November 2017—As a leading advocate of jobsite safety and source of information for the industry, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) was again highly visible at this year’s International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE). The biennial ICUEE, also known as “The Demo Expo,” is the leading event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations, and trends.
ICUEE 2017 was held in Louisville, KY, October 3–5, and was the largest in the show’s history with 28-plus acres of exhibits (nearly 1.24 million net square feet) of the latest utility and construction equipment, products, and technologies. More than 1,000 exhibitors and nearly 18,000 registered attendees from all 50 states and more than 50 other countries worldwide attended.
In keeping with “The Demo Expo” theme, NCCCO’s Lift Safety Zone featured hands-on demonstrations of NCCCO’s internationally accredited (ANSI/ISO) and OSHA-recognized personnel certification exams. Qualified attendees had an opportunity to try their hands on the service truck crane’s controls to test their skills on an actual CCO practical exam course (see photo below).
A focal point of the event was NCCCO’s presentation at the indoor ICUEE Demo Stage, which expanded the show’s outdoor equipment demo component to an open area inside the exhibit hall. NCCCO’s Manager of California Affairs Richard (Dick) Thompson, CSP, was a featured speaker with his presentation on common regulatory misinterpretations and misconceptions. Specifically addressing two types of equipment used throughout the utility industry—digger derricks and service truck cranes—Thompson illustrated different factors that affect whether regulations require operators to be certified or not.
“The bottom line is that it’s not just the type of equipment that determines whether operator certification is required, but (and even more importantly) the precise activity being performed,” noted NCCCO’s Richard (Dick) Thompson, CSP, in his presentation on the ICUEE Demo Stage. “In the morning, operators may use a given piece of equipment without falling under OSHA’s operator certification requirements; however, in the afternoon they may need to use that same equipment to do different types of work that do require operator certification. The safest thing, therefore, is to ensure that operators are in fact certified so that their employers are covered no matter what activities they end up doing.”
CCO written and recertification exam administrations for those seeking to become CCO-certified or renew their certifications in most NCCCO programs were also available.
At ICUEE, NCCCO was also proud to once again participate in the Benefit Auction to help connect military veterans with quality jobs via the Call of Duty Endowment. NCCCO donated two lots to be auctioned: a $1,000 voucher for CCO exam fees and a $1,000 credit for NCCCO branded merchandise. NCCCO has a long history of supporting veterans and assisting serving military personnel in their certification efforts and has been an approved certification provider under the terms of the Montgomery G.I. Bill since 2001. “It’s an honor for NCCCO to be able to contribute to this auction and continue to support veterans’ transition to civilian employment,” noted NCCCO Chief Executive Officer Graham Brent.