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.

There’s no law that limits you to how much career training or jobs you can receive. A general rule of thumb is this: The more you know and the more you can do, the more valuable you’ll be to potential employers. For that reason, we recommend training on as many different types of heavy equipment as possible.

In the Heavy Equipment School basic course, you’ll be trained to operate the following equipment as a matter of course:

• Backhoes
• Front end loaders
• Wheel Loaders
• Skid steers
• Scrapers
• Bulldozers
• Road graders
• Excavators
• All-terrain forklifts
• Articulated haul trucks

You’ll also learn valuable and useful skills such as grade reading, soil identification, laser levels, worksite safety, reading site layouts, and basic heavy equipment maintenance. We won’t leave anything to chance. Your education will set the course of your heavy equipment career, so we take it seriously.

How to Get a Leg Up With Employers

Learning how to operate the basic heavy equipment you’ll see on most construction sites is the best way to get a foot in the door of a heavy equipment career, but going beyond that will enhance your career prospects and make you more employable. You’ll also earn more once you are on the payroll. That’s why we recommend the following training courses, as well:

• Mobile crane operations
• Truck Driving
• Rigging/Signalpersons training

With each of these specialized training courses, you’ll be certified to work in the heavy equipment industry as you learn important skills from the best instructors in the business. The sooner you enroll in training, the sooner you’ll be employable and make good money in a heavy equipment career.

You know you’re ready for your next career move. You’ve heard that heavy equipment jobs are opening left and right. They are! But what you aren’t sure about is where to start. Let me offer you five ways to get trained for the heavy equipment career you deserve and want. Here is to the future operators.

Here are five career training programs for future heavy equipment operators:

1. Crane training – In crane training, you’ll learn all about the various types of cranes and how to operate them. Each type of crane has its own unique features and ATS trains you on all of them. Learn more about heavy equipment crane training today.
2. Heavy equipment training – Technically, cranes are heavy equipment too. But when we say “heavy equipment,” we’re talking about a broader scope. This class will teach you all about scrapers, bulldozers, graders, backhoes, loaders, and a lot of other types of heavy equipment.
3. Rigging training – Riggers have a very important job on the work site. We’ll teach you how rigging fits in and show you how to safely carry out the duties and responsibilities of this important job.
4. Signalperson training – Signalpersons are the controllers of the work site traffic circle. We’ll show you how to maneuver vehicles using ground controls and how to do it safely according to OSHA standards.
5. Truck driver training – Truck drivers are integral to the work site. Heavy equipment must be transported from the construction company motor pool to the work site. No one is qualified to do that better than the CDL truck driver.

Now is the time to get your career in heavy equipment off the ground. Enroll in the training you need and start today.

The job of a signalperson is an old and ancient custom. Before electronic communications, signal people or a signalperson, used flags and lights for communication. Some still do depend on the circumstances. In fact, the military still uses lights and flags, especially in combat situations.

You’ve likely seen people on construction sites who stand around with flags and direct traffic. They don’t just direct cars and trucks on the road. They also direct heavy equipment such as cranes.

The signalperson must understand how every piece of equipment maneuvers and have a thorough understanding of their limitations. That includes how the boom swings, how buckets raise and lower, clearances, and a whole bunch of safety factors. These safety factors are the reason signal people must be OSHA certified.

Other things signal people must understand well are weather and terrain circumstances that can affect equipment maneuverability.

For instance, if it has rained within the last day or so, will the ground be too soft for tracked vehicles? What about wheeled vehicles? How will clay beneath the surface affect turning on the job site? Will vehicles move faster or slower as a result of weather and ground conditions?

These are all important considerations and the signalperson must be able to account for them as they direct heavy equipment on the work site. It is imperative for the safety of the entire work crew and any civilians in the area. That’s why it is important to get the best signalperson training you can get prior to taking a job in this specialty.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has its regulation for the delivery of rigging and signalperson training, as well as the certification of riggers and signalpersons. Associated Training Services does not set those OSHA-Compliant standards, but we must comply with them.

As a matter of course, ATS training programs exceed OSHA requirements. That includes the rigging certification course we offer.

There are actually two rigging and signalperson training programs at ATS. There is a qualification course, which trains people interested in the profession to become qualified riggers and/or signalpersons. When you graduate from this course you’ll be qualified to hold a job as a rigger.

The other course is a certification course. After graduating this course, you’ll be certified as a rigger/signalperson and can actually hold a position as either one in your state.

