There are many workplaces that have special requirements when it comes to employees and the equipment they use. Cranes and crane operator training is one very good example. There are many industries that use cranes in non-standard ways or in situations that are non-standard.

A good example of the use of a crane in a non-standard situation would be a crane on a boat or barge or a crane mounted on a train car. Whilst the operation of the crane itself is quite standard, the effects of the environment, in this case the rise and fall of the water, or the safety aspects of a train car, create work problems of their own.

Employers often find that the best way to recruit crane operators in these cases is to take on individuals who have good working knowledge of cranes, and then to provide them with specialist training, testing and certification. Specialist crane operator training centers around the task at the hand. A training program is developed along with testing to suit the long term aims of the employer.

If the training and testing meets certification guidelines then that process can be followed and a certificate issued. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools have specialist crane operator trainers who can come out to your workplace to deliver training. Specialist training can also be undertaken in one of our classrooms. Our aim is to ensure you have the right people trained to perform tasks that often unique to your business.

Crane operator training is essential if you wish to work in the industry as a crane operator, even the smaller mobile cranes. You may feel that learning to operate a crane is fairly simple. It goes up, it goes down, it swings left, it swings right. Nothing complicated there, surely? Operating a crane can be a complex task and knowing the controls is only the start.

When working on most construction sites a crane operator rarely works alone. They are generally accompanied by an off-sider whose role it is to hook and unhook loads. They also have the role of being the operator’s eyes on the ground. They communicate using a basic set of hand signals – signals that all operators need to learn if they wish to work in the industry.

Safety is a big issue on any work site and it is the crane operator’s off-sider who guides the operator into how and where the load is moved – safely. Yes, it is important to learn the controls for without that knowledge the crane would be useless. Knowing the hand signals is an integral part of getting the job done. Add to this other components of crane operations such as ensuring the crane itself is balanced on firm ground before attempting any lift and you will come to some understanding at how much training is required.

Have I scared you off yet? I hope not because that is not my intention. Most people can complete the required training fairly quickly. Once completed, you can develop and build on your new skills in the workplace. Experienced crane operators are highly skilled and amongst the highest paid workers on a construction site. Is this the right career for you? If so, check out your crane operator training options today.

Ever wondered what it was like to work as a mobile crane operator? Let’s spend a day with an operator and see what sort of day they have. Mobile crane operators are amongst the most skilled workers when it comes to heavy equipment and their services are in great demand. Being mobile, they often find themselves moving from job to job. There is no such thing as a standard working day – they finish work when the last job of the day has been completed.

Operators typically report for duty each day at the machinery yard. Before they leave for the first job, they need to do a walk around inspection to ensure everything is in good shape. This includes checking fluid levels and fuel levels – it would be quite embarrassing to need a tow-truck to take you back to the yard because you have run out of one of the fluids or fuel.

Then the day really starts with the mobile crane operator driving his vehicle to the first job. In many cases, the operator fills many shoes. They need to be a customer relations expert as they discuss with the client their needs; a planner as they plan how to perform the job; a safety officer as they check all safety aspect of the job; and of course an operator as they perform the job.

Performing the job doesn’t mean jumping into the cab and lifting the objects required. Before lifting can begin, the operator needs to assess the conditions; block the crane, perhaps lifting it on special hydraulic blocks; then doing the lift. At the end of the lift, he needs to work in reverse, lowering the crane from the hydraulic blocks and ensuring the crane’s components are all locked away securely ready for the road.

For large jobs requiring larger cranes, the operator may be required to assemble crane extensions with all the proper rigging and cabling. Of course, what you put together needs to come apart again at the end of a job. Once the job has been completed, there is the necessary paper work such as log books and perhaps billing paperwork for the office to process. Then it’s on to the next job.

Working as a mobile crane operator requires a lot of skills and I am not just talking about the operation of the crane. These skills can only be gained through accredited training programs that include certification upon completion of the training. Mobile crane operators are always in demand so if you have a hankering to work in this field, check out the mobile crane operator training at ATS Heavy Equipment Schools.

There is a growing shortage of certified crane operators throughout the country with many employers finding it difficult to find workers who have undergone crane operator training and certification. In many states, crane operators can not be employed unless they have that certification. It can be frustrating for employers and for crane operators.

Crane operators of course can seek certification – that is not a difficult process. For those seeking a career change, the opportunities are there. Undertake crane operator training from a reputable training organization and your certification assessments should be included. This means you can undertake the training and have employers waiting to snap you up.

It is surprising to hear there is a shortage of certified operators when you consider the employment prospects. Crane operators are amongst the highest paid heavy equipment operators. They work in an environment that is interesting and often challenging. Certified crane operators are classified as professionally skilled with the certification being recognition of the skills and knowledge of the operator.

