Picker Training in Fort McMurray Alberta

When it comes to picker training in Northern Alberta, right in the middle of one of the worst polar vortex’s on record…well you say yes and dress for the situation.

When the call for knuckle picker training comes in January, you don’t say “it’s too cold outside”, you ask if there is a large shop available and trust in the process.

The old song sung at Christmas, “Oh the weather outside is frightful…”, does NOT come anywhere close to how bone chilling and equipment damaging these climates are. But they don’t need to be and we show the folks just how to deal with the equipment side at least.

Luckily for me and the 12 operators who participated in our light duty knuckle picker training in Fort McMurray Alberta area.

Thankfully we scored big time on having one of their contractors graciously allow us to use their shop (unheated but out of the bone chilling wind), for the 3 days we were up there daily temps did go up to -32 Celsius but the 35km/hr. winds made it much more…interesting.

TO that end part of our picker training is to advise the operators on what needs to happen to their lifts during these cold temps (derating) and how to properly cycle the crane after extended warm up periods if there is no tank heater installed on the crane (about 95% of these pickers do not have tank heaters), and of course safe operating procedures.

If you are in Northern Alberta or Southern Saskatchewan it matters not, we bring our program to you no matter the temps outside. This is the reality and we take it as you do, life in the prairies. We do it safely, we show the safety side in detail and leave your company with some solid SOP’s if there are none in place for the picker.

Send us an email HERE, we respond immediately (unless we are in the middle of a class theory or practical), and ensure you get the right information the first time.

Factory trained instructor, make no mistake this is invaluable for your operators.

Is Picker Training Mandatory?

In Alberta, many people often ask us if “certification” equals “qualification,” and, if not, what the difference is.

The main difference is the level of testing required. Qualification is done by the employer (think along the lines of competency), and may or may not involve formal testing; It is at the discretion of the employer’s qualified evaluator.

Certification requires third-party testing to provide a consistent and accurate means to determine a person’s technical knowledge and hands-on skills related to the task.

If you would like to know more or have more questions, such as: “Is picker training mandatory?”, or “do I have to recertify my picker operators every 3 years?” All great questions and we get that a lot.

In Canada, there are provincial standards that are taken from the CSA standard or in some cases where there is no CSA standard, there may be an ASME standard used instead. Either way, every standard in the OHS provincial books are not all “mandatory”, but they ARE standards or best practices and should be considered a minimum standard to achieve. Do you want to provide less than for your equipment or your operators? It’s up to you!

So you don’t need to renew ANY of your certificates for any of your previous training, until something happens then of course the cost to address THAT will far outweigh the cost to recertify.

Think about getting a home built, would you want the builder to simply slap up some boards and sheeting, toss in a little insulation and some shingles and call it a day, hand you the keys and tell you to enjoy it. For some it’s just a way of life, for us, cranes are a passion and we just won’t scrimp, nor should you.

Give us a call or send us an email to discuss your certification needs, nothing is mandatory, but safety!

(844) 334-8847 | EMAIL

Picker Operator Training

Our Light Duty Picker Training Program is Better Than Ever with Updates to Provide Your Company and Your Operators a FULL Day of Picker Training.

Our head instructor is a Factory Trained, Certified Operator Light Crane Trainer Who Worked in Austria, France and the U.S.A for Palfinger Cranes.

We travel the province of Alberta offering our light duty picker certification program and have received many, many compliments, reviews and return requests so you can rest assured that the information you learn from our HIAB operator training course is on point, on target and on budget!

Our picker operator training program is fully compliant with ALL provincial Occupational Health and Safety standards as those are taken from the CSA standard that applies to folding boom cranes in Canada.

We do offer a range of crane training programs for the different types of cranes, knuckle boom pickers, small micro cranes, mechanic service cranes and carry deck cranes as well (Broderson brand) to name but one type of carry deck crane.

Our on-site training brings everything to your shop or office, no matter where in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Northwest Territories and we provide your company with full summary, full documentation of the programs and much more.

Contact us for pricing and details as well by email us HERE.

Crane Operator Safety Program – COVID Update

COVID and Operator Training Changes for the Balance of ’20 and Into 2021

With all of the changes that have happened and likely the ones to come throughout the winter season, our crane operator safety program has been updated to reflect these new COVID updates.

We are continuing to follow the guidelines as set by Alberta Health with respect to keeping safe distances apart.

In a scenario whereby you might have 6 operators, your shop or office area needs to be able to accommodate that spacing requirement for the morning theory sessions.

The afternoon practical is done in the same manner that it has always been, for example, the safety walk around, inspections and such are conducted with proper spacing and if necessary, masks depending on your companies policy around this procedure. We do wear safety gloves regardless and typically PPE is always used so the afternoon portion is generally status quo.

We do NOT have a online version as the practical is still an integral part of the operator safety program and we have been advised that these protocols and COVID safety standards will be with us well into 2021, so to that end it simply would not be efficient.

We do bring masks and latex gloves as well as hand-sanitizer to all of our program sessions.

Feel free to contact for more information HERE or call us at (844) 334-8847

Alberta Companies Working in BC – Crane Certification Update

We are able to provide training to ALBERTA based customers doing crane work in BC.

So what does that mean? If your crane on your truck has a capacity of LESS than 5-tons initial pick capacity, and your crane has LESS than 30′ of hydraulic reach, we are able to provide you with full certification.

Should your crane EXCEED these specifications, then you would be required to take a BCACS crane certification program.

The whole premise is not unlike here in Alberta, if your picker lifts less than 8-tons (initial pick) and does NOT have an attached winch that is capable of a 9,000lb single line pull (similar to a carry deck type crane or other larger cranes that have a limiter).

For more information on the process or to book a picker safety course, please contact us at 403-606-0603 or send us an email by clicking HERE.

To look at our frequently asked question page of our site, please click HERE and it should help you with many more questions.

Training During COVID19

COVID19 Updates

UPDATE – June 24, 2020:

We have eased the requirements for use of masks and gloves for our on-site training and although we still recommend that the operators be seated 1 m apart during the morning theory as well as similar for the afternoon practical, we do follow your companies own protocols that may be in place as we transition between phased openings.

Please understand, we ARE available and providing our on-site program and may at our own discretion, use masks and gloves during the training.

Thank you

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UPDATE – May 22nd, 2020:

We trust everyone that is open remains safe, diligent and as busy as one is able to at the present time.

Our protocol is straight forward, we are following the Federal government as well as the Provincial governments requirement for distancing, hygiene, masks and gloves where required.

We understand the inconvenience this might cause your company, however as the requirements ease up it will get better.

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UPDATE – March 15, 2020:

Due to the requirements we have ceased our training programs for the next 2 weeks as we learn more about this pandemic and what it may bring.

We do not offer an online version as we feel the practical portions simply can’t be monitored through a screen and as such, have made the difficult decision to shut down completely until the end of March where we are hopefully better able to understand the “next-steps”.

Thank you.