The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is a non-profit agency that was established in 1995. With headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, the organization’s mission is to develop effective performance standards that promote the safe operation of cranes. Operating a crane requires certifications, training, and skills to ensure the safety of the operator, coworkers, and the general public.

Associated Training Services (ATS) offer a variety of training programs, including those that help individuals train to be crane operators, riggers, or signalpersons. These programs will qualify or certify the trainee so he or she can seek employment in the field and perform their jobs safely and as they should. ATS offers several programs that are customized to meet the needs of the different employers in the fields. Here are some of the different NCCCO certifications that are available to ATS students:

• Lattice boom crane – crawler and truck
• Large telescopic boom cranes – swing cab and rough terrain
• Small telescopic boom cranes – fixed cab and boom trucks
• Articulated cranes – knucklebooms
• Digger derricks
• Tower cranes
• Overhead cranes

Also, NCCCO Rigger 1 and NCCCO Signalperson certifications are available. ATS also offers OSHA-compliant rigging and signalperson qualifications.

The Importance of Certifications

You need to have the proper training and certifications before you go on the job site. If you don’t have the proper certifications, you and your employer could face the consequences, especially if there is an accident with injuries or damages.

To protect yourself and to help you stabilize your career and future, make sure you understand all the processes and get the right certifications. There is a demand for qualified crane operators, so it is a great career choice. To learn more about the crane operator, rigging, and signalperson training available at ATS, call (800) 383-7364 today. Financial aid is available.

Signalperson

Safety is crucial on any site, and this is especially true where there are cranes in operation. When we think of cranes, it is the crane operator that is the job that comes to mind, but there are several other positions that are crucial to safe crane operation, and one of those is the crane signalperson. The crane signalperson is not new, it has been part of construction since industrial cranes became common, and were sometimes called spotters, but what is it they do?

It is the crane signalperson’s job to ensure the safe operation of a crane, working in tandem with the crane operator, to move large loads safely around a site. There are two aspects of the job, the first is the physical inspection of the load and equipment, and the second is guiding the operator during a lift. Beginning with the load itself, the crane signal person should be able to spot issues with the load itself, such as incorrect weight distribution, the load hook is correctly positioned, the rigging chain is set correctly without twists, and so on, and that load weight, position relating to the boom and other factors are all correct.

They also play an important part in the lift itself, firstly, before the load is moved, assessing the hoisting path, including whether it means being too close to any hazards or traveling over the heads of site workers causing a safety issue that must be highlighted and measures are taken to avoid. Once the lift is in progress, the crane signal person directs the crane operator, using a series of special hand signals or a hands-free radio system. In this way, the operator is always kept aware of the precise position of the load, its movement including direction and speed, when to stop, if there are any dangers, and so on. It is a partnership that allows cranes to operate safely.

CCO Signalperson Certification

Accomplishing that needs a good understanding of the cranes themselves, and in many ways, a crane signalperson needs to have as good an understanding of crane operation as the operator themselves, and of course, that means training. Becoming an NCCCO certified crane signalperson is a requirement for employment, and the approved courses that get you certified provide the skills and understanding of both crane operation and the safety aspects of moving large loads on site that are needed to perform the tasks required properly. To be a qualified crane signalperson, there are a few requirements. Passing both the written and practical examinations are essential, without proof of those qualifications you cannot be employed as a crane signal person, you must also be over eighteen years of age and drug-free.

Those qualifications and the skills needed to get them can be learned through a variety of training approaches, however, the best training includes both classroom training and a chance to put those newly learned skills into practice on-site, not only giving the technical understanding needed but the confidence gained from real-world experience to get out there and launch a lucrative career as a crane signalperson.

On February 7, 2014, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a proposed rule to extend the compliance date for crane operator certification requirements. This would give three more years to both the certification and phase-in requirements that ensure crane operators are qualified to operate the equipment. It is a good thing, but it’s better to just go ahead and get your crane operator certification now.

Associated Training Services offers training for the CCO certification exams and we endorse the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) national certification program. The NCCCO program is designed to provide a complete assessment of knowledge and skills for those who work in, with, and around cranes. It shows you are a recognized professional crane operator.

We think you should get your NCCCO Certification if you are going to operate a crane, pure and simple. It shows you know what you are doing, it keeps everyone safer on the job, and employers are more likely to choose you over other job applicants. Even though the OSHA deadlines are extended, you know they are coming so why wait?

Crane operators are in high demand and those who are well-trained make very good money. We are one of the biggest crane operator schools in the country and our Certified Crane Operator Program will give you the experience and training you need to get that higher wage. Our training includes experience with fixed cab and swingcab mobile hydraulic cranes and a whole lot more. You learn how to operate a crane professionally, and you get your NCCCO Certification by the time you complete your training. You will be ahead of the pack scrambling to meet the new OSHA deadline and in a good position to be hired.

What is NCCCO? is an acronym that stands for National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. The organization was formed in 1995 to administer the nationwide program for certifying crane operators.

The key here is nationwide. Once you’ve been certified by NCCCO, then you can go to any state and work as a crane operator.

All program guidelines and training initiatives meet OSHA guidelines for safety. That’s very important because the last thing any employer wants is a crane operator who is operating unsafely. The liability is too great. That’s why training and certification are so important.

NCCCO has spent a lot of resources to serve crane operators and employers nationwide by ensuring safety standards in training and on the workforce. These include:

• Reducing the risk of losses to employers on the work site
• Ensuring there are fewer accidents
• Maintaining a consistent training environment for crane operators
• Increasing job opportunities for crane operators

The organization enjoys support from a wide variety of industries and employers within the various industries, including training schools like ATS. Construction companies, crane rental companies, utility companies, energy companies, steel erection organizations, petrochemicals manufacturers, pulp and paper manufacturers, and government agencies at all levels support NCCCO.

NCCCO is a non-profit organization that operates within the private sector to ensure crane operators are trained safely and certified to operate cranes on any type of worksite in any state. They administer both written and practical tests to ensure proficiency in crane operations.

If you are ready to be trained and certified as a crane operator in the U.S., then look no further. ATS has the perfect training class for you.