What Can a Certified Crane Operator Do?
Becoming certified as a crane operator is a requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for anyone interested in taking up the trade. Certified crane operators are trained in a range of skills, of which actually operating machinery is only one of them. Organizational and communication skills and knowledge of and the ability to carry out safety procedures, while following correct work protocols are other also necessary.
How To Become a Certified Crane Operator
Anyone at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED can take the first step on the journey to becoming a certified crane operator and apply to an accredited training school. Candidates must also agree to abide by the substance abuse policy and code of ethics of the NCCCO—National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators.
Actual certification training is divided equally into classroom learning and practice. Classroom time focuses on the standards and regulations required by OSHA and the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), becoming familiar with load charts and safety procedures, and learning about correct setup and operating methods of cranes. During hands-on training, students start by getting acquainted with the buttons, pedals, and levers inside the crane cab and getting comfortable operating them all. Then they learn and actually tackle various tasks a certified crane operator may be required to do on a jobsite.
An NCCCO certification is essential for successful employment in the field of heavy machinery operation. At West Coast Training, we hold the distinction of being an approved NCCCO testing center, with a highly experienced team of instructors.
What Can a Certified Crane Operator Do?
The first thing a certified crane operator can do is, of course, operate different types of cranes, primarily swing and fixed cab mobile hydraulic cranes, such as lattice boom crawlers and truck cranes. They can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as lifting and moving loads and placing, positioning, or repositioning construction materials.
Certified crane operators are experts at handling different crane attachments, such as the concrete bucket, clam-shell, or dragline, and can rig loads with hook block and overhaul ball. Completing routine checks before and after work shifts and regular inspections to make sure all equipment is in good working order are also part of a crane operator’s duties. Certified crane operators are sometimes called upon to be riggers or signal persons to other crane operators—providing verbal instructions or hand signals as needed. All of these skills can be learned through accredited NCCCO training courses such as those offered at West Coast Training.
Certified crane operators are currently still very much in demand because their unique skillset is essential to the completion of the majority of construction jobs. As a well-established and reputable training school, West Coast Training offers certification courses in both crane operating and other heavy machinery. Contact us to register today.