Also sponsors the Lift Safety Zone and new Crane & Rigging Education Track
Fairfax, VA, March 10, 2014—Live equipment demonstrations, nationally accredited certification exams, education sessions, and practical examiner training all added up to make for the largest-ever participation at any construction event in almost two decades by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) at CONEXPO/CON-AGG, the Virginia-based non-profit organization has announced.
New candidates and existing certificants alike were given an opportunity to take a wide variety of ANSI-accredited and OSHA-compliant CCO written, practical, and recertification exams at CONEXPO/CON-AGG, held March 4–8, 2014, in Las Vegas, NV. And thanks to NCCCO’s “Visit CONEXPO—Leave Certified” program featuring onsite scoring and immediate test results, successful candidates could walk away from the event certified. Additionally, practical examiner workshops for most CCO programs were conducted onsite before and after the exposition.
NCCCO again co-sponsored the Lift Safety Zone, now relocated to the Gold Lot, the acknowledged "nexus" of the show's crane exhibits. NCCCO also sponsored a series of educational seminars in CONEXPO’s new Crane & Rigging track, developed at the request of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). All of these activities promoted safe practices on construction sites and illustrate the need for qualified personnel, in line with state and federal requirements.
The once-every-three-years equipment showcase featured over 2,400 exhibitors and drew more than 130,000 attendees. “CONEXPO/CON-AGG provides an excellent opportunity for expo attendees to earn or renew their CCO certifications while attending one of the largest events of its kind in the world,” noted NCCCO Executive Director Graham Brent.
NCCCO’s activities at CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2014 included:
- Lift Safety Zone (G-1817 in Gold Lot)—featuring live CCO practical exam demonstrations and crane and rigging safety best practices with a special emphasis on operating cranes safely around power lines
- NCCCO Information Booth (GL-20000)—providing information about all CCO certification programs as well as NCCCO’s activities around the exposition
- CCO Written, Practical, and Recertification Exam Administrations—allowing candidates to recertify or earn new CCO certification(s)
- Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshops for aspiring CCO crane operator, rigger, and signalperson examiners, held before and after the main exposition
- Educational Seminars—featuring world-class experts providing up-to-the-minute information on an array of issues of critical importance to crane users in construction
View a photo gallery of NCCCO activities at CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2014.
“CONEXPO/CON-AGG is delighted that the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators has elected to schedule its OSHA-recognized and ANSI-accredited crane operator and related certification examinations at the 2014 event,” said Megan Tanel, vice president of exhibitions and events for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the organization that operates CONEXPO/CON-AGG. “This provided an exceptional opportunity for crane operators and those who work around cranes to ensure that they are professionally certified to work in compliance with the pending OSHA rules on crane and lifting personnel.”
NCCCO Information Booth
NCCCO’s main informational exhibit was in its usual prime location at booth GL-20000 in the Grand Lobby by the North Hall next to the Silver Lot and just across from the Gold Lot, where the world’s leading crane manufacturers were located. NCCCO staff were on hand throughout the exhibition to answer questions about all CCO certification programs currently available and in development. Visitors could watch videos of all NCCCO practical exams, as well as enter a drawing for die-cast model cranes generously donated by the world's leading manufacturers.
CCO Certification Exam Administrations
On Tuesday March 4 and Friday March 7, CONEXPO/CON-AGG attendees could sit for any of the ANSI-accredited CCO written exams in dedicated rooms located near the NCCCO booth. This included all programs, both regular and recertification exams. To register and get the complete schedule of written exams, candidates were asked to contact Shawna Parham. Preregistration was required for all written exams and for the Signalperson and Rigger Level I practical exams.
On all five days of the show, CCO practical exams were offered for mobile, service truck, and articulating crane operators. On Wednesday and Thursday practical exams were offered for the Signalperson and Rigger Level I programs. To register and schedule practical exams, candidates were asked to contact Erin Jones.
Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshops
Employers with NCCCO-accredited Practical Examiners on staff appreciate the convenience of being able to schedule in-house tests to accommodate changing schedules caused by weather, workloads, and other factors. NCCCO-accredited Practical Examiners are also recognized as professionals in their field and may offer their services for hire.
As shown in the table at right, in the days before, during, and after the exposition, NCCCO held Practical Examiner Accreditation Program (PEAP) workshops for CCO certificants seeking to become Practical Examiners for CCO programs:
Preregistration was required for all PEAP workshops. Registration deadlines varied by workshop.
NCCCO reviews all potential participants' applications before admission to workshops is granted. All applications must include payment and resumes or will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. The workshops are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. All candidates attending the Mobile Crane, Articulating Crane, Signalperson, and Rigger Level I Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshops must currently hold certifications in these programs.
Please direct any questions about the PEAP workshops to Erin Jones at ejones@nccco.org.
Lift Safety Zone
For the second time at CONEXPO, NCCCO co-sponsored the Lift Safety Zone (LSZ). Developed in conjunction with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and centrally located in Gold Lot #1817, the LSZ once again profiled best practices in crane and rigging activities with live demonstrations throughout the event. Industry experts were on hand to provide practical safety advice to those who operate, manage, and work with cranes and aerial lifts. NCCCO's mobile crane practical exams and CCO rigger certifications were prominently featured.
Educational Seminars The show’s organizer, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has provided an exceptional opportunity for a dedicated Crane and Rigging education track at CONEXPO 2014, and NCCCO assisted in assembling a stellar lineup of presentations on a host of crane and rigging topics. All speakers are veteran safety professionals and experts in their field, and many actively participate in the NCCCO Commission and exam management committees. The following seminars made up the Crane & Rigging seminar track:
- 2014 OSHA Requirements for Crane Operator Certification
- What’s New in Tower Crane Standards?
- Cranes—A Walk Through Time—Technology and Regulatory
- Mobile Crane Blocks and Calculation of Sling Loads
- Top 10 Losses in Crane & Rigging
- Reliability Measures for Effective Training
- Key Issues in Crane Safety
- The Mechanics of a “Super Lift”
- So You Think You’re A Lift Director?
- An Examination of Crane Incidents
- Safety of Equipment around Power Lines
Get the latest updates on NCCCO's CONEXPO activities.
Download a PDF of the press release.