Crane Institute of America hosted the final regional qualifier event for the 2014-15 Crane Operator & Rigger Skills Competition in Louisville, Kentucky at the Papa John’s Cardinal Center, Green Lot C. The event was held Monday, September 28 where two lucky operators advanced to the Championship and a chance to win $10,000.
Although the spirit of competition was in the air with a chance at $10,000, the skills required to be successful are just as important to operators working in the industry. The regional event consisted of barrel dunk, slalom, pipe and rigging challenges.
One contestant, Mitchell Cornelius from Birmingham, Alabama, started as a crane operator about 15 years ago. Cornelius doesn’t operate cranes on a daily basis working for Crane U, but you wouldn’t know it as he walked away with the top score and $300! When asked how crane operation today differs from ten to twenty years ago, Cornelius replied, “Obviously the technology has changed, but safety is the big one. It’s a major departure from the lax approach safety has since in the past.” He added, “I mean, safety was pretty much looked down upon back in the day. They’d call you a wimp if they saw you wearing gloves while tag lining or doing something by the books. It’s just how it was.”
Also displaying a strong performance, winning $200 and advancing to the Championship was Randy Warner from Building Crafts, Inc. Warner started his career on the Florida coast at 19 years old and now resides near Cincinnati, Ohio. He responded to the question, ‘What is the most rewarding part of your job’ with, “What I find to be rewarding is going home at the end of every day knowing that is was a safe day for everyone on the...
Five new Authorized Training Partners are now licensed to train using Crane Institute of America’s (CIA) training materials and resources, further expanding Crane Institute training programs to customers globally.
Welcome New Partners!
Tommie Burgess
Industrial Kiln & Dryer Group
12711 Townepark Way
Louisville, KY 40243
502-244-4031
www.industrialkiln.com
Industrial Kiln & Dryer Group, a company dedicated to supporting customers, is the industry leading provider of solutions for rotary processing equipment. Tommie Burgess, a certified Crane Institute of America, LLC rigger/signalperson trainer since March 2014, specializes in project management in the industrial field with a focus on strengthening pre-job planning systems and creating an environment focused on safety.
Adam Dunstan
Mountain Shadows Crane Consultants, LLC
14 Selleck Rd
Los Lunas, NM 87031
505-453-5941
adunstan256@aol.com
Adam Dunstan has been a Certified Mobile Crane and Rigger/Signalperson Trainer with Crane Institute of America, LLC since November 2014. He also does lift planning and crane inspections.
Luke Hough
Gerald Moore
Alaska Crane
11900 South Gambell Street
Anchorage, AK 99515
907-522-9004
Catering to the construction, mechanical, telecommunications, and oil and gas industries, Alaska Crane owns and operates professionally certified cranes ranging from a 28 ton boom truck to a 600 ton lattice crawler crane. Whether it’s training your operators and riggers, renovating a dam, or building a bridge on Alaska’s North Slope, Alaska Crane is right for the job!
Luke Hough has been a Certified Mobile Crane and Rigger/Signalperson Trainer with Crane Institute of America, LLC since March 2014 while Gerald Moore has been a Certified Rigger/Signalperson Trainer with Crane Institute of America, LLC since March 2014.
Elizabeth Okerson
Safety Works, LLC
18 1st Street
Eyebolts can make a rigging job easier, but easier doesn’t mean safer.
An untrained rigger may incorrectly believe he can connect to an eyebolt by any means that work, but it is never that simple.
Eyebolts like all rigging gear, have requirements for safe use. Always follow manufacturer procedures when available, and remember these safety tips.
- When used for lifting, eyebolts must be made from forged alloy steel, not cast iron
- To connect to a load, eyebolts must be strong enough to withstand forces applied
- The shoulder of an eyebolt must be flush with mounting surface
- Shouldered eyebolts must be used when pulling at an angle
- Angular pull must be in the plane of the eye
- Eyebolts must have sufficient capacity; greatest when loaded in the vertical and reduced if pulled at an angle
Crane Institute Announces Plans for New Programs
August 4, 2014 (Sanford, Fla.) — More than 15 Training Specialists for Crane Institute of America recently met at Crane Institute’s headquarters for Annual In-Service Training in order to provide the best possible customer experience. All Training Specialists are certified and qualified through Crane Institute of America. The training session includes refreshers on the latest equipment and changes to regulations.
