Fifth Forum on Personnel Qualifications

The Fifth Industry Forum on Personnel Qualifications will be held November 5, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia, the NCCCO Foundation reports.

The Forum will build on the success of previous events and focus on the latest developments in regulations and best industry practices as they pertain to the qualifications of personnel working in, with, and around cranes and other types of lifting equipment.

The last Forum was held in Crosby (Houston), Texas in October 2019 and attracted a record attendance of more than 100 industry representatives from all facets of the lifting industry.  A survey of attendees’ experience was highly positive.  “Response to the last Forum was exceptional,” said NCCCO Foundation CEO, Graham Brent, “with fully 94% of delegates rating the event as meeting or exceeding their expectations.”

The most popular topic covered at the 4th Industry Forum was OSHA’s certification requirements for crane operators, and operator qualifications are likely to be “front and center” again this year, said Brent.  Other presentations focused on how employers are coping with evaluating their operators, the potential role of virtual reality in certification testing, and how changing state rules around the use of marijuana might impact certification.

The NCCCO Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization formed by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) in 2018 to promote industry safety by conducting research, educating about–and advocating for–personnel safety and certification, and facilitating access by youth, military personnel, and underserved communities to education, training and certification through scholarships and grants.

Scott Ketcham, Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction, made the keynote presentation and participated in a lively question-and-answer panel discussion that proved highly popular.

“We pack a lot into a five-hour window,” said Brent. “With no fewer than 11 separate presentations we ensure there’s always something for everyone.”