What size of Crane Requires a Journeyman Operator?

We’ve been getting quite a few phone calls regarding this and so I thought I’d provide a quick post to help clear that up (hopefully).

So in Alberta in particular (Manitoba and NWT also follow this as of this post date), ANY style of crane installed on a truck carrier that has an initial lift capacity of 8-tons or greater as shown on any load chart (it’s the first weight shown on the left hand side of the load chart), must have a trade registered operator at the controls.  This may be an apprentice or a qualified red-seal journeyman (or journey-person depending on your bent).

Now where the confusion starts is the Alberta Boom Truck program makes it a bit more interesting by adding more stuff to it and I’ll talk more about that in a minute.  The link for you to look at (there will be several) that is a bit more clear is this one HERE.

In a nut shell for knuckle boom picker cranes it says this: 

Journeyman Certification is required when operating:

  • Booms (including telescoping booms and articulating booms possessing live lines) capable of swinging, hoisting and booming up and down with a lifting capacity of greater than 5 tons (4.5 tonnes) and less than 45 tons (40.8 tonnes)
  • articulating booms WITHOUT live lines with a lifting capacity of greater than 8 tons (7.3 tonnes) and less than 45 tons (40.8 tonnes). 

Live line is a winch for those who are not familiar with the terminology.

Summary is this, if you have a knuckle boom crane that was made in the past 5-6 years (new at that time) and had a factory winch installed, it’s very likely that the factory supplied winch is incapable of lifting 5-tons (4.5 tonnes) or more in a single line configuration (no hook block) add to that it is tied into the knuckle boom cranes factory overload system that IMHO is far superior to ANY stiff boom crane system under 75-tons.

That said, the rules are the rules so just look at your crane and the very first number on the left side must show less than 8-tons (7.3 tonnes) in order for you to operate the crane with our program.  Exceeding that and not having a trade registered operator at the controls may just cost you more than you bargained for.

Carry Deck Crane Operator Safety Training – Alberta

Onsite Carrydeck Crane Operator Safety Training

If you are looking for operator safety training for your Broderson carry deck crane or any other brand such as Shuttlelift, Terex or any brand of carry deck crane, we have the instructor and the training for either a 1-day (mainly geared for new operators or those who don’t use the crane much), to our 2-day more comprehensive program.

This on-site carrydeck crane safety training both 1 and 2 day training program will cover the following areas –

– Exceeds CSA Z150-16 Standards for Crane Operation
– Carry deck crane fundamentals
– Principals of load balance, stability, capacity and driving on wheels loaded
– Load control & Lift planning scenarios
– Daily inspection and set up procedure
– Safety regulations & standards
– Hazards on site
– Signalling and basic rigging (full rigging is a separate 1-day program with our partner)
– Worksheets for: Load calculations, proper load chart use, overload scenarios, lift planning and solutions
– Rigging overview (basic connection only, not rigging training, please see above)
– Maintenance components (basic checklist items)

 

 

 

 

 

Operators will receive:
– Full course workbook
– Handouts
– Wall certificate
– Laminated wallet card

For all brands of carry deck crane:
– Broderson
– Shuttlelift
– Grove
– Gallion
– Valla-Manitex

Locations we service our customers in Alberta for carry deck crane safety training are:

Calgary | Lethbridge | Medicine Hat | Red Deer | Edmomton | Lloydminister | Bonnyville | Grande Praire | Drayton Valley | 

Knuckle Boom Crane – Training Issues

So this came out in the news and yes it’s in NYC where unions run the show.

But the reporter starts by saying “If they are used to do what they are meant to do” and continues on.  Now what the heck kind of statement is that!

They, like any other crane are meant to “lift” stuff and if they have the capacity, stability and the right operator at the controls, they lift what they are desgined to, heavy or not.

Watch the report here and you will see what I’m talking about, very poor reporting IMHO.

NYC Knuckle Boom Crane

So why is the news showing only “stiff boom” cranes and not articulated or knuckle boom cranes? I suspect that the majority of accidents are with the wrong crane.

To be sure there have been accidents with the knuckle boom cranes, but the vast majority are simply dumping all cranes into one category when in fact that is false.

 

 

Carry Deck Crane Safety Training

Carry Deck Crane Training held at your location in AB or SK, using your crane details below

– Call us for details (844) 334-8847

– Email for quick response: info [at] knuckleboomtraininig.ca

Our 1 and 2 day carry deck safety training program will cover the following areas –

– Exceeds CSA Z150-16 Standards for Crane Operation

– Carry deck crane fundamentals

– Principals of load balance, stability, capacity and driving on wheels loaded

– Load control & Lift planning scenarios

– Daily inspection and set up procedure

– Safety regulations & standards

– Hazards on site

– Signalling and basic rigging (full rigging is a separate program)

– Worksheets for: Load calculations, proper load chart use, overload scenarios, lift planning and solutions

– Rigging overview

– Maintenance components

Upon Completion Operators will receive:

– Full course workbook

– Handouts

– Wall certificate

– Laminated wallet card

This is For all brands of carry deck (under 15-ton capacity in AB, SK):

– Broderson

– Shuttlelift

– Grove

– Gallion

– Valla-Manitex

Saskatchewan Crane Training

I have been taking a lot of calls from folks in Saskatchewan who are looking for clarity on what is required there.

I have updated our “Questions” page with the full details, you can get there by clicking Questions tab or click HERE.

The gist of it is this:

  1. It doesn’t matter whom you take your training from as long as they understand knuckle boom crane dynamic boom loading
  2. As long as they understand dynamic chassis loading from the crane
  3. As long as they have worked for a knuckle-boom crane manufacturer or taken training from them to give it to you PROPERLY
  4. Your crane must not lift more than 5-tons initial lift capacity, if it does your operators are required to be registered in the Saskatchewan boom truck trade (A or B)

So what you need to provide to your operators:

  1. Proper training on THAT type of crane by someone qualified to do so (we are)
  2. That company must provide you with a summary of what you will be receiving prior to the training 
  3. Must meet the OH&S requirements as set forth in Saskatchewan
  4. Can be either 1 or 2 day training

For more information, please visit http://www.saskatchewan.ca/work or click on our questions tab across the top of our site

Call us at (844) 334-8847

Email us at info [at] KnuckleBoomTraining.ca