I forgot to say on my pm to you,I know of an owner operator and he had his hydraulics,Maybe on privet land you can get away with it but on someone elses property i don't think you can ,look at the guy who blew up that house awhile back from the gas pipe going thru the yard.You can be sure that he had to be looked at if he had or didn't have it .Does not take long to get you pay the state there dough and your done.

 

In Mass. its called a Hoisting License. The test is pretty easy and only costs $65. Small price to pay considering the fine is $1000 for the operator and $3000 for company owner for 1st offence. All operators of equipment that falls under the guidelines needs this license no matter where their working, only exception is if foreman on job has license and is supervising the operator. If unsure whether you need one, the law defines the equipment as anything that can reach 10ft. in the air OR can lift at least 500lbs. OR has a bucket capacity of 1/4 cy. or more. If you need any info. on where/how to get one, please let me know.

 

Temco


You say the test is fairly easy..... I just filled out the application last week and I need to get a medical card...

I am a bit concerned about the test. All I can find is a copy of the regulation that goes into some depth about safe operation and hand signals. However a friend of mine said he had questions reguarding the angle of repose of a grave pile, sand, and other materials.... That does not show up in the regulation nor does it sound that easy.

 

This might not be of any help, but it is the form you need to fill out in order to get a hoisting license. http://www.state.ma.us/dps/portal/images/HoistingApplication.PDF It doesn't give any info on studying materials though

 

I think I just answered my own question http://www.state.ma.us/dps/520rev.pdf

 

Hey Digger, you catching this? After all these years of operating, the State of Mass. says we don't know what we're doing! Bureaucracy stinks!:realmad:

 

Whaaaa?

All I can say is i'm glad I live in Missouri. We do not need to get a license to push snow, we do not need to get a license to run a back hoe, we do not have any problem with our plows being over 8 feet, we do not have to pay sales tax on anything other than product ( not for any service oriented ) Do not have to wear a seat belt while driving a truck up to 1 ton. No body cares about us running any kind of strobe system as long as we do not look like a Fire/Police/Ambulance.

Damn, we got it easy!

 

I took the test a couple of years ago thru The Peterson School here in Woburn, they set everything up so I didn't have to fill out anything. All the test questions are short answer with a section on hand signals.......its pretty easy as that part is matching the picture to the proper hand signal. If your local or want to make a trip to Woburn, I still got copies of the "test prep" questions. Read it thru a few times and you'll be all set

P.S. the test has nothing to do with knowing how to operate heavy equipment, its all safety related stuff.

 

Thanks for the info guys!

Temco, it figures that the test has nothing to do with operating the equipment! I assume that if they figure you can pass the safety regs, you can operate it effectively. How naive! Getting copies of the prep would be great! Later on in the year is when we are looking to do this, so I 'll get in touch with you then, if it is OK.

Thanks,

Bruce

Ps...Maybe we should move to Missouri!

 

We would need a license to take a leak if politicians had there way ,it's all aboutpayup

 

The thing about the medical card is that it is the same requirements as a DOT physical exam . What exactly do they need all this info for? As far as I'm concerned the guy doing the physical labor in the trench should have to pass a physical , not the guy who is sitting down moving only hi fingers! Has anyone out there been fined for not having this license, (as owner or operator?). What about Rhode Island? Are the fines the same and can anyon tell me how hard these states are lookig for this license. My job is requiring me to get both the Mass. & the R.I. one however I do not need one for my home state of Connecticut yet , wonder how long for Ct. to require one.


Steve

 

GeeMC, no problem on the handouts, I got them buried here somewhere!!! I'll need time to dig them out anyway.

As far as getting fined for not having the license, I don't know anyone that has.Its one of those catch22 things. I know people who have been in contracting their whole lives and operate backhoes, excavators and such and have never even been asked to produce one. But if someone gets seriously injured or killed on your worksite....its the first thing an inspector will ask you for.

