Crane Op certification

[Brian]

Have any of you guys looked into the crane op certification process yet? Just wondering what you have found as far as costs, time, etc.

[HansonSigns]

Our two crane operators just got certified a few months ago. Talk about a pain in the rear! The first certification company we used - written test was a three day class, Practical was practice for 1 hour, then take the test for $895 each. Well, the practical is a lot harder than you'd think because you have to use the testers' crane, not your equipment. There is a course - first you have to go thru it with a chain on your hook, and not knock any of the tennis balls off the traffic cones outlining the course. The second is picking up a 55 gallon drum and taking it thru the course to set it in a designated area. And it's a TIMED test. And anyone who's ever moved a neon sign will tell you slower is better if you don't want to break neon, but the crane testers don't recognize that as an issue. Our guys did not pass that practical the first time and the company we used wanted an additional fee for them to retake the test. We called another certification company who, for the same fee, allowed our guys a full day to practice before they took the practical exam. That was no problem - they passed.

If you are looking for a certification company, make sure they allow lots of practice time on their equipment!

[Brian]

Our two crane operators just got certified a few months ago. Talk about a pain in the rear! The first certification company we used - written test was a three day class, Practical was practice for 1 hour, then take the test for $895 each. Well, the practical is a lot harder than you'd think because you have to use the testers' crane, not your equipment. There is a course - first you have to go thru it with a chain on your hook, and not knock any of the tennis balls off the traffic cones outlining the course. The second is picking up a 55 gallon drum and taking it thru the course to set it in a designated area. And it's a TIMED test. And anyone who's ever moved a neon sign will tell you slower is better if you don't want to break neon, but the crane testers don't recognize that as an issue. Our guys did not pass that practical the first time and the company we used wanted an additional fee for them to retake the test. We called another certification company who, for the same fee, allowed our guys a full day to practice before they took the practical exam. That was no problem - they passed.

If you are looking for a certification company, make sure they allow lots of practice time on their equipment!

Hey if you would post the name of the ripoff company and the good one so we all know who to stay away from.

Boy that is some shit! I would love to punch the f'in jerk at OSHA who came up with this. I think I will wait a while and see what happens with the testing.

Edited October 1, 2010 by chubbygumby

[HansonSigns]

The first company was ATS - Associated Training Services Network,ATS Specialized LLC. I don't know that I'd classify them as a ripoff, but they sure didn't have any kind of leeway for our industry needs.

The great company we used was Overton Safety Training, Inc. Wish I'd gone to them first. They are out of Oregon, Phone # 866-531-0403. We had to go to Tacoma/Kent to take the tests, but that was only about 1 1/2 hours travel (one way), so it was do-able.

NW Sign Council has been setting up classes with a company called Working Class Heros. The normal registration rate for their three-day class is $995 plus testing fees. Their website is http://www.wchcranesafety.com. We didn't use them because the classes weren't anywhere near us.

Most of the training places guarantee you will pass the written exam, and it's a tough one, but our guys didn't have any problems passing it after the two day class. Overton said if our guys didn't pass the practical, they could come out and practice more then retake it without an additional fee.

Washington State L&I (Labor & Industries, our workers comp system) inspectors have been checking sign companies for crane certs. Of course, the inspectors don't have any crane training, so they wouldn't know if a crane was being operated correctly or not. Don't you just love bureaucracy?

[buckeye]

This actually is somewhat timely with an announcement that ISA should be making in the next few days.

ISA is currently updating its program to meet the requirements of the new OSHA rule. (Obviously, sign companies located in some states need certification now, while the rest of the US has until 2014 to comply.) A schedule with training locations is in the process of being developed and will be available soon. Fees for training for the ISA program are set at $349 for ISA members and $549 for non-members. There will be an additional fee of $195 to sit for the certification test. The first session of the course is scheduled for January 19 – 21 in Chicago, Illinois – followed immediately with the exam in the same location on January 22. More details will be available shortly (when the education and technical folks have the news release ready for distribution). For questions about ISA's crane certification program, please contact Tracey Cook at tracey.cook@signs.org.

[Brian]

Don't you just love bureaucracy?

Hey it's the way everything is going. Next my 65 year old mother will prob have to take a CDL exam as pert of her driver license renewal! LOL

[Brian]

This actually is somewhat timely with an announcement that ISA should be making in the next few days.

ISA is currently updating its program to meet the requirements of the new OSHA rule. (Obviously, sign companies located in some states need certification now, while the rest of the US has until 2014 to comply.) A schedule with training locations is in the process of being developed and will be available soon. Fees for training for the ISA program are set at $349 for ISA members and $549 for non-members. There will be an additional fee of $195 to sit for the certification test. The first session of the course is scheduled for January 19 – 21 in Chicago, Illinois – followed immediately with the exam in the same location on January 22. More details will be available shortly (when the education and technical folks have the news release ready for distribution). For questions about ISA's crane certification program, please contact Tracey Cook at tracey.cook@signs.org.

Good to hear.

[HansonSigns]

The training program we took had a separate fee for the written and a fee for the practical - is the ISA fee ($349 plus $195) for both, or just the written test?

[buckeye]

The training program we took had a separate fee for the written and a fee for the practical - is the ISA fee ($349 plus $195) for both, or just the written test?

I asked Tracey for clarification: "The $195 covers the written exam. Fees for the practical exam are $60 for one crane type."

Hopefully, the program announcement will have more details to answer some of these questions. (As I don't work much on the technical or education end of things, I don't have the answers myself.)

[Brian]

A post on here from Tracy would be of great benefit to all