Certification covers areas that go beyond just operating a crane. Important areas such as general workplace safety, lifting safety and knowledge of the crane itself. The certification process is recognized throughout the country which means those that secure their certificates are able to find employment anywhere in the country.

ATS provide both crane operator training and certification. The latter is done through the National Commission For The Certification of Crane Operator (NCCCO), an organization established to set and monitor certification processes for crane operators. If you decide to undertake your crane operator training and certification through ATS you know you will be receiving training from one of the most respected training organizations in the country – that makes your qualification all the more important.

When it comes to training for any heavy equipment, crane operator training included, the language used can look a little strange. Take a look at these skills (and they are a real set of skills too):

• Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, and grappling devices.
• Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities in order to prevent overload.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving equipment.
• Using hand and arm signals for installing, handling, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Most people would only think about the 4th item in that list, “running, maneuvering, navigating or driving equipment” when looking at skills for a crane operator. However as you can see it goes much further than that.

Keeping your machine clean and well oiled put together with an walk around inspection each day can help to avoid major maintenance issues and long down times for repairs. Knowing which weights should be used for each lift is an essential part of crane operator safety training.

The final point is equally important. Hand signals are often the only way those at ground level can communicate with a crane operator. There are many times when the crane operator cannot see the ground. Those on the ground become the operators eyes communicating by way of radio or whistles.

Looking for crane operator training? Do you think you can master that skill set? If you said yes to both then I suggest you visit ATS Heavy Equipment Operator schools and check out the start dates for the next crane operator training curse.

The need for quality crane operator training has become important in recent years. It seems that 2008 was one of the worst years on record when it comes to crane accidents. However, it could have been worse. A recent story on CraneBlogger highlights the need for well trained operators, operators who work closely with their equipment and can almost sense when something is wrong.

Can you imagine sitting in a crane over 33 floors up, and having that crane topple over the side? It has happened in the past, hopefully it won’t into the future, yet for one operator, that was almost the story. Here is what happened:

The crane operator had an unloaded hook. He’s running the crane when he hears a loud bang and feels movement from what feels like the tower. He stops to assess what has caused it.

I won’t go into all the details of what was wrong. What was important is that the operator was aware of what was normal and what wasn’t. Let’s face it, on a construction site there is a lot of noise. A lot of banging, a lot of shouting and the sound of power tools everywhere. This operator heard a loud bang. I would suggest that as well as ‘hearing’ the bang, he also ‘felt’ the bang. And he stopped.

That last is the most important. He stopped, got out and went and had a look. From the story, it seems he couldn’t readily see any problems. That didn’t stop him reporting it and getting an engineer in to check. Fortunately, for him, he did. It appears the crane was effectively standing on only three legs and could have gone over the side at any time.

It is only through quality crane operator training that individuals can be prepared to work safely on construction sites. Whilst safety is always a prime concern, one of the best safety factors around is the knowledge an operator builds of their equipment. This is almost like having a sixth sense. As an operator, you are at one with the machine and can feel immediately when something starts to wrong. Get the best in crane operator training and you are well on the road to a safe working career.

Over the years crane operator training has consisted of anything from by-the-seat-of-your-pants training to in depth classroom training. What had been missing was some form of recognition of the skills of the operators. How you do your training is not as important as being able to demonstrate that you can safely use that equipment.

By-the-seat-of-your-pants training has always been interesting and sometimes fun to watch. However, it can also be extremely dangerous. Let’s face it, you are letting a complete novice get behind a powerful piece of equipment and teach themselves by trial and error. If they get it wrong, they get it wrong big time. What is an even bigger problem is that this type of training leads to poor work habits. Safety and machine maintenance lose their importance in the big picture.

In depth classroom based training is probably the exact opposite. You finish up with individuals who can tell you everything there is to know about operating a crane. The problem is, they have no actual experience at operating a crane.

Somewhere in between these two extremes (and trust me, they do exist) is a training program that provides both the in depth in classroom theory and the hands on controlled use of a crane. This combination, when implemented properly, can produce operators that are skilled at operating a crane whilst also having the theoretical knowledge about how a crane works, the safety skills required as well as experience using a crane.

You can add to this a standardized assessment instrument that can measure whether or not the student is actually competent in all areas of crane operations. Students that meet the minimum requirements to become a crane operator are issued with papers that make them Certified Crane Operators.

Certification not only recognizes the skills of the operator, they help to set a standard that all employers can relate to. Many states are now insisting that all crane operators are certified before commencing work on any project. If you are a crane operator that hasn’t been certified, perhaps now is the time to do something about it before you are left behind.

You can see mobile cranes traveling the highways all the time and some of them really do look like toys – just bigger than ones we had as children. A casual inspection would leave one with the feeling that anyone could operate a mobile crane.

