Various NCCCO Rigging Regulations And Requirements
A certified rigger is someone who is trained and designated to handle and move large loads. NCCCO rigging certification requires that the individual know how to properly use the equipment; and has the training, knowledge, skill base, and abilities to perform all functions required with selection and inspection of mechanical load shifting equipments. The individual must also be qualified in an area such as iron working, electricity, carpentry, mill-working, mechanics, masonry, pipe fitting, or any other similar area of expertise.
The organization is a nonprofit started in 1995 to make fair and independent evaluations of all crane operating knowledge and skills. Industry efforts have led to the Written and Practical Examinations for administration and development of CCO certifications. Additionally as more personnel responsibilities in the industry being more defined and prevalent, other certification programs for riggers and signalpersons have been developed by the institute.
The rigger certification program is nationally recognized, and is the product of three years of expert work from industries like construction, steel, iron, utilities, petrochemicals, engineering, and sling manufacturers. The task forces of the NCCCO are also made up of experts, but these being directly from the industry. There are riggers themselves, supervisors, managers, training directors, and also manufacturers. These individuals represent thousands of hours in mechanical load shifting equipments’ experience all together.
These individuals are all volunteers that have freely given their time and expert advice to improve safety regulations of mechanical load shifting equipment workers. Rigging certification, until recently, was only voluntary unless otherwise required by local or employer jurisdictions. In November of 2010, however, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration placed new national regulations for all cranes and derricks under 29 CFR 1926 Sub section CC. This states that all riggers must be qualified.
The institute’s exams stay valid measures of a rigger’s abilities by having the task forces’ assessments compared to the judgment of the International Assessment Institute in Dunedin, Florida; or IAI. The IAI makes constant reports by examining the exams and hands them to the NCCCO Exam Management Committees, who then uses them to properly maintain the exams’ abilities or develop new ways of assessments.
The IAI also helps administer the exams for them to stay fair and independent. Neither of these organizations train individual riggers. They also cannot provide training material to them.
NCCCO policies prohibit any prescribed or over-the-counter drugs that might impair riggers from safely performing their jobs. These include even trace amounts of illegal or controlled substances, and designer or look-alike drugs. Any other substance that might show up as a narcotic, depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogen in the human body is also prohibited.
The exception to taking in drugs is only if it’s prescribed specially by a physician who is quite conversant so far as rigging routines and mechanics are concerned. This physician can certainly say that the prescribed substance would not the ability of the rigger to perform using the equipment as well as the safety practices. To be able to stay qualified, riggers have to respect these rules that’re put in place by the institute, and stick to them strictly using the Substance Abuse Policy. When riggers don’t comply, their certifications could be immediately revoked.
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