Safety training in the crane, rigging and specialized transportation sector is an ongoing process that is constantly evolving. Trends develop into standards and then standards change. In a recent edition, American Cranes & Transport magazine asked six training experts to identify the trends they are seeing in today’s training environment. Crane Tech was one of those experts and here’s what Bo Collier our President had to say:
“During Crane Tech’s 40-year history I have seen training trends come and go. But one thing remains steady–that is the need for operators and riggers to be appropriately trained and then qualified by the employer to operate the crane or rig a load–in addition to the certification requirements that have been proposed for crane operators since 2010.
As a result of the upcoming certification deadline, we are seeing both experienced, qualified operators who are now seeking certification for the first time come through our courses, as well as individuals looking to change their career. For the experienced operators, they come into our NCCCO certification prep course with very little experience using load charts. These operators have relied on their load moment indicators (LMIs) for so long that using charts and reading chart notes is foreign to them. Learning how to methodically work out a solution for various mobile crane load chart scenarios is difficult. Math skills are an ever-present challenge, especially when presented with having to find percentages for duty cycle operations or critical lift restrictions. Reading comprehension can be a stumbling block for these operators who must learn OSHA and ASME standards versus knowing the old school methods for operation. It is for reasons such as these that we hear how effective our course is in preparing operators for their exams.
With the potential for new infrastructure and the need for certified operators, we are seeing more people looking to change their vocation. This brings an older generation to training. Possibly they were heavy haul drivers, earth machine operators or even from non-construction trades. With people who have little-to-no operating experience moving from one industry into crane operation, we see the need for hands-on training growing.
As a result, our most popular training courses are multi-week courses where personnel learn crane theory and crane safety followed by hands-on training on the actual cranes.”
Click to read the full article: Industry Experts Reveal Training Trends