If you think about, what is there to learn? The crane is mobile and sits on the back of a truck so a truck license would be necessary. Otherwise, there must be a lever to raise and lower the hook; another lever to extend or retract the boom; and pedals to turn the crane. Too easy surely? Lower the hook, attach the load; raise the load; swing around to where you want the load placed and lower it back to ground.

I am not trying to be flippant either. In a nutshell, that is the basics of operating a crane. Of course, if the load is a little heavy then you may just tip the crane on its side. If you don’t quite raise the load high enough you might take the top of the truck, or someone’s head.

The reality is that mobile cranes are not difficult to operate. The skills that do need to be developed are not those related to pushing levers or pedals. What is important is knowing how to set up the crane for safe use. How to handle loads safely and how to counter or work around environmental factors. Anyone can raise and lower a hook but I challenge anyone to lift a load and place it perfectly at its destination, first time, every time.

Mobile cranes may look like toys and may seem easy to operate. A highly skilled operator can work in confined areas perfectly judging distances irrespective of any environmental factors (wind for example), and place a load exactly where it is required.

Watch a crane operator lowering a large steel girder into place – the girder is a deadly weapon in itself – yet the operator can perfectly place the girder so that ground crews can fix it into place. That requires a lot of skill and that skill is based on the mobile crane operator training they received at the start of their career. Mobile cranes – they are not toys, they are precision tools that help build our nation.

Crane operator training can put you into a career that has many interesting tasks. We wrote a post late last month titled Mobile Cranes Are Always Ready To Come To The Rescue and a report in the Des Moines Register is a classic example of what we had written. Cranes do get used in the most unusual situations including performing rescues.

According to the report, the crane operator needed to lower a fellow construction worker into a dam to rescue an elderly woman from the swirling waters. Once the woman was secured she was then lifted to a nearby boat where she was taken to hospital.

This all sounds fine and you may think there is nothing special about the task. Putting aside the fact that a woman was saved from drowning – let’s look at the task itself. In most tasks like this the crane operator is operating almost blind. Once the crane’s hook goes over the side of the embankment, he cannot see where it is going. His eyes are the eyes that are on the ground looking over the edge – in other words, his fellow workmates. He relies on signals from his workmates for directions.

Again, you may think this is standard – and it is. That is why crane operators undertake training. One component is of course actually operating the crane. Other components include interpreting signals from those on the ground. By the way, it is always useful for those on the ground to undertake training on how to send those signals to the crane operator.

The crane operator and the person giving the signals need to work as close team. You may think the signaler signals stop, and the crane stops – it is not as simple as that. The person on the ground has to be able to read the situation and make signals an instant or two before the action is required. There is always a delay between giving a signal, the operator interpreting that signal and then acting on it. This is why you will often find that crane operators and signalers work as teams on construction jobs. Where the crane and operator goes, so too does the signaler – good teams are hard to find.

If your crane operator training is solid and thoroughly covers the basics then performing a rescue like this become second nature. In fact, a well trained novice crane operator could have pulled it off – all because of the interaction between those on the ground the operator. The rescue story quite rightly focused on the construction worker who was brave enough to hang onto the hook and allow himself to be lowered into the dam. It still took a team to get him there though. You can read the Des Moines Register story here.

The life of a mobile crane operator has to be one of the most varied and most interesting out of all heavy equipment operators. These cranes are mobile for a reason – they go from job to job, often performing a handful of lifts every day.

You may see these vehicles on the roads from time to time. They look like a truck with a crane tower hanging over the cabin. The operator drives the vehicle from one job to another, quickly setting up and doing the job required. They then move on to the next job and each job can be so totally different to the last.

These cranes also serve a special role in our lives, which most of us hope is never called upon. In an emergency they can be the difference between life and death. Motor vehicle accidents, truck rollovers and even train derailments. These often require the services of a mobile crane operator and his rig.

In these situations, they need the immense lifting power of a crane, but they are often limited to the amount of space available to work in and the need for speed. Mobile cranes can quickly lift heavy objects clear of danger or, in the case of truck rollovers, right the vehicle so it can be towed away and the roads cleared.

Mobile crane operators used under these circumstances need to be highly skilled and extremely patient. They also need to be able to listen to, and to follow, orders from those in charge of the situation. More importantly, they need to be able to respond quickly to instructions from those on the ground as the lifting is undertaken. There are times when stop really does mean stop – an extra inch and you may cause even bigger problems.

Of course, mobile crane operators learn the basics of their trade through training establishments such as ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. Once they have finished their mobile crane training it may take many years before you have acquired the skills and experience that is required in an emergency. Then again, in emergency situation, you may be the only person in a position to respond. Are you ready for it?