Why Should I Get Crane Inspection Certified?
There has been an increasing movement for crane technicians to acquire an official crane inspection certification. Crane owners want reassurance that the individuals inspecting their cranes have experience and qualifications that will ensure their operation is meeting industry standards.
Local companies and state regulators are pushing for crane inspection certifications because it is not an industry that is directly regulated and the current federal standards cannot guarantee that every crane inspector is qualified.
For example, OSHA requires that inspections be performed by a “qualified person... who, by the possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.” Because this is such a broad standard, it can be difficult to distinguish between good and bad inspectors. Anyone can say they have experience and crane inspection certification.
This is challenging for both crane owners and inspectors. Companies are becoming more skeptical of hiring just any crane technician. As a result, crane inspectors sometimes struggle to get the jobs they want.
Crane inspection certifications are the solutions to everyone's problem. Through certification, crane inspectors can prove their qualifications and crane owners can rest assured that the technicians they hire are professionally trained and certified.
The Benefits of Crane Inspection Certification
Proven Experience & Qualifications: As a certified crane inspector, you have proven the quality of your knowledge and experience. A crane inspection certification from an accredited source will be able to provide you with documented proof of your comprehensive, tested skills as a crane inspector.
Increased Hireability: By receiving a crane inspection certification, you instantly become more qualified in the eyes of potential employers. You are more trustworthy, reliable, skilled, and knowledgeable. Additionally, in-house inspectors tend to be more expensive for companies to train and maintain. As a result, the national network of certified crane inspectors can provide more cost-effective inspections to crane owners. Your superior qualifications and efficiency will increase your eligibility among employers who are hiring crane inspectors.
Compliant with Local and Federal Standards: While the qualifications of crane inspectors are not directly regulated, it is important for you to comply with local and federal requirements. Getting certified will ensure that you meet the standards established by the state and the federal government. Moreover, crane technician qualifications may eventually become more regulated one day. You don’t want to wait for that day to come and suffer the consequences. Become certified and keep up with local and national industry standards.
Continuing Education: Even the most experienced crane technicians benefit from getting certified. Crane inspection certification allows technicians to enhance and continue their education throughout their careers. This is advantageous for you and reassuring to potential employers. All crane inspectors should familiarize themselves with Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) standards, especially Specification 78.
Decreased Risk of Inspection Oversight: All crane inspectors, even the most experienced, can potentially miss something during an inspection. Getting certified is a great way to refresh your skills and reduces the risk of inspection oversight.
Awareness of Industry Changes: Industry standards and procedures are constantly changing. As certifications expire, crane inspectors must become recertified to maintain quality assurance of their skills and experience. Re-certification also ensures that you are up-to-date on the latest safety standards, technical papers, and manufacturers’ recommendations.
Liability: Certified crane inspectors can be fully insured. This protects you and the companies that hire you.
How to Get Crane Inspection Certification
The only way to get crane inspection certified is to work with a nationally accredited certification program. Right now there are a handful of organizations that provide certification programs for crane inspections. We will look at the most authoritative certification programs first.
Crane Inspection Certification Programs
National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) - NCCCO is currently the most trusted nationally accredited crane inspector certification program in the country. This certification program is recognized by the OSHA and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). NCCCO provides training that meets the national standards of crane operator competency. They administer both traditional paper-and-pencil and computer-based examinations at sites throughout the United States. They provide certifications for mobile cranes, tower cranes, overhead crane inspection, articulating cranes, and more.
Crane Certification Association of America (CCAA) - CCAA works to improve the crane inspection and certification profession by offering the Certified Crane Surveyors (CCS) test and fostering communication with governmental agencies, public organization, and other certification programs. While CCAA does provide testing and certification, they primarily help crane technicians get certified by working with the NCCCO. CCAA provides crane technicians with the resources they need to prepare for the NCCCO test.
Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) - CMCO provides the most comprehensive training courses available in the industry today. Their certification training program offers 24 hours of specialized, hands-on training that covers all aspects of cranes and hoists like motors, structure, suspension, controls, testing, wheels, gears, etc. In compliance with OSHA crane inspection requirements, ASME standards, and CMAA Specification 78, this training certification program is incredible for technicians who want to gain hands-on experience with inspecting cranes and hoists. After the training sessions and written examinations, crane technicians will be Crane and Hoist Inspection Certified.
Crane Institute of America - Located on a five-acre facility near Orlando, Florida, the Crane Institute of America provides hands-on training and crane inspector certifications. Their training program will help you prepare for a nationally accredited program. However, the Crane Institute of America does provide Crane Institute Certification (CIC) practical, and written exams that are OSHA recognized and NCCA accredited.
Konecranes Training Institute - This certification program provides crane inspector training with hands-on experience. They offer on-site crane inspection training in the USA, Canada, South America, and in other locations around the globe. After taking a training course, students receive a certificate. They do not provide certifications, but they can help technicians prepare for future examinations and daily crane inspections.
Material Handling Crane and Industrial Solutions
All of these certifications or training programs offer products and services for overhead crane inspection, underhung crane inspection, tower crane inspection, mobile crane inspection, and more.
Call or contact Handling Concepts, Inc. to learn about the solutions we provide for the most difficult material handling problems.
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