INTERNATIONAL ANDSPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
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MARCH 2015
25
OPERATOR TRAININGAND CERTIFICATION
VIRTUALTRAINING
To help train operators in a safe environment, training companies are turning towards
virtual technology. The Crane Institute of America, for example, has a Vortex Simulator
that simulates the operation of mobile cranes (both telescoping boom and lattice boom),
overhead cranes and tower cranes. AIDT, theworkforce development division of the
Alabama Department of Commerce, also uses amobile crane simulator. The simulator,
whichwas donated by Crane Institute of America, is installed at AIDT’s AlabamaWorkforce
Training Center in Birmingham, USA.
“It provides a similar experience that allows students to practice in a comfortable and
safe environment with no danger to personnel or property,” JimHeadley says. “The
instructor can use a common video game controller to quickly zoom around the scenario on
their own screen and view the student’s LMI, allowing them a full view of every angle of the
operation. The instructor can even change theweather, wind speed and direction, time of
day, etc for heightened challenge.”
From Liebherr is a new simulator for deep foundationmachinery and crawler cranes
up to 300 tonnes. The simulator offers users a realistic computerised construction site,
completewith buildings, roads, fences and even obstacles such as uneven ground or rock.
The simulators have full HD flat screens, surround speakers andmoving platforms. They
are available in three configurations, including classroom, cab or containerised solution.
“Using the crawler crane simulator the operator learns easily and efficiently how to operate
crawler cranes in a safe environment,” a spokesperson from Liebherr says. “Above all,
the various lifting tasks such as loading and unloading a semi-trailer represent a special
challenge for the operator and can be fulfilled at different difficulty levels.”
Heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet has installed a new simulator at the
Mammoet Training Center in the Netherlands to train operators on theMammoet
PTC 140/200 DS super heavy lift ring crane. “The simulator is an exact replica of the
crane’s operating system, and is fittedwith an operator cabin, HD screens, server rack,
crane control cabinet and instructor station,” a spokesperson fromMammoet says. The
simulator is a custommade design built exclusively for Mammoet and is able to replicate
different height andweight modes, weather scenarios and even different seasons. The
simulator provides a chance for operators to carry out risk assessments and practice lifts in
a safe environment before jobs are carried out on site. In addition, the simulator can also be
used to show clients a visual demonstration of how lifts will be carried out and how long a
lift could take.
Simulator training is also beingmade available at seminars. The North American Crane
Bureau, for example, is hosting a three-day Lifting and Load Handling Training Expo in
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, in April 2015. The event includes seminars on rigging, inspector
training, load charts, lift planning, ground support and current regulations pertaining to
mobile cranes, overhead cranes, hoist systems, aerial work platforms, lift trucks, and other
assorted lift equipment and gear.
training formobile cranes, articulating
cranes, service truck cranes, digger
derricks andoverhead cranes. The courses
also include rigger and signal person
training. Certification is carriedout by the
NCCCO. Testing services includemobile
cranes, rigger level I& II, lift director,
and inspectors completewithonsite
practical testing.
NCCCOoffers 12 separate certifications
for craneoperators; sixwithin the
mobile craneoperator, threewithin the
articulating craneoperator, tower crane
operator, overhead craneoperator, and
digger derrickoperator. Knowledge and
skills in these areas are addressed through
separatewritten andpractical exams.
All operator programmes require that
candidates take andpass bothportions of
the certification.
In theUK,ALLMI offers training
accreditation for lorry loader cranes,
including lorry loader operator, slinger,
signaller and crane supervisor. In addition,
ALLMI offers certificationby capacity and
size and alsooffers accredited courses,
including appointedperson, thorough
examiner and instructor. “Theonly
courseonwhich there is adistinction
between types is on theoperator course,
whereby training cards are categorised
to reflect items such as the sizeof lorry
loader, attachment type and typeof
control system,” Johnson adds. “Most
ALLMI courses are available in at least two
differing lengths to accommodate levels
of previous experience and, or, refresher
training, compared to the time required for
trainingnovices.”
ALLMI has also launched campaigns
aimed at refreshingunderstandingof the
safeuseof remote controls andpre-use
checks. “Peoplebecome complacent or
suffer from skills fade,” Johnson says. “To
reachout tooperators inbetween refresher
trainingwehave anumber of campaigns,
which consist of a freeweb-basedvideo,
a ready-made toolbox talks template
and then additionalmaterials such as a
leaflet or in the caseof thepre-use checks
campaign, the launchof anALLMI pre-use
checks pad.”
Tohelp trainpersonnel in lift planning,
Crane InstituteofAmericaoffers the
Crane Institute’sManagementTraining
Curriculum four-day lift director and lift
Students takingpart in theCrane Instituteof
America riggingprogramme
GGRGrouphas centres in theUKwhichoffer
both trainingand testing for theCPCSA66
category inEndorsementsA, B, CandD
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