The ATS rigging and signalperson certification training program follow these standards:

• Written exams match the in-class curriculum. In other words, what you train on is what you’ll be tested on.
• Exceeds all OSHA requirements for training.
• You’ll receive practical training assignments followed by practical exams.
• You’ll receive 32-36 hours of rigging/signalperson training over the course of four days.
• After you successfully complete the training you’ll be awarded certifications for NCCCO Rigging Level One and NCCCO Signalperson.

If you’re ready to enter the proud ranks of qualified and certified riggers, then ATS’s rigging/signalperson training program is for you.

There are times when ‘just good enough’ is not going to be good enough. Under current workplace regulations, all riggers and signalpersons require qualification. This is a basic standard that ensures workers follow the OSHA guidelines when working as either riggers or signalpersons.

After basic rigger training, your workers will receive a qualification compliance card. Whilst that means your workers meet OSHA guidelines, is it really enough for your workplace. Those who are in a leadership role generally need more in-depth training that covers a wider range of topics. Our qualification training program can be completed in as little as eight hours – our certification program requires at least 32 hours of training and assessment. Furthermore, on completion, graduates are issued both the NCCCO Rigging Level One and the NCCCO Signalperson Certification.

Our rigger/signalperson training program exceeds the OSHA qualification standards and prepares participants well for busy workplaces, especially as team leaders. The aims of both programs are to make workers more safety conscious, to increase their skills, and to increase their knowledge of rigging. For employers, we can offer training in our classrooms, or at your workplace, whichever is most convenient.

Associated Training Services (ATS) delivers training though highly trained and respected rigger and signal training instructors. ATS has almost fifty years of training experience in areas of heavy equipment operations, crane operations and truck driving. We have developed a good reputation for producing well-trained graduates – if you need to ensure your workers are OSHA-compliant, then talk to us – we can discuss your needs and organize training programs to fit in with your workers’ buys schedules.

Crane operators generally don’t work alone. In many instances, it’s impossible for a crane operator to work alone, they simply can’t get a clear vision of the load, any obstacles, or people moving around them. When it comes to lower a load into a precise position, it’s impossible to do it alone. Crane operators spend most of their working lives as a part of a team, and their best friend in that team is the signalperson.

These days, it’s not uncommon for a construction site to have several people who can work as signalpersons. They will have other duties such as heavy equipment operations that they will normally work at, only switching to a signalperson when required. A signalperson’s job is one of precision and clear communication. The crane operator relies on that signalperson to tell them when to raise and lower the load, and when it is safe to swing the load sideways – if the signalperson gets it all wrong, then there is the potential for a serious accident.

What is most important is that the crane operator and signalperson are both talking the same language. If the signalperson signals up slowly, the crane operator clearly understands and complies; likewise, when the signalperson signals a stop, the crane operator stops. This means the crane operator is keeping a very close eye on the signalperson whilst watching everything else.

Rigger and signalperson training and qualification is now a requirement for those working in these positions. Fortunately, the training and assessment is not too onerous. A construction company have the entire crew trained and qualified (with a compliance card issued for each worker) in eight to twelve hours. Certification can take up to 36 hours, however, it is a more comprehensive training program that leads to certification of riggers and signalpersons.

Being multi-skilled is important in today’s work environment and while we have often discussed the benefits of having heavy equipment training and a commercial drivers license there are other skills that compliment both occupations. If you are multi-skilled, then you have more to offer employers. It also means you can step in to do another job when the need arises, without breaching any safety laws that may apply. Complimentary skills that you could consider include:

• Fork Lift operations – being able to operate a forklift enables truck operators to load/unload their own trucks
• Overhead crane operations – overhead cranes are used in a wide range of workplaces, particularly in warehousing
• Signalperson qualifications – while you may spend much of your time operating heavy equipment, it’s handy to be able to be called on to work at ground level when required
• GPS training – heavy equipment and modern trucks now rely on GPS to help complete tasks
• Equipment maintenance – being able to maintain your equipment increases reliability and reduces down time

While training courses often include these components – for example, heavy equipment training may include fork lift, maintenance and some GPS training – it doesn’t hurt to build on these skills once you have developed your working skills. Some training establishments offer these skills individually while others may allow you to enroll and to complete modules that only relate to your specific area of need. For example, a truck driver completing the maintenance module for heavy equipment would be very handy if your job is to transport heavy equipment from site to site.

The more skills that relate to your career, the more employable you are. Employers value multi skilled employees over single skill employees all the time, so if the opportunity arises to build on your skills, grab that opportunity with both hands.