25
NCCCONEWS
APRIL 2015
ACT
twodecadesof
certification
NCCCOwas establishedbySC&RA in
January1995 as an independent, non-
profit personnel certificationorganization
following almost adecadeof commitment
by agroupof industryvolunteers
dedicated to improve the safetyof lifting
operations. “Theybelieved the solution to
reducing the incidenceof crane accidents
lay inpart by establishing effective
performance standards for thosewho
work in and around cranes,” saidNCCCO
Chief ExecutiveOfficer,GrahamBrent.
“The result of this vision, determination
and sheerhardworkwas a fair, valid and
reliable assessment of craneoperator
knowledge and skills.”
Decline in crane fatalities
And the effectiveness of that assessment
isnowwell-established. Indeed, studies
havedemonstrated an80percent
decline in crane-related fatalitieswhere
professionallydeveloped certification
has been adopted, saidBrent. But just
as significant in establishingCCO
certification as akey component of
workplace riskmitigationhavebeen
employers’ personal experiences of its
benefits. “CCO certificationhas been
successful for one reason: Itworks,”
Brent said.
“CCO certification continues to
be requiredby employers, insurance
companies, project owners and risk
managersdue to theprofoundpositive
impact that it has on the safetyof crane
operations overall.”And thepaceof
adoption continues togrow, he said,
noting the achievement of another
milestone just last yearwhen the
100,000thperson tobe certified through
NCCCOprogramswas issuedhisCCO
certification card.
Such successwas still the stuff of
dreams twodecades ago. Following the
inceptionof testing in1996, itwouldbe
a further three years before the inaugural
certificationprogram (formobile crane
operators)was completedwith the
introductionof the first practical exam.
And itwouldbe another five years
beforeCCOmobile crane certification
hadgathered sufficientmomentum for
NCCCO to consider expanding intoother
types of cranes. CCO certifications soon
garnered awards frombothnational and
international accreditationbodies, and
becameofficially recognizedby federal
OSHA.
Tower craneoperator andoverhead
craneoperator certificationprograms
were the initial products of that
expansion, andwere followed in2008
by the firstCCO certifications for those
engaged in crane-related activity such as
signalingoperators and rigging loads.
In addition toother types of cranes and
similar equipment such as diggerderricks
anddedicatedpiledrivers (due for early
2016 launch),NCCCOprogramsnow also
address the certificationneeds specific to
crane inspectors and lift directors.
“The last five yearshave seen avirtual
explosionof interest by the industry
indevelopingprograms for specific
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Washington State
selects NCCCO to
develop state Crane
Certifier program;
Signalperson
Certification introduced
NCCCO administers
500,000th exam;
“Star” Recertificant
Recognition
Program launched
Employer
Recognition
Program
launched
The 100,000th person to test
throughNCCCO is certified;
number of certifications
issued passes 240,000mark;
NCCCO introduces Boom
Truck certification
AmericanNational
Standards Institute
(ANSI) accredits NCCCO;
U.S. Department of
Energy approves NCCCO
programs
Rigger Levels
I and II
introduced
International
expansion begins;
tests conducted
in theMiddle East
and South America
VCO Online
Verification
System unveiled
for public access
CCO certification
continues to be required
due to the profound
positive impact that it has
on the safety of crane
operations overall.
GRAHAM BRENT,
NCCCO CEO
ENR
Magazine bestowed its
Award of ExcellencewhenNCCCO
introduced itsMobile Crane
Practical Exam (shown being piloted)
in 1999. OSHA officially recognized
CCO certification that same year.
>26