As I understand it, the state only has 9 inspectors so one showing up for a spot check isn't very likely but you never know. They generally only come out for a serious accident involving injury or death or major property damage like ripping up a gas line or slicing thru a fiber optic cable......$$$$$$$

 

Some one told me that if you own the equipment, you don’t need the license. Has anyone heard of this before?

Thanks,

Bruce

 

Just wanted to add a footnote.....as a police officer, i've worked a lot of road construction details and have never had a contractor or city crew make it thru an accident free day. Most common involves ripping up old water lines. In 15 years, i've yet to see an inspector come out to investigate.

 

Thats true, an owner doesn't need a license only the operator or the foreman on the job supervising the operator.

 

OK, But that leads me to another question. Can the owner, who does not have a license, able to legally operate the equipment? I know I need to read the mass regs that JD plower posted. I just haven't had time yet.

Thanks again Temco,

Bruce

 

Only if he's being supervised by someone who does!

 

xlr8 the number one reason for the physical is for drug testing. The guy operating the heavy equipment is probably capable of doing more damage than the guy with the shovel in the trench.

 

Just slightly off topic(i hope not to far!)but reading that Temco is a copper and all ,reminds me when i go out to the Cape in the summer,we take the Mass Turnpike and construction is usually pretty heavy,anyways i was impressed to see a State Trooper at EACH job site,some crews were ditching,some were paving but each group had a car with his lights flashing,leads me to believe thats one of the safer areas to work in!

 

Connecticut does that on a regular basis, and NY is starting to do it on the NY Tway.

 

Temco can correct me if I'm wrong but the practice of having police details is mandatory not only on Highways but all local streets. I was told that the Mass pike has its own police force (they are still Mass state police but are only assigned to work on the pike) and they earn pretty well just doing road work details.

 

This thread makes me SO happy to live up here in the sticks. No license to operate, no petty bureaucrats getting into my pockets for permits to do business and all that. Granted, rates are lower here too, but I think that's better than all the hassle you "flatlanders " have to live with.

 

The State Police working the Mass. Pike are under contract with them. Its a very desirable assignment and tuff to get. The cruisers use to have the Mass. Pike logo on them but some politicians complained so they were removed.

As far as details go, local ordinance dictates and here in Woburn ours states that whereever vehicular or pedestrian traffic is compromised, the contractor doing the work must have a police detail before commencing work.

I know a lot of people get upset when they see a cop standing on a sidewalk coz a Verizon crew is working on a pole but in reality, the utility company would hire a cop even if not required for liability reasons. Its cheaper for them in the long run to pay us than it is to fight a civil lawsuit because a little old lady didn't see all the cones and warning signs, it more or less relieves them of the responsibilty and as long as the cop took reasonable steps to warn and safeguard the public, thats all thats required.

 

As far as being fined, yes, it does happen and happen frequently. Obviously in Woburn and greater rte 128 area, they haven't the time to check things out. THey have plenty of time in Springfield and Worcester offices. My license is $80 each go around, but, it is also unrestricted. Out here in Sturbridge/Palmer/Brimfield area there are checks going on frequently. Anyone running a mchine off their personal property needs a minimum 2A classification. The 2A, which is what 99% of the people get, isnt that difficult to obtain. I suggest going to a local equipment dealer and pick up their advertisements on backhoe and loader at a minimum. From these flyers you get PSI ratings, which are now being asked on tests. QAngle of repose is simply that which will not fall back on itself. Digging in solid rock, the wall can conceivably be straight up and down. If you're digging a sand pit, a 45 degree wall or more will be needed so the sand doesn't slide down.. You can obtain a 6 or so page copy from the Dpt of Safety. I think they charge 6.00 for it. However, you still need to know basic oil pressure and mostly common sense questions.

 

crane operating???

Hey everyone. I was wondering if any one could tell me a good way to go about getting my certif, for crane operating.