The crane operator certification programme: industrial/all purpose, rough terrain/all terrain and rubber tire truck mount includes written and practical assessments and is intended to identify individuals with the professional knowledge and skills that can be designated as certified crane operators.
Assessments are available in four categories: telescopic boom, lattice boom, boom truck and industrial/all-purpose cranes. Tests conform to or exceed ASME B30.5 consensus safety standards and OSHA 1910 standards for mobile crane operators. Certification is valid for five years.
“Having our crane operator program receive ANSI accreditation is a remarkable achievement for our organisation,” said Don Whyte, NCCER president. “It further validates that our programme meets the highest professional certification standards for crane operators across the industry.”
The crane operator certification programme is a joint venture between NCCER, ProV exam services and the North American Crane Bureau (NACB). NCCER offers on-demand testing through the programme, with its structure allowing operators to receive the result of written and practical examinations on the day of testing.
In November last year, OSHA proposed the C-DAC cranes and derricking regulation, which included the stipulation that “employees in the work zone are trained to recognise hazards associated with the use of the equipment and any related duties that they are assigned to perform”.
In October 2008, the US National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators launched a new certification programme for crane signallers, with five further programmes promised before the end of 2009. These include the riggers certificate, Level 1, in the first quarter, followed by Levels 2 and 3 later in 2009.