On August 24, two crane operators placed in the Lindale, Alberta, crane operator skills championship, securing their spot in the Crane & Rigging Hot Line & CIC Crane Operator Skills Championship in Las Vegas.The finals will take place during ConExpo in March 2014.
The event’s host, Kolo Safety Inc., a Canadian owned and operated training and safety consulting company specializing in equipment inspection and certification, reported a great turn out of competitors and spectators. “We were able to raise a total of $5,000 for the Children’s Stollery Hospital,” said Lisa Olver, president of Kolo Safety.
Operators who competed in the skills competition had to complete three tests using a 45-ton Manitex boom truck supplied by X-Factor Oilfield Services. The three tests included lowering the crane’s headache ball into two barrels without moving the barrel outside its designated circle, picking up a barrel and weaving it through a slalom course without lifting the chain attached to the bottom of the barrel off the ground, and lifting a PVC cylinder vertically and lowering it horizontally in the opposite direction without moving it outside the coned area.
Cory Babwick from Canada Crane took first place, while Peter Delmonte from Timmins, Ontario, placed second. Olver said that Delmonte heard about the skills competition on the radio and was in Alberta on vacation at the time of the event. He registered on-site to compete. Babwick competed against his crane operation instructor, Rob Rudiger from Keyano College in Fort McMurray, and said that he would not be going to Las Vegas if it was not for Rob’s instruction. The first female competitor, Lisa Geiger, also took part in the Lindale crane operator skills competition.
Bonus happenings
At the Regional Qualifying event, Kolo Safety also introduced two new entry level crane courses to the Western Canadian market.
Chicks with Sticks is a female-only hoisting and rigging placement that includes job placement with a Level B crane operator certification from Crane Safe BC. Teens on Cranes is a high school entry-level crane course with job placement for low-capacity cranes with a Level B crane operator certification from Crane Safe BC.
Sign up to compete
There are still opportunities to register for a crane operator skills competition in your region. Visit the site for complete information.
Oct. 5 – Woodland, Wash
Host: Industrial Training International
Oct. 18 – Houston, Texas
Host: Webber LLC
Co-Host: HIIG Construction
Nov. 9 – Sanford, Fla.
Host: Crane Institute of America, Florida Crane Owners Council, and M&P Specialty Insurance
Nov. 22 – Corpus Christi, Texas
Host: B-C Equipment Sales and Laguna Crane Services
March 4, 2014 – Las Vegas, Nev.
Host: Crane & Rigging Hotline and Crane Institute Certfication
Author; Construction News
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