Tower cranes can be huge and, in most cases, cannot be moved under their own power. In fact, almost all tower cranes are nothing more than giant Meccano sets with each crane put together on site. Anything up to a dozen flatbed trailers are used to bring in all the parts, all carefully laid out and ready for assembling. Who does the grunt work? Mobile Cranes.

It has to be one of the most interesting jobs on a work site. Slowly lifting each piece of a giant Meccano set into place while riggers and engineers slowly build that tower crane. Of course, when the job is done, it will require another mobile crane to come in and slowly take the tower crane apart again. With some large construction sites taking up to 12 months (and longer) to complete, operators and workers rely on that tower crane to be perfectly put together.

That is only one role of a mobile crane, and a challenging one at that. Wherever there are heavy objects that require lifting, you’re likely to find a mobile crane. Mobile cranes range in size from fairly small vehicles to large vehicles that equal or exceed the length of many semi-trailer rigs. Because of their size, mobile crane operators are also required to hold a commercial drivers license (CDL).

Mobile crane operator training can be undertaken over three weeks. This will provide operators with the skills and knowledge for entry-level work as mobile crane operators. In today’s workforce, crane operators are also required to undertake a certification process that demonstrates their knowledge of cranes, particularly when it comes to safety knowledge and the safe operation of a crane. If building tower cranes from giant pieces of Meccano appeals to you, consider undertaking crane operator training – the pay’s good and the work is always challenging.

The new OSHA Crane Mandate makes it compulsory for employers to ensure that all riggers meet the minimum standards set down for this position. This means that all riggers must be either qualified or certified as riggers – employing riggers that don’t meet these standards could lead to significant fines. ATS Crane Operator Schools are now conducting training programs that can help employers bring their riggers up to these new standards.

For employers looking to qualify their employees, ATS offers training that:

• Meets OSHA qualification standard for rigging,
• Includes written and practical training and testing,
• Can be completed in 8 to 12 hours depending on number of candidates, and
• Qualifies employees – compliance cards are issued by Associated Training Services upon successful completion.

If you are looking to provide your employees with a certification training program then we offer training that:

• Exceeds OSHA qualification standard for rigging,
• Includes written and practical training and testing,
• Is completed in 32 to 36 hours (4 days) depending on number of candidates,
• Certifies employees – certification issued by National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), and
• Provides NCCCO Rigging Level One Certifications.

Safety is the primary aim of this new standard and it has been introduced because of the number of accidents that have occurred in recent years. The aim is to reduce the number of accidents, in particular the number of deaths and serious injury that occurs in construction each year.

To assist employers to quickly update their employees’ skills, ATS can arrange to deliver rigger training and testing at your workplace if required. This can make training much easier for your employees as they are on familiar soil and around equipment they see and use on a daily basis. This new mandate is not an option – it’s compulsory. If you require help to ensure your employees comply, contact us now – we’re ready to help.