There are times when companies find it necessary to employ crane operators in remote locations. This could be in the field of logging, mining or specialist constructions like road or dam building. There are other companies that have specialized positions involving crane operation in non-standard conditions. In these situations, specialist crane operator training is required, often on site rather than at a training school.

The facilitate these situations, ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools offer specialized crane operator training for employers. This training can take place at an ATS training location or at the employer’s location. If the training fulfills the requirements of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) for certification then testing certifying is also available.

ATS also have crane operation instructors who are able to travel to remote locations for crane training, testing, and certification where appropriate. These specialized crane training programs can be customized to meet the employer’s time and cost requirements.

Being able to deliver training that is customized to a company’s need is important in today’s busy world. Customized training means that as an employer, you know your crane operators are skilled to perform all the task required within your organization. This is particularly important if you have work-specific cranes built to fulfill a dedicated role.

If you require more information on specialist crane operator training then contact one of our training schools or 1.800.678.8120 and we will be happy to discuss your training requirements, either on your site or at one of our training facilities.

Many states have now legislated to make certification of crane operators compulsory. The is applies to both fixed cab and swing cab mobile hydraulic cranes. To become a certified crane operator you will need to pass both a written and practical test.

Crane operators are amongst the highest paid operators in the heavy equipment workplace. Their role is also one of the most important. Safety is a primary concern with crane operations. The crane boom and the load it carries can be extremely dangerous to both people and property. You may have seen images in the past of cranes with huge steel balls being used to demolish buildings. You don’t need that huge steel ball, any heavy load will exact the same damage.

Certified crane operators are in high demand at present and the job itself offers a career in a field that can be challenging and varied. Associated Training Services (ATS) offers a Mobile Crane Operation Program designed for the individual who wants to become a crane operator.

Graduates from the ATS program are prepared for and tested on the written and practical exams for certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). The NCCCO crane operator certification is one of the most widely recognized crane operator certifications in the crane operator industry.

NCCCO is a non-profit organization that develops effective performance standards for safe crane operations. By providing a thorough, independent assessment of operator knowledge and skills, NCCCO aims to enhance lifting equipment safety, reduce workplace risk, improve performance records, stimulate training, and give due recognition to the professional skill of crane operation. Since the NCCCO program was developed by industry for industry, it receives support from all levels of industry.

Associated Training Services is approved by the NCCCO as a test site for both the NCCCO written and NCCCO practical exams for fixed and swing cab crane operators.

Today’s workplace legislation insists on crane operators being certified before they can commence work operating a crane. There are many reasons for this, the prime one being safety – safety of the operator, safety of the people around the crane and safety of the property are all important areas. In recent years there have been too many injuries to people and property, often due to simple carelessness or a lack of operator safety knowledge. Effective training and certification will hopefully reduce the number of incidents.

In theory, to become a certified crane operator is a simple as passing a written and practical exam through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Of course, in practice you would have little chance of passing either the practical or the written without first undergoing a training program that addresses all the areas within crane operators competency requirements.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools we have a dedicated crane training division. The training offered is accredited and designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to pass the NCCCO written and practical exams. The training program is an intensive three week course from Monday to Friday that is broken into a convenient three level structure.

Once you have completed the training you will be ready to undertake the certification exam. On completion of the exam, and passing, you will be ready to confidently tackle the workplace as a qualified and certified crane operator. If your interested in crane operations as a career, request a free information packet containing a DVD, curriculum information, job placement assistance, class calendars, pricing and Enrollment/Financial Assistance Applications. There is no obligation so you have nothing to lose by viewing the information pack.

I watched with interest the other day as a series of heavy equipment machinery came to the rescue of a derailed train. The train lost three of its trucks, each running off the tracks and rolling over. The three trucks where each filled with gravel.

It was a fine piece of coordination. The crane came in and first emptied the trucks completely by lifting and tipping the contents out. The crane then moved the empty trucks to one side. It was then time for the bulldozer to come in and push all the gravel away from the tracks and into neat piles.

The rail gang then moved into action removing all the twisted track and laying new track. Once the new track had been laid, the rail trucks where then lifted back onto the tracks. The engine carted them away while another engine brought in a new series of trucks. A front end loader then loaded all the gravel into the new trucks.

This team work had the tracks cleared and repaired and reopened within four hours of the accident occurring. It took the skills of these operators working in a fairly confined space together with the coordination and planning of the rail boss to get the job done. And they did.

As a heavy equipment operators, whether it is as a crane operator, bulldozer driver or front end loader operator, you just never know what your next job may be and what sort of situation you may find yourself in.

The best preparation is in your training and the best place to gain the skills required is through ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools. Sign up now and you may be eligible for a sizable discount on your training – however the offer ends on December 31.

In today’s modern world of electronics, two way radios and other communication devices, the crane operator still relies on hand signals, or, in some countries, an old fashion pea-whistle. Even if you use a two way radio for communication, crane operators still need a thorough understanding of hand signals since there are situations where the radio cannot be used. Sites that use explosives often ban their use as they could set of detonators.

The problem with hand signals is getting the perspective right. Either you are high up looking down on the work; you could be on the ground taking direction from someone up higher; or the signaler may be on the same level as you. You need to get your interpretation right to follow directions.