The training meeting included a conference call with Crane Institute Certification’s (CIC) Executive Director, Debbie Dickinson, to learn more about OSHA’s proposed delay of crane operator certification requirements. CIC submitted viable solutions to OSHA with the intent to satisfy the agency’s concerns over employer responsibility to qualify workers. Subsequently, an industry coalition, including CIC, was formed to represent the interests of the crane industry.
In other news, Dickinson reported three states have or will adopt language requiring certification or licensing by crane type and size. These include California, Washington, and New York. Finally, she announced the launch of two new CIC certifications; Service Mechanics Truck and Lift Director.
New Programs and Resources
Crane Institute of America announced to its Training Specialists new programs currently in development. Two new training courses for people involved in crane management are set to be released in Fall 2014. The new Lift Director and Lift Planner courses are designed to prepare students for the CIC Lift Director Certification Exams. In addition, look for a course for Assembly/Disassembly Director in 2015.
Also new is a metric version of the handbook, Rigging, available for purchase on Crane Institute’s online store this September.
Crane Institute now has a public LinkedIn group, called Crane and Rigging, for those in the industry with related questions. Crane Institute Training Specialists offer a credible source...
OSHA is Campaigning to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers
Heat Illness can affect anyone working outside. This includes crane operators, riggers, signalpersons, inspectors, and supervisors. You do not have to exert much energy to become dehydrated, but the more you work in the heat, the more likely you are to be affected by heat illness such as, mild heat rash to the more severe heat stroke.
To prevent heat illness:
• Keep water in your tool belt, drinking every 15 minutes even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Avoid sports drinks, which contrary to popular thinking, will dehydrate you.
• Try to rest in shaded areas to cool down
• Keep your neck cool by wearing a hard hat neck shade
• Wear hats, sunglasses, and light-colored clothes
• Be aware of heat illness warning signs
• Keep an eye on co-workers
• Ease into working in heat until your body gets used to it.
Learn more about Heat Illness and this Campaign from OSHA.
According to OSHA 1926 Subpart CC, there is a chance you may not be qualified to rig certain loads.
Qualified Rigger: A rigger who meets the criteria for a qualified person.
Qualified Person: A person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.
In October 2010, OSHA released a FactSheet to expand upon their definition of ‘qualified rigger.’ Essentially, you may have many years of rigging experience, but if asked to rig an atypical load (unstable, unusually heavy, multi-crane lift, etc.) you may no longer fall under the definition of ‘qualified rigger.’ OSHA puts the responsibility on the employer for selecting a rigger capable of performing such rigging operations
Read OSHA FactSheet here.
Attend a Crane Institute of America Rigger/Signalperson Training Program and be on your way to fitting into OSHA’s ‘qualified rigger’ definition.
2012 was a big year for Crane Institute of America.
This year we celebrated our 25th Anniversary.
Our first event was in July when we offered special discounted prices on products for the whole month. We also raffled off a free Mobile Crane Operator and Rigger/Signalperson Training Program to 2 lucky winners! Congratulations to Terry Thibodeaux for winning the Rigger/Signalperson Training and Brent Pinkerton for winning the Mobile Crane Operator Training!
In the fall, we hosted the Southeast Regional Crane Operator Rodeo Event where James Anderson took home first place. If you missed it, you can watch the fun here! Also, look out for the 2013 Crane Supplemental Guide in the January Issue of the Crane & Rigging Hotline Magazine!
In December, we awarded one free Mobile Crane Operator Training program scholarship to an employee of a Florida Crane Owner’s Council (FCOC) Member. Johnathan Camp was the lucky winner! Also in December, we held our second and final anniversary promotion; since you only turn 25 once! Crane Institute gave away 3 Cranky and Flynn Fisher Price Toys to winners of our online contest: James Cox, Jessie Smith and Don Thompson! These toys were just in time for Christmas!
We hope everyone had as much fun this year as we did! Here’s to a wonderful 2012 and an even better 2013!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!
All programs include New OSHA Regulations!
Qualified Rigger/Signalperson – 2 Days
$595.00
Rigger Qualification Included.
Orlando/Sanford, FL – April 2-3, 2012
Orlando/Sanford, FL – June 18-19, 2012
Train-the-Trainer Rigger/Signalperson – 4 Days
$1,395
Trainer Certification Available $345
Rigger Qualification Included.
Learn to conduct the same training programs that have made Crane Institute of America the most recognized and successful training company in the business!
Pittsburgh, PA – April 17-20, 2012
New Orleans, LA – May 22-25, 2012
Orlando/Sanford, FL – June 26-29, 2012
Minneapolis, MN – June 26-29, 2012
