CERTIFICATION IN THE LIFT ZONECan Global Standards Apply in

Latin America? Graham Brent, Executive Director

National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)

International Cranes and Transport Latin America Conference

São Paulo, Brasil, 28 May, 2012

National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

• Established 1995

• Non-profit organization

• Non-governmental

• Industry established and supported

• Sole mission to improve lifting safety

• No direct training

• Independently accredited

OURMISSION

To develop effective performance standards

for those who work in and around cranes;

provide fair, valid and reliable assessments

of their knowledge and skill; and act as an

authoritative industry resource of related

information.

OURVISION

A global lifting environment in which

crane and crane-related risks are

reduced, performance records improved,

training needs stimulated, and overall

safety enhanced.

Industry Recognition• American Institute of Steel Construction• American Subcontractors Association• Articulating Crane Council of North America• Association of Equipment Manufacturers• Associated General Contractors of America• American Society of Civil Engineers• Crane Certification Association of America• Crane Manufacturers Association of America• International Sign Association• International Union of Operating Engineers• The Association of Union Constructors• Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association• Steel Erectors Association of America

Government Recognition

• OSHA• Department of Defense• Department of Education• US Army Corps of Engineers• Department of Energy• US Navy

Benefits of Certification

• Improve Safety– reduce accidents– fewer deaths/injuries– less property damage

• Industry needs to be proactive, self-policing• Improve public image of industry• Professional status of operator• Stimulates training

U.S. Construction in 1996

• No Federal licensing requirement• Very few States required licensing• Federal training rule (OSHA) very general• National standard (ASME) more specific,

but voluntary• No culture of testing or even systemized

training in construction industry

NCCCO in 1996

• One written examination• Mobile cranes only• Tested 800 operators in first year• No practical examination• No recertification• Very few training firms

NCCCO in 2012

• 20 certifications in 9 categories

• More than 120,000 operators tested

• 600,000+ tests administered

• 78,000 certified, of which 65,000+ current

• 150+ training firms nationwide (unaffiliated)

Crane Operator Certifications

• Mobile Crane Operator– Telescopic Boom—Fixed Cab (TSS)

• Boom Truck Operator• Service Truck Operator

– Telescopic Boom—Swing Cab (TLL)– Lattice Boom Truck (LBT)– Lattice Boom Crawler (LBC)

• Articulating Crane Operator– Articulating Boom Crane (ABC)– Articulating Boom Crane w/Winch (ABW)– Articulating Boom Loader (ABL)

• Tower Crane Operator• Overhead Crane Operator• Digger Derrick Operator

Telescopic Boom Crane

Lattice Boom Crane

Articulating Boom Crane

Tower Crane

Overhead Crane

Digger Derrick

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Crane-Related Certifications

• Signalperson• Rigger

– Level I– Level II

• Crane Inspector– Mobile Cranes – Tower Cranes– Overhead Cranes– Washington State Crane Certifier

Signalperson

Rigger

Crane Inspector

In Development/Under Review

• Lift Director• Boom Trucks• Service/Mechanic Truck Cranes• Offshore Cranes• Floating Cranes (Cranes on Barges)

Boom Truck

Service/MechanicTruckCrane

OffshoreCrane

Floating Crane

Certification Cards

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Participants in Test Development

• Crane Operators• Inspectors• Training Firms• Insurance Firms• Safety Specialists• Construction Firms• Contractors• Owners• Labor Unions

• Manufacturers• Standards Development

Members• Crane Rental• Industrial Corporations• Petrochemical• Mining• Education• Government

Development Stages

• Job Task Analysis– What does a crane operator do?

• Industry Survey– Input from operators, users of cranes

• Question (Item) Writing/Practical Test Content– By industry experts

• Psychometric Test Design– By test development experts

• Accreditation– To international (ISO) standards (ISO 17024)

Exam Development

• Questions based on Job Analysis• Assess knowledge and skill• Avoid non-important information• Avoid confusion• Write to a “basic” reading level• Consider oral testing• Require periodic retesting

(=“recertification”)

What’s The Point of Certification?

