Crane operators, unions push for stronger licensing and stop‑work powers in HB 5405

Industry trainers, local unions and builders told the Public Safety and Security Committee that HB 5405 will close enforcement gaps that leave the public and workers exposed to unsafe lifting operations.

Greg Streed, training director for Operating Engineers Local 478, described a series of incidents involving unregistered cranes and unlicensed operators and urged the panel to give state crane inspectors authority to impose civil penalties and stop work where necessary. "Operator should be licensed in the specific endorsement that they are operating," Streed said, urging a stronger enforcement mechanism and clear schedules of fines.

Several witnesses including Kyle Zimmer and Joe Toner said the state now has two capable crane inspectors but that inspectors lack an immediate stop-work tool to halt unsafe activity on-site. "If they can't shut down the job immediately, that just creates all kinds of problems," Zimmer said.

Contractors and training partners said HB 5405 would level the playing field by penalizing bad actors—often brought in from out of state—who cut costs by skirting safety, training and registration requirements. They recommended adding board members to the examining board to ensure quorum and updating penalties to modern standards.

Lawmakers praised the cross-sector support and signaled they will seek drafting changes to ensure prompt enforcement while protecting due process for operators. The committee did not take votes at the hearing.