Suzanne just returned from agency conference in Missouri and the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation recognized the Oklahoma College of Construction for the third year in a row for our outstanding contribution to their customers. Our customer assistance is something we value greatly here in Oklahoma. Many other schools were nominated for this award, but we were the only one to recieve it.

For the first time since 1971 the federal government is updating crane regulations. Triggered by various lethal crane accidents around the country this past year, the U.S. Department of Labor is set to release drafts of the new regulations, which focus mainly on crane operator standards.

New Standards

The new regulations will require crane operators to pass both written and practical tests in all 50 states and complete more training. Currently only 15 states and 6 cities require tests. Crane operators will have various options to become certified/qualified under the new rules:

• Certification through accredited third-party testing organizations
• Qualification through audited employer testing programs
• U.S. military-issued qualification
• Qualification by state/local licensing authorities

In addition to the certification and training of crane operators the new rules also hone in on inspecting ground conditions, crane assembly and disassembly, operating near power lines, and the use of safety devices and crane inspections.

It is expected that the final approval of all of the regulations will “likely take more than a year.”

Sources:

(1) Devlin, Barrett. The Associated Press. September 18, 2008.

NAHETS Crane Operator Training & Certification

Member schools of the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS) across the country offer mobile crane operator training and certification programs. Each of the member schools are authorized to administer the NCCCO Mobile Crane Certification tests. They also offer training from instructors, all holding NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator Certifications, to prepare for the tests. Visit the NAHETS Crane Site for more information.

On August 1, 2008 Oklahoma College of Construction (OCC) elected to not renew its Accredited Training Sponsor and Accredited Training Unit status with the National Center on Construction Education and Research NCCER. In late August OCC notified NCCER of its intended actions regarding election to not renew its training entity status with NCCER; however, the value of the NCCER sponsored training curriculum; i.e., Contren Learning Series will remain an integral part of the OCC and all NAHETS member schools’ curriculum.

The Oklahoma College of Construction (OCC) was published in the May issue of the American Crane & Transport Magazine. Previously Wade Vakulick, director of industry relations and safety, contacted American Crane & Transport and invited them to visit the OCC campus to gather material for their upcoming May issue, which deals with crane operator safety and training. Although the site visit ended up not working out, American Crane & Transport called Wade and held a phone interview. The content of the interview is published in the article.

The article is entitled, “How safe is safe?” and focuses on crane safety and training . . .

On May 12 Channel 9 News (News9) covered a story on the Oklahoma College of Construction (OCC) in response to the recent crane accidents that have been in national news . The coverage features an overview and demonstration of the OCC Crane Operator Training Program, which is designed to minimize crane accidents by providing the most skilled and experienced entry-level crane operators. You can visit www.ok-cc.com to see the video coverage or click on the image below for full coverage. Make sure to watch the video!

I recently received a note from one of our graduates, Johnny Rodrigiez. Here is what he had to say:

“To whom it may concern:

When I started classes at Oklahoma College of Construction I had some doubts. The one doubt that hovered over my mind was ‘will I find a job and find one quickly?’ It was less than a week and I was hired to work at an ethanol plant in Minnesota.

My wages at the plant are on a prevailing wage setup so, I was getting paid $42.75 an hour. Now every job does not pay like this but they are out there. Now if not for the College I don’t think I would be hearing things like “you’re possibly the smoothest operator I have seen in a long time”. I have the instructors in my crane course to thank for that and the school to thank for the training that aided me in landing a CAREER!!!”

When I receive testimonials from our graduates whose lives have been changed as a result of their experience at our college it just reinforces my commitment to continue to provide the best crane and heavy equipment training available in the industry.

Tim McCleish, a recent Heavy Equipment Operations Level 3 graduate, came to our Director of Training Services, Scotty Gecks, a few days before graduation about joining the IUOE Local 234 in Des Moines, IA. He asked Scotty if he had any advice. Scotty advised him to be honest about his training and background and to emphasize that he realized he was just entry-level. Tim agreed and said he just wanted a chance. Scotty also told him that they would probably have him do some equipment tasks up front to demonstrate his skills, and that getting a job operating equipment is just as much an audition as it is an interview. The following Tuesday after Tim’s graduation he called Scotty. “You’re not going to believe this. Not only did I pass the test, which they said was journey level, but I am also starting work next Monday at $24.00 per hour,” Tim said. Tim also said the fellow who tested him told him he had seen a lot of applicants from “schools like this” but that he was the best trained he had seen. Tim’s experience is living evidence of what graduates can accomplish in the industry when they are properly trained and certified at an accredited training school, like the Oklahoma College of Construction, and other NAHETS schools. Congratulations to Tim!

Last week’s hot tip taught us how to jump a ditch with a backhoe; this week’s hot tip will teach us how to get out of those tights spots on the job site. This Yellow Metal Hot Tip is brought to you by Yellow Metal TV and the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS). Once again, Blake Vernon of the Nevada School of Construction (NVSC) will take us through behind the wheel. This week’s hot tip features the wheel loader.

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All of us have seen the “yellow metal” on the road side while driving to work, but many of us do not know exactly what those machines are capable of doing, let alone know how to operate them. Sure we know that a backhoe can move dirt around and dig holes. Surely it can’t be that hard to get in a backhoe and just drive it around. But the matter of fact is that you don’t use a backhoe just to drive it around; you use a backhoe to operate it, and that may take more skill and experience than one may think . . . and surely there is more to a backhoe besides just moving dirt around…

To illustrate what it takes to be a true heavy equipment operator on a daily basis, we’ll take a look at a video hot tip from a NAHETS online industry resource–Yellow Metal TV. In response to an actual question from a heavy equipment operator in Wisconsin, Blake Vernon–Heavy Equipment Instructor for the Nevada School of Construction (NVSC)–takes us through a specific scenario on how to jump a ditch with a backhoe while a form board is already in place . . .

Short Version

Full Length Version

*If you do not see the videos see (1) Short Version & (2) Full Length Version

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