Mobile Crane Operator - Safe Practices

Course Outline

Prerequisites:  This course shall have no formal pre-requisite.  It shall be up to the student’s employer to determine if he/she is a competent crane operator as this course is designed to teach safe practices only.

Course Length: 3-5 hours - Course length shall vary depending on the number of students.  Total course time does not include breaks and meals.

Class Size:  Maximum number of students that may be trained and tested per instructor shall be thirty–five (35) in the classroom session and twenty (20) in the practical session.  A second instructor shall be added for the practical session after twenty (20) and exercises divided into two groups.

Course Objective: 

• To provide students with recommended practices and guidelines to perform safely when working with and around mobile cranes.
• Students will be given the knowledge and taught these skills in a classroom and practical setting. 
• Students should be able to demonstrate these necessary skills during practical examination and demonstrate knowledge during written examination.

Course Design:

• Power Point© / Lecture / Audio Video / Visual Aids
• Demonstrations
• Practical Exercises

Successful Course Completion

• Requires a minimum score of 70% or better, unless otherwise specified by the student’s employer. 
• Students will have no more than sixty (60) minutes to complete the exam.
• Grades shall be calculated by dividing the number of questions answered correctly by the total number of exam questions..
• Successful completion of practical sessions is also mandatory.

Course Content Summary:

• Classroom
• Practicals

Breaks – 5 to 15 minutes (approximately every hour)

Lunch – Not Applicable

Course Outline:

Definitions

Major Causes of Crane Accidents

Types of inspections and checks
Frequent Inspections
Periodic Inspections

Inspection Records

Preventive maintenance

Pre-operational site activity and inspection

Hazard of overhead lines

Load/Lift Planning

Load Limiting Factors

Crane Incidents

Operating rules

Swing Circle Assemblies

Key Components

Inspection, Testing & Maintenance

Prohibited actions

Hand Signals

Questions / Comments

VIDEO – Crane Safety Video

WRITTEN TEST

Practical Session:

Practical training shall be limited to twenty(20) students per class  before a second instructor is added and shall be documented using the Crane Practical Checklist.  They shall be placed in teams of three(3) when demonstrating skills.  One(1) person shall operate the crane while two(2) performs rigging duties, unless there are no more than two students in the course.

Practicals shall be conducted using mobile Crane, various slings, loads & rigging techniques.

Crane Practicals shall verify the following:

• Pre-Use Inspection
• Demonstrates awareness of the operating characteristics of the crane
• Depth perception
• Lift plan
• Load Control
• Environmental Conditions
• Lifting
• Post Lift

Each student is required to pass a written exam (70%) as well as demonstrate practical skills.  The practical skills, outlined above, are taught in classroom session and demonstrated during Practical Training.

Training Center Provided Material

            PPE
Crane with Operator
Rigging Material

Student Requirements

            None

Reference Material / Documents