Official Site of The State of New JerseyOffice of Public Safety Compliance
The Office of Public Safety Compliance oversees mines, explosives, crane operators, fireworks, retail gasoline dispensing, and model rocketry. The unit regulates and inspects all mining activities and the use of explosives for any purpose; issues licenses to crane operators; enforces the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Act protecting the public from hazards which could arise from improper use of gasoline pumping equipment; and regulates the manufacture, storage, off-road transportation, registration, sale and public display of fireworks.
On September 4, 2003, the Licensing of Crane Operators Act, N.J.S.A. 45:26-1 et seq., was signed into law. The Licensing of Crane Operators Act requires that anyone who operates a crane in New Jersey as defined in the law must be licensed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This law took effect and has been enforced since April 1, 2004.
In accordance with the provisions of this law, any person who has to be licensed to operate a crane must:
- Apply to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and be issued a Crane Operators License by the Office of Safety Compliance. A crane operator must be certified in one of the following four specialties:
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- Lattice Boom Truck Crane
- Lattice Boom Crawler Crane
- Small Telescopic Boom Crane (less than 17.5 tons)
- Large Telescopic Boom Crane (more than 17.5 tons)
The Act does not apply to cranes with manufacturers' rated lifting capacity of less than 10 tons. Also not covered are Forklifts, Digger Derrick Trucks, Aircraft Bucket Trucks, Knuckle Booms, Trolley Booms or any vehicles or machines not having a power operated winch or load line.
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Submit a certified check or money order for the appropriate fee made payable to the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development for a Crane Operators License, which will be valid for up to a five-year period.
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Be certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, or any other crane operator certification program found by the Crane Operators Advisory Board to offer an equivalent testing and certification program which meets the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.5 and the accreditation requirements of the National Commission of Certifying Agencies.
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Have a current medical certificate that meets the requirements of American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.5-3.1.2 (a).
Note: All three of these documents must be carried by the licensed crane operator whenever performing crane operation and be made available for review by a State Safety Inspector upon request. Anyone who is found not to be in possession of the proper credentials as described above will not be allowed to operate a crane.
The State Crane Operator's License will be valid for a five-year period with the exception that anyone currently holding a Long Boom Crane Operators License will not be required to apply for a Crane Operators License until their Long Boom Crane Operators License expires.
Also, in order to stagger the expiration dates of the Crane Operators Licenses so that the influx of permit applications does not occur all at once, the Commissioner, in consultation with the interested parties, has mandated all Crane Operator's Licenses that are issued or renewed after April 1, 2004 shall become void on the expiration date of the National Certification. (See second from bottom bullet above.)
The following providers are approved accredited certification agencies for crane operators in the State of New Jersey:
The fees for a Crane Operator License have been established as follows:
- Annual Fee - $50.00
- Five-Year Fee - $250.00
If a person currently has the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) certification, they must submit a payment of fifty dollars a year, on a year-for-year basis, for each year or portion of a year remaining on the NCCCO Certification card.
If you have any questions regarding the NCCCO certification program please write or call:
Please contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Office of Safety Compliance, for assistance in calculating the fee as well as for all other questions.
Phone: (609) 292-5626
The Explosives Act (N.J.S.A. 21:1A-128 et seq.) and Regulations (N.J.A.C. 12:190) provides for the protection of the public and property by establishing reasonable standards for the manufacture, sale, transportation, storage, use, possession, and disposition of explosives. The Explosives Act also mandates that all manufacturing, storage, use, and sale of explosives must be registered and inspected. Also, before permits are issued for the use of explosives, the applicant must first pass a written test issued by this section.
For more information, please call (609) 292-2096 or e-mail us at osc@dol.nj.gov.
The Fireworks Acts; Manufacture, Storage, and Transportation of Fireworks (N.J.S.A. 21:2-1 et seq.) are enforced to prevent the unlawful manufacture, sale, transportation, and use of dangerous fireworks. The Fireworks Acts mandate that inspections be conducted at facilities where fireworks are manufactured. Any person who purchases, uses, discharges, causes to be discharged, ignites, fires, or otherwise sets in action, or possesses any fireworks is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense.
The Sale and Public Display of Fireworks (N.J.S.A. 21:3-1 et seq.) mandates that local municipalities acquire the necessary resolutions prior to allowing fireworks displays. A copy of the resolutions must be submitted to this office.
For more information, please call (609) 292-2096 or e-mail us at osc@dol.nj.gov.
The Mine Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 34:6-98.1 et seq.) along with the Pits and Quarries Regulations (N.J.A.C. 12:185) provides for the safety and health of workers and for the construction, operation, and maintenance of pits and quarries in the interest of the life, health and safety of employees, as well as protection of property. The Mine Safety Act also provides for the development of safety educational programs. The Mine Safety Act mandates that all mines be registered annually and that each mine is to be inspected bi-annually. Records are kept and periodic inspections are also conducted on approximately 200 working and 400 abandoned mines throughout the State to ensure public and worker safety. This information is also made available to local planning boards to assist them in the safe development of their communities.
Legislation signed August 21, 2007, amended the Mine Safety Act to increase mine registration fees and monetary penalties for violations.
The amendments to the Mine Safety Act increase the mine registration fees from not less than $15 nor more than $50 for each mining registration issued to not less than $500 nor more than $3,000, and also allows the Commissioner to adjust fees in accordance with fee schedules adopted by regulation in the future.
The new registration fees have been based on annual tonnage of mining material produced and are as follows:
- 0 - 2,000 tons @ $500.00
- 2,000 - 150,000 tons @ $1,000.00
- 150,000 - 300,000 tons @ $2,000.00
- Over 300,000 tons @ $3,000.00
Additionally, the amendments create a tiered penalty system whereby any person violating any provision of the act is now liable for a penalty of not more than $2,500 for the first offense, not more than $5,000 for the second offense and not more than $10,000 for the third and any subsequent offense. Any person violating any provision which results in serious bodily injury is now liable for a penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $25,000.
The new Mine Registration Application is linked here for your convenience.
For more information, please call (609) 292-2096 or e-mail us at osc@dol.nj.gov.
The Model Rocketry Act and Regulations were written to substantially comply with the NFPA 1122 Code for Unmanned Rockets of the National Fire Protection Association. The rules and regulations include the procedures for obtaining storage permits and the procedures to be followed for use of model rockets, and the acceptable design, weight, and power of model rockets. This Section maintains a current and complete list of all model rockets that have received certification and is available to any person upon request.
For more information, please call (609) 292-2096 or e-mail us at osc@dol.nj.gov.
The Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 34:3A-4 et seq.) and Regulations (N.J.A.C. 12:196) mandates that no person dispense fuel at a gasoline station, unless that person is an attendant who has received fuel dispensing instructions. The Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act also ensures compliance with appropriate safety procedures, the prohibition of the self service of gasoline and other inflammable liquids, and the installation of safety signs and equipment to enhance safety at retail gasoline stations.
For more information, please call (609) 292-2096 or e-mail us at osc@dol.nj.gov.
