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.

National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, or NCCCO

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, or NCCCO, exists as an independent, not-for-profit body that administers a nationwide program of training and certification for crane operators. Since its founding in 1996, NCCO has worked with the industry itself to develop courses and standards that reflect the requirements of the modern crane operator, both in terms of practical operational knowledge and the necessary safety requirements crane operation needs today.

Their certifications cover all kinds of cranes, including mobile, boom trucks, tower cranes, overhead cranes, and others, and include accreditation for operators, crane signal persons, riggers, and lift directors as well. Whichever program you look at though, CCO certification programs are developed alongside industry experts, and since 1998 have received formal recognition by federal OSHA as meeting their requirements.

That recognition is key, and what makes NCCCO programs such an important part of any crane operator, or any other crane professional’s career. Approved courses give student’s the skills to operate safely, it is the core of everything the NCCCO does. Training new operators, riggers, and signal persons to be safe from the very beginning of their careers, to base everything they do upon those safety choices, then it is creating a safer workplace for all.

A nationally recognized credential that is approved by the federal organization also ensures that those undertaking training programs that deliver NCCCO credentials are of a standard that meets federal requirements. That alone is crucial to finding employment in the industry, and why we here at ATS use NCCCO approved programs for all of our crane courses.

Why National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

With NCCCO approved credentials, employers know that you have the skills, knowledge, and technical understanding that is required to operate cranes safely or work as a signalperson, rigger, or in any other related position. These qualifications are recognized across the country, in any state potential employers will know that NCCO certified operators, riggers, and so on have the skills needed, and this makes building a successful career a much easier prospect. In fact, with NCCCO credentials also being recognized internationally, your crane operator career has no limits once you have achieved accreditation.

Through transparent, quality-assured standards of training and accreditation, it also ensures that every student reaches the required level, fair and open for everyone. That is true for every NCCCO course, including everyone we offer. With ATS and NCCCO, you get the very best training and qualifications that are recognized around the world. Whether you are just starting out on your journey in the industry, or an experienced hand, having NCCCO accreditation tells potential employers you have what they are looking for, and helps you to achieve your goals.

There are times when a heavy equipment company must look at the painful reality of needing some specialized training before that company can be competitive. Whether that specialized training is needed for a few of your staff or an entire crew, ATS Specialized Training is designed to help you meet the challenge.

Associated Training Services can design the perfect training program that meets all the various requirements. Legalities, changing industry standards, unique operating environments, and customer requests all can be addressed by our instructors while maintaining the highest standards of quality and integrity.

These classes can be held at the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin location or at remote sites all over the country. Beginner-level or customized training can be provided in these areas and more:

• NCCCO Crane Operator Training, Testing, and Certification.
• NCCCO Rigger-1 & Signalperson Training, Testing, and Certification.
• OSHA Compliant Rigging & Signal Person Training, Testing, and Qualification.
• NCCER Heavy Equipment Training, Testing, and Qualification.
• Class-A CDL Commercial Driver Training, Testing, and Licensing.
• Credentials.

ATS is a nationally accredited, family-owned, private vocational school that has been providing professional training for over five decades. As the industries have changed, we have kept up with the changes. That means we can help you make the changes that keep your company competitive.

Enhance the safety consciousness of your workforce and increase productivity while fulfilling regulatory or insurance requirements by letting ATS provide specialized training. We cover a broad spectrum of subjects relating to the heavy equipment field and more.

Two decades ago, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) was not thought to be such good news. This quote from their recent press release shows that the start was a bit rocky:

“Initial response to what at that time was the new and often misunderstood process of certification was mixed,” recalls Kerry Hulse, who played a leading role insteering the certification process from its infancy and currently serves the NCCCO Board of Directors as Vice President. “But as we sit here today and reflect on the progress that has been made over the years, I can certainly say it has been a remarkable journey—even one that has far exceeded the expectations of those who contributed their time and expertise to this effort for years even prior to the formation of NCCCO.”

But now, after twenty years, the proof of the benefit that nationally recognized certification provides is in the 80% decline in crane-related fatalities where such certification is in place. That’s pretty impressive. Crane operators do a dangerous job and there isn’t room for much error. The consequences of unprofessional standards with heavy equipment are severe because the machine & gravity always are stronger than the human body in an accident.

Mobile Crane Operators Are Safer With NCCCO

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School is proud to offer certified crane operator programs that give the education and practical skills needed to obtain NCCCO certification. Thousands of ATS grads are included in last year’s NCCCO milestone of 100,000 persons being rewarded with their CCO certification card. The professional training you get when you go through a nationally certified program pays off in years of working safely. Accidents do happen in cranes, but being NCCCO certified means that fewer of them happen.

Did you know that current Federal OSHA regulations say that ALL riggers and signalpersons must be qualified? That means if you want a job in this valuable field, you have to have the right credentials. Associated Training Services offers rigging/signalperson program that exceeds the OSHA requirement and is recognized as one of the best in the crane and lifting industries.

You Can Take It With You

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is the gold standard of the industry and ATS offers this certification as part of the available training options. It’s portable, so as long as you renew it every five years it’s good. If you let it expire, you have to take the NCCCO re-certification exam in combination with another ATS program.

So these are your benefits from this option:

Or It Can Be Part On-The-Job Training

It’s always a good idea to get training and receive national credentials when you are hoping to be employed in a skilled trade. But there’s a big difference between the kind of training you’d get in the backfield practicing with the farm’s equipment and the kind of training you will get at a nationally accredited training facility like ATS.

That farm equipment practice is a valuable experience, no doubt about it. You have developed a sense of where you are when operating the big machine and you have learned how to adapt to changing conditions. But you haven’t met any recognized standards of performance and a potential employer will want to know how you measure up to the standards in the industry.

