Throughout the United States, you will find various companies and training centers offering crane operator training. As with any type of professional training, it is important to research who is offering the training and to choose carefully which company you want to receive instruction from.
Ideally, working with the same company that sells the cranes your company purchases is the best option. This is a good match between the operational techniques and safe precautions taught and practiced in the training and the actual equipment your employees will work with on-site.
Look for crane operator training by experienced, knowledgeable instructors that have extensive experience in operating, maintaining and inspecting cranes. This not only provides the most relevant and timely information, but it also adds to the level of answers your employees can expect when they ask questions.
Theory and Practice
You will find different training programs from full certificate trainings that may be over a few days to shorter programs that are completed in a half or a full day. The longer trainings tend to include both stationary and mobile crane operation and the best will provide actual practice in equipment as part of the program.
Of course, with actual practice in place, the students typically travel to the training facility or have the crane already installed in their workplace. This allows the facility to have the equipment in a controlled area and have all safety requirements in place.
What to Expect
These classes are designed to move from the general to specific issues on safe and controlled crane operation. This will include everything from crane components and parts to how to understand load charts and what to consider for crane setup and installation requirements.
Additionally, the course will include specifics based on different types of crane operation and the application of OSHA requirements for maintenance and inspection. Safety will be a very large part of the training as moving heavy loads in confined spaces is more than just pushing the control button to raise and lower the hoist or move the crane along the trolley.
The course may include more technical details on maintenance depending on the specific needs of the business or company. Most of the top companies offering crane operator training will work with you to develop a training program that addresses both the required information as well as specific concerns or safety issues that are unique to your workplace.
