements, which came into effect in 2024, add a second layer of assurance. Under the new regulations, every employer responsible for a tower crane activity at a workplace in B.C. must ensure WorkSafeBC receives a written notice of project at least two weeks before the crane activity starts. This allows WorkSafeBC to review supervision plans, site‑specific controls and operational readiness before work begins.

Together, these requirements act as an early verification point — confirming the right people, processes and safeguards are in place and reinforcing the prime contractor’s duty to maintain a clear, co-ordinated system of supervision.

Leadership and safety culture

Finally, leadership — from prime contractors to site supervisors — sets the tone for safety. A strong safety culture is built on clear responsibilities and well-defined safe work procedures. It also depends on creating an environment where workers are involved in safety planning and feel confident raising concerns, knowing those concerns will be taken seriously and addressed. When leaders model best practices, accountability and follow-through — and treat planning as non-negotiable — safety becomes part of the job, not an afterthought.

Together, these elements define what real crane safety looks like — not on paper, but on the site, where it matters most.

Todd McDonald is the head of prevention services for WorkSafeBC. Send Industry Perspectives Op-Ed comments and column ideas toÌýeditor@journalofcommerce.com.