Overhead cranes are used at a wide variety of job sites, but are most common at manufacturing companies. Warehouses, power plants, and shipyards commonly use this type of crane.
We highly recommend formally training your employees on overhead crane operations. Training courses enforce regulations and ensure students are able to master the knowledge and skills for operation.
CICB provides overhead crane training at our Houston, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona facilities. We also have the ability to travel to your company’s location and train on site. There are two different types of overhead crane operator training: 1) CICB’s course and 2. the preparatory course for the CCO Examination.
CICB’s course is two to three days long and allows the student to leave the course with a certificate upon passing a written and hands-on examination. The certificate can then be taken to the employer who ultimately deems the employee as qualified. This course can either discuss an overview of rigging, or it can cover more in-depth elements of rigging, should the three-day course be taken.
The preparatory course for the CCO Examination lasts three days and allows the student to leave the course with a certification upon passing a written and practical examination. The certification is transferrable between employers.
CICB’s Overhead Crane/Hoist Operator and Rigger Training Overview
This course is recommended for those who are new to overhead cranes. However, this course is also beneficial to those with experience. Operators tend to take shortcuts after becoming comfortable with the daily operations. Unfortunately, these shortcuts are hazardous and increase the likelihood of an accident.
Our subject matter experts will educate personnel to the appropriate standards based on your industry. By understanding the regulations and learning the correct operation techniques, the risk of accidents and injuries dramatically decreases.
Ample hands-on practice is also a component of our course, where the instructor will spend individual time with each student to make sure they fully understand operating practices by the end of the course.
What to Expect at CICB’s Overhead Crane/Hoist Operator and Rigger Training
When students first enter the classroom at CICB, they will be given a textbook/workbook and other items. The first hour of class is spent taking a pre-test, where the instructor will have a better understanding of what prior knowledge students have.
No matter how many questions students are able to answer, the goal is to be able to easily answer all of them by the end of the course.
After the pre-test, the instructor will explain the components of overhead crane operation and rigging. Terminology and standards will be taught. Certain standards are industry-based while others are universal, and it is crucial for workers to know which regulations to follow.
Afterwards, the basics will be covered, such as training qualifications, who is allowed to operate the crane, and the responsibilities of the employer, site supervisor, etc.
The second half of the day will be mostly spent in the classroom, with a bit of hands-on practice at the end.
The classroom portion covers overall operation, which includes safety guidelines, communications, how to attach the load to the hook, and conduct of the operator. It is important to watch the load as it is moving and be aware of your surroundings. Many overhead accidents are due to an unfocused operator; concentration and awareness cannot be stressed enough.
Next, critical lifts and non-routine lifts will be covered. These require additional procedures that must be followed. Knowing the basics and procedures is important before actually operating the crane.
Once the instructor finishes covering those topics, it will be time for hands-on practice. On the first day, students will understand the controls of the overhead crane and practice caching the load. Just like mobile cranes, the load needs to be at the center of gravity, and the operator must ensure the load remains in that position.
On day two, students will begin in the classroom and have a lesson on rigging. This includes the different types of rope, in addition to discussing wire rope in-depth. If you are interested in your employee learning in-depth rigging rather than having an overview, you are able to add an extra day onto the course.
Afterwards, daily inspections will be taught. These are not documented and are checking for any changes from the previous operation. If you would like your employee to learn how to conduct documented inspections, we also teach an Overhead Hoist/Rigging Inspector Course.
Lastly, day two provides additional hands-on practice. The instructor will give students a series of tasks to perform using the overhead crane, making sure all students understand operations and communications.
Once all practice time is completed, the class will take a written exam, followed by a hands-on assessment. Upon passing both of these assessments, students will receive a certificate from CICB. This allows the employer to acknowledge the successful completion of formal training.
For more information about our course and program dates, please view our calendar on our website.
CCO Overhead Crane Operator Overview
The preparatory course for the CCO Overhead Crane Operator Examination is recommended for those who are experienced with overhead cranes. Although previous working knowledge is not required, it is highly encouraged.
This course allows for extra hands-on practice time, while ensuring students understand the proper nomenclature and terminology for overhead cranes.
The official CCO written and practical examinations will also be administered during this course.
What to Expect During a CCO Preparatory Course
This course covers the same basic information as CICB’s course, but it also goes more in-depth. Since your employee will be taking a standardized examination, CICB prepares them to do so.
Our instructors will cover test taking skills and provide students with a practice written exam, so they can get a feel for the CCO test. We also provide study guides to help students perform their best during the examination.
Job sites may use different terminology for controls or objects than the CCO, which is why vocabulary is heavily covered in this course. It is important to operate to the regulations and industry standards as opposed to the job site.
The course is two full days of classroom and hands-on experience. On the third day of the course, CCO written and practical examinations will be administered.
Should I Formally Train my Overhead Crane Operators?
Overhead crane operation is considered fairly simple to other types of cranes; however, like any other type of equipment, there are hazards associated with the job.
By taking a training course, your employees will learn the different hazards and how to avoid them. Lack of training is one of the main reasons why accidents happen.
If you would like your employees to become a certified or qualified overhead crane operator, the next step is to decide which course is for them. If they are brand-new to the industry, CICB’s course will help them become acquainted with the equipment. If you are looking foryour employees to hold a transferrable certification that can be taken to different employers, we recommend the CCO Preparatory course.
If you need additional assistance deciding on a course, please do not hesitate to contact CICB. Our subject matter experts will help you find the course that best fits your employees and their career path.