Some basic hand signals include:

• Stop – world wide hand signal – open hand with the palm faced towards the operator
• Up – Arm in the air with the finger pointed – the hand and wrist make a circular motion. The slower the motion, the slower the speed of the lift.
• Down – Down is general the opposite of up, however some areas use a more specific motion where the arm is extended out from the body with the open palm facing down – the arm and palm make gentle backward and forward motions – again the speed of the motion indicates the lowering speed.
• Swing – Arm extended with the finger pointing in the direction of the swing.

Of course, some hand signals get trickier. Say you wanted to raise the boom while lowering the load. For this the signaler would extend the arm with the thumb pointing up – this indicates raising the boom. At the same time the fingers would be flexed in and out to indicate the lowering of the load.

As a crane operator, you can often build up a good working rapport with your signaler. On other occasions you may be working with some one you have never met before. This is why standard hand signals need to be learned. The crane operator also needs to be able to respond instantly for each hand signal, particularly the stop signal.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools deliver nationally accredited training for crane operators. Verbal and non-verbal (including hand signals) training is included. If you have a desire to work as a crane operator then check out the details of the crane operator training program online.

Crane operations are not always as easy as one may think. Iy you check out these cranes from a London construction site, you will see what I mean. The certainly get a bit of a wobble going when it gets windy.

It is very rare for anyone to come to any grief because of the high winds. However you do need a lot of experience and skills to handle a load when it’s windy. If it gets too windy they down tools and wait for it to subside a little.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools may not be able to get you a job working at these heights, at least not immediately, but if you are able to work at heights with little discomfort then you may want to aspire to the position of high rise crane operator.

A mobile crane, by its very name, can normally be driven to the work site. It doesn’t need any special transport vehicles and if generally treated pretty much like a truck. However, as an operator/driver, there are some tasks that need to be undertaken prior to driving on the open road.

The open highway of course is open to all vehicles that meet requirements for registration. For this reason, crane operators need to ensure that all other vehicles and property are safe from the crane. Comedy movies may make fun at a swinging boom that knocks over pedestrians, shatters windows and causes all sorts of damage, however, in reality a driver that allowed that to happen would most likely wind up behind bars.

Cranes often have special legs to maintain stability while lifting big weights. The crane operator needs to ensure that these are retracted and locked away until required. Likewise, the crane arms need to be lowered and locked into place to prevent any unwanted movement.

Most cranes have a manual which describes how the cranes various components are locked down prior to moving to a new site. The operator needs to ensure there are no loose components that may fly off while traveling down the highway.

Being a crane operator is an interesting job with every load lifted being different and bringing it’s own challenges. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide comprehensive training in crane operations to give you a head start as a safe crane operator.

Occupation descriptions, or job descriptions, come in many formats and some are quite deep in their requirements. Others can be brief and often make it sound like any one could apply for a vacancy.

An occupation descriptions is often broken into three or four parts. An overview, task description, required skills/training and personal attributes.

Description:

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

Tasks:

• 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.
• Inspect 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

.

If you don’t have those skills yet would like a career as a crane operator then perhaps you check out ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools to see when your next course begins.

A lot of people wouldn’t consider a ship building yard as a user of heavy equipment or heavy equipment operators. In fact this is far from the truth.

Whilst you wont find a ship yard full of heavy equipment operators, you will find crane operators, forklift operators and front end loader operators.

The role of a crane operator is fairly obvious. They raise and lower much of the heavy materials during the assembly processes.

Forklifts, or forktrucks, also help with lifting, however their role is often to unload trucks, move laden pallets and look after stores.

Front end loaders have a curious role when compared to their normal jobs. Front end loaders in ship yards can be called upon to lift materials to a working height. These materials are often the smaller, but heavy in number items, such as rivets, rivet guns, welding rods and related materials. They act as a bucket to hold these items and as a garbage collector for used materials.

The role of a heavy equipment operator in a ship building yard can be varied and interesting. To see a large ship coming together is amazing in itself. To actually be a part of the working crew is even better.

If you fancy yourself in a ship building yard – perhaps as a crane operator, then check out ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools for a training program that may help to kickstart your career.

Truck mounted cranes are popular in the field of heavy equipment because of their versatility and mobility. These days the truck mounted crane is capable of lifting quite large and quite heavy loads, in fact some come equipped with ‘feet’ that can be extended either side of the truck body to provide extra stability.

So what is the difference between a truck crane and a standard crane? Essentially nothing. The actual operation for the crane is normally the same. The same controls, the same lifting concepts, the same health and safety aspects. The only difference is that you will need a truck license to drive from one job to the next.

Where some truck mounted cranes do have a big advantage is in their ability to lift a load and drive it closer to the desired location. Obviously this cannot be done with large or very heavy objects, however each model of truck mounted crane has a safe load limit for this type of work.

Truck mounted cranes are used on construction sites, in the mining industry, and can also be found as part of an emergency team, often called in to right vehicles, trucks and trains.

The skills required to operate a truck mounted crane can be obtained through any crane operator training facility such as ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools. Check out their training offers and find the right training program for you.