Accreditation Proves You Are Professional

National credentials are accepted by educational institutions, government agencies, and industry professionals as proof you have met certain standards. The two organizations Associated Training Services works with are:

• National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
• National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)

Many employers will insist that you have one of these certifications before letting you on the job site because their insurance company tells them it is a good idea. It proves the standard of training has been met. You might be up to that standard simply by having a lifetime of experience, but without the credentials, it is not easy to prove.

The experience you get on the farm or a job site is an important part of what you bring to a potential employer. Taking the time to get additional training at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School puts legitimacy into your resume by adding the appropriate credentials to prove it.

Sometimes the skilled trades, like heavy equipment operation, seem like an invisible career. The only guy who seems to be famous and blue-collar is Mike Rowe, the guy who has become famous for trying out dirty and unusual jobs on TV. But as Mike would say, “somebody’s gotta do it”, and think about what happens if nobody does that job?

Skilled Trades Have Permanent Physical Impact

In any skilled trade, the result of a job well done is a change in the surroundings somehow. With heavy equipment, that change is pretty obvious, but somehow society forgets that something like plumbing depends on somebody being able to dig a ditch. All the changes to the landscape that make life easier happen because somebody knows how to operate heavy equipment.

The big jobs that are done with big machinery are jobs that change the world. If you can do a job that changes your world, straighten up and stand tall because you make a big difference in a lot of lives.

Skilled Trade Professionals Have Credentials

The two national organizations that ATS works with to provide credentialing for the heavy equipment workforce are:

• NCCER — the National Center for Construction Education & Research
• NCCCO — the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

Being able to show a potential employer that you have these certifications shows that high standards have already been met in your training and that you have passed the tests required to show mastery of the skills required. As a result, these credentials are valued throughout the industries that rely on heavy equipment to get a job done.

If you are a skilled heavy equipment operator with the credentials to prove it, you can stand up taller in confidence that you are a valuable professional.

Right now, all signalpersons and riggers must meet Federal OSHA standards by being qualified. The best way to accomplish this is by getting NCCCO certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators — the NCCCO. Their Rigger-1 and Signalperson certification standards are so high, this certification is recognized in the crane and lifting industries as being much more than the minimum level of expertise required to meet OSHA standards.

That’s pretty attractive when you are an employer looking for the best work crew available. Your vital signalpersons and riggers keep everybody else safe on the job site, so you want people who know what they are doing. The Rigging/Signalperson Training at ATS is one of the few places you can get the NCCCO certification while you are a student.

ATS Offers NCCCO Certification

1. OSHA Recognized, so the regulations are satisfied
2. Industry Recognized, so the skill is respected
3. Portable – goes with a person, so you can relocate without penalty
4. Opens additional job opportunities, so you have more career options
5. Short term – one week, so you can get on with your training
6. Additional credential, so it looks good on your resume and might get you the job

All these reasons are good ideas for getting your NCCCO certification and  rigging/signalperson certification. And there’s another good reason: spending that extra week to get it means you’ll know what is happening around you on the work site. You’ll understand what’s happening and be prepared to respond the right way.

Heavy Equipment Operators need to be flexible and responsive. The more versatile you are, the more valuable you are on the job. It’s a good idea to have all the certifications you can get, so your future options are wide open.

The National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) and the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) are the credentialing organizations that gives Associated Training Services (ATS) advantage over other trade schools.

These credentialing standards are recognized and accepted by many industry employers. They are also accepted by government agencies and educational institutions so are eligible for financial assistance. Students who hold NCCER or NCCCO credentials are appreciated and sought after.

The National Center for Construction Education & Research

NCCER is affiliated with the University of Florida and has the mission of “fostering a productive, safe, and sustainable workforce.” This standardized curricula is what ATS uses to teach our students. All ATS instructors have completed the NCCER Instructor Certification Training Program and we employ two NCCER Master Trainers who have gone on to advanced levels.

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

NCCCO was formed for the purpose of developing standards for crane operators in performance and safety procedures. These standards greatly increase the effectiveness of crane operation and reduce the risk of accidents. These standards include stimulating training, improving performance records, and recognizing professionals within the crane operation industry.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School Advantage

Because ATS utilizes these nationally recognized credentials, our graduates consistently are known as highly qualified entrants in their chosen field. Associated Training Services is proud to be a part of the legacy and promise that NCCCO and NCCER certifications bring to the skilled trade industries. A certification from either of these national credentialing organizations is an achievement to be proud of.

One of the highest paid categories of heavy equipment operation is the crane operator, and a rigger is an essential partner in the operator’s mission. Because this is such an important job on a site, most states and insurance companies will require certifications for both positions. ATS is fully qualified to provide the training programs and certifications you need to hold both of these key spots on a work crew.

Our program can prepare and test you on both written and practical NCCCO exams; the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and the recognized gold standard in the field. You can get experience operating swing and fixed cab, lattice and articulated boom mobile hydraulic cranes along with a good foundation in the safety regulations.

Choose The Programs You Need

There are five different types of NCCCO training offered at ATS:

• Mobile Crane Operations 1 — beginning level
• Mobile Crane Operations 2 — secondary level
• NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator Prep/Test — only for experienced operators & offered through a business
• NCCCO Rigger/Signalperson Certification — a vital position for the safety of everyone
• Specialized Crane Operator Programs — we work with you to provide the specific training needed

Every one of these programs has had hundreds of graduates over the years, and those graduates have gone on to provide valuable service by expertly performing their job. Employers trust the training that you get at ATS and the proof of your competence in passing the NCCCO exams means you are a valued employee.

If you are interested in becoming a mobile crane operator or rigger/signalperson, the most important thing on your resume is an NCCCO certification because it verifies your professional status.