• Reduce accidents/injuries• Identify operators for extra training• Aids employer when hiring• Lowers equipment repair costs• Improves safety records• Improves productivity, efficiency• Lower insurance premiums

How Do We Know This Works?

• Employers’ Adoption• Operators’ Self-Assessment• States’ Experience (West

Virginia)• Canada Study• California Study

Employment Requirement

• Monster.com• Indeed.com• Manpower.com• Zimmermann Staffing• BusinessWorkforce.com• MiningJob.net• CareerBuilder.com• RealMatch.com• Job.com• TheJobNetwork.com

• JobHost• UtilitiesJobs.com• RoadTechs.com• ConstructionJobs.com• TreeCareJobs.com• TheJobNetwork.com• JobsOK.com• BirdDogJobs.com• MEPJobs• CareerConnection

Employment Requirement

04/19/23 Presentation Title 34

Operators’ Self-Assessment

• Survey of three-time CCO certificants• Average of 30 years operating• 87% stated CCO certification has made them

“safer operators”• 86% stated CCO certification has helped them

“do their jobs better”• More than 80% would recommend certification

to their co-workers or supervisors

The Canadian Experience

Ontario Crane-Related Deaths no. /year /100k workers

• 1969-1978 85 8.5 3.95• 1979-2002 51 2.1 0.76

• Death Rate down 80%

• Crane and rigging accidents as % of all construction accidents down 50%

The California Experience

CRANE ACCIDENTS, June ’02-’05 vs. June ’05-’08

FATAL ACCIDENTS ’02-’05 ’05-’08• High-Voltage line contacts 5 1• Struck by Loads 4 0• Mobile Cranes Overturned 1 1• Total Cases 10 2 80% decrease

NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS ’02-’05 ’05-’08• High Voltage Line Contact 7 4• Struck by Loads 18 3• Mobile Cranes Overturned 5 6• Total Cases 30 13 57% decrease

Global Certification?

• Crane manufacturing is global• Challenge of local codes and standards• Role of Accreditation

– National (e.g. ANSI)/International (e.g. ISO)– Role of ISO 17024– What it can (and cannot) do

• Pathway for International Recognition– International Accreditation Federation– “Certified Once, Accepted Everywhere”

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International Investigation

• Middle East– UAE (Dubai)– Saudi Arabia– Oman

• Europe– The Netherlands

• China• India• Latin America

– Brasil– Chile– Panama

40

NCCCO International Contracts Conducted

• MIDDLE EAST: – OMAN: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)

• Audit and review of crane safety procedures– SAUDI ARABIA: Nabors Arabia

• Pilot Program: Written and Practical exam testing• SOUTH AMERICA

– BRASIL• Pilot program: Written and Practical testing

– PANAMA• Subcontract for Operator Certification

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Brazil: Support Identified

• Manufacturers• Crane Rental• Construction• Petrochemical• Mining• Training• Associations• Insurance

Role of Accreditation

• Role of Accreditation– National (e.g.

ANSI)/International (e.g. ISO)– Role of ISO 17024 Conformity

assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons

– What it can (and cannot) do• Pathway for International

Recognition– International Accreditation

Federation (IAF)– “Certified Once, Accepted

Everywhere”

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Cost Benefits

• “I cannot afford to train/test my operators.”

Must therefore mean . . .

• “I CAN afford to have an accident.”

Accidents are Increasing

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Problem Becomes Opportunity

• Tremendous opportunity for Brazilian industry

• Avoids government intervention• Design training/testing program to be most

effective• Use industry experts not government officials• Allows industry to assist government for the

benefit of all

License: YES!

License: SURELY!

CERTIFICATION IN THE LIFT ZONECan Global Standards Apply in

Latin America?

OBRIGADO!International Cranes and Transport

Latin America ConferenceSão Paulo, Brasil, 28 May, 2012