Cranes Today - Imperial Crane Services, Inc.

Operator shortages | Training
Operator please
The recovery of the crane sector is being hampered in some regions, particularly developed markets, by a shortage
of operators. But what are the causes, and what can be done to address the issue? Daniel Searle reports.
CM Labs supplied
a Vortex simulator
to Crane Services
Industries to assist
with operator training.
O
ne of the knock-on effects
now being slowed by the reduced
scale investment, the growing skills
training, says Nigel Howard, health
of the recession reducing
number of available operators. A
shortage could reach crisis point if
and safety training manager at MPS
the amount of work
report from the Royal Institute of
action isn’t taken soon. Roles in
Crane Operators:
available in the crane industry was
Chartered Surveyors (RICS) stated
construction and civil engineering
to drive many operators away from
that two-fifths of its members had
have been listed on the Tier 2
bracing itself for a very difficult
the sector in search of alternative
been forced to turn down potential
shortage occupation list [used to
summer. There are not enough
employment.
projects due to the “dearth of
regulate recruitment of overseas
operators to occupy and operate the
talent” in the sector, and estimated
labour in the UK], suggesting that
cranes which seem to be shooting up
and strategic planning at the UK’s
that up to 27,000 projects could be
businesses are already relying on
in every corner of every major city.
Construction Industry Training Board
affected by 2019.
overseas talent as a result of the
Stephen Radley, director of policy
(CITB), spoke at the Construction
Matthew Brown, managing
lack of UK based experts.
“The tower crane industry is
“With several new power
stations having been or waiting
Plant Hire Association’s Plant
director at contractor umbrella
Conference in October 2014. An
employer Giant Group, said of this
the Government, need to do
operators will only increase. There
estimated 390,000 staff left the
situation: “Construction and its
considerably more to encourage
is no exact figure being leaked
industry after the recession hit, he
allied industries were always likely to
youngsters to enter these fields
regarding cranes but traditionally
said, with a further 410,000 due to
prosper once the economic outlook
to prevent a severe people crisis
projects of that magnitude operate
retire between 2014 and 2019.
improved and so these findings
further down the line.”
24 hours per day and seven days
In a chicken-and-egg situation,
the recovery of the industry is
aren’t entirely surprising. And while
it’s encouraging to see such wide
“Consequently, firms, and
The industry has also failed to
address the need for investment in
to be sanctioned, the demand for
per week. One doesn’t have to
have the mathematical genius of
CRANES TODAY l 37
Training | Operator shortages
is by appealing to young people to
consider the construction sector
as a potential career path. Last
month saw careers promotion
event Lift & Move USA take place in
Chicago, aiming to help employers
connect with the next generation
of operators, engineers, riggers,
mechanics and so forth.
Crane company Imperial Crane
is helping to promote careers in the
crane sector at the show. Chief
Manitowoc providing operator training in
preventive and corrective maintenance to
customers in Central and South America.
operating officer Bill Tierney says:
“Every study being conducted by
trade associations has forecast
Pythagoras to recognise the huge
experienced operators—partly due
progression, with some people
a shortage of tradesmen in every
numbers this will absorb from an
to many retiring—who are willing to
moving on from our UK business
craft—and although it’s better or
already over-fished pond.
travel to jobs around the country
to the global group, which helps to
worse in different regions, it’s not
where they won’t be back at home
attract the right people.
going to go away soon. In the
“There are several reasons why
there is a shortage. Firstly, it is only
every evening. As a crawler crane
in the last few years that the major
business it’s difficult to be local, and
in place, it is always difficult to
shortage of craft workers, so it’s on
players in the UK hire industry have
therefore we have to ask operators
replace someone who is retiring with
everyone’s minds and agendas.
recognised the need for investment
to travel—but many younger people
35 years of experience—you can
in training and development of crane
who join the industry don’t want to
replace knowledge, but not always
amongst trade groups and a
operators. But the need for crane
do this.
experience. There’s no substitute
combined effort to attract young
for standing on a dockside
people to industries, and to ask how
overseeing a load-out.”
we can do this.
operators has been addressed far
too late.
“Also, most operators believe
“There are freelance operators
available through agencies, who
we used to employ temporarily
“Even with these measures
Geoffrey Marsh, chairman of
next 12–18 months there will be a
“There’s an ongoing push
“At Lift & Move we will have
that rates of pay, while hardly
for holiday cover. But now the
Marsh Plant Hire Ltd., says: “The
some cranes on show—an 18t and
breadline minimum wage, do not
experienced operators are all
recovery may also be slowed by the
a 70–100t all terrain, and a larger
justify the huge responsibility they
working on permanent jobs.
shortage of tradespeople—after
300t or above all terrain—which
a downturn, people may leave the
will be open for young people to get
undertake as tower crane operators.
“We recently had a job in
Indeed there are still some of the
Cornwall and couldn’t find anyone
industry and do not necessarily
in the cabs. We will be explaining
older operators around who can
interested in going due to the long
come back, and so the building
to them the responsibilities of the
remember the halcyon days of the
distance from anywhere, as they
sector can only expand again at a
various roles in the industry, and the
late 80s. In what was a golden era
knew they wouldn’t be able to get
relatively slow rate.
NCCCO has volunteered to supply
for operators earnings-wise, it was
home at the weekends and other
not unusual for them to be earning
jobs are plentiful.
between £45,000–50,000 per year.
“I have lost count of the number
“The only solution, is to keep
“We are trying to train six
operators a year, which allows
us to just about keep pace with
a crane simulator for the attendees
to try.
“This is a pilot programme—we
hiring operators and mechanics
operators leaving the industry due to
are hoping for success and that it
of canteen conversations I have
wherever possible and train them
retirement or sickness.
can be carried on and expanded to
been witness to where the above
hoping they will stay.”
situation is discussed by small
David Boughey, UK director
“As we have a network of depots,
this allows our operators to live
other cities.”
Gina Kaktis, marketing co-
groups of dewy-eyed crane drivers.
at heavy lift specialist ALE, says:
locally, which reduces the potential
ordinator at Imperial Crane, says:
Of course rates paid to operators
“Getting good people into any
issue of operators refusing to travel
“Part of the conference will include
are only reflective of the rates being
business is always difficult. For
long distances to jobs.
speakers talking about their
received for the hire of the crane.
us, what is more important is
However this argument cuts little ice
continuing to invest in expanding
on 25t Tadano truck cranes, which
crane operators discussing some of
with the crane operators.”
and improving our technical services
are relatively low-capacity machines
the projects they’ve been involved
and engineering teams.
and simple to operate. After the 25t
with, the biggest lifts they’ve
Tadano, we move operators onto the
completed, and what a typical
working day involves for them.”
Crane companies affected
“We have to work hard at
“We generally start our operators
experiences in the industry, such as
For crane rental companies in the
recruiting people such as technical
next step, which is the 35t-40t all
UK, providing operators with cranes
and project engineers, part of
terrain cranes.”
can prove difficult, particularly in
which we address through an
more remote locations.
active graduate recruitment and
Training the next generation
available, such as lift planning,
development programme. As a
One of the ways in which the
project management, and
global company we can also offer
industry is addressing the situation
estimating,” adds Tierney.
Robert Law, managing director
at AGD, says: “There is a lack of
38 l CRANES TODAY
“We’ll also highlight jobs that
young people may not realise are
➤
Training | Operator shortages
“There’s a generation of
college might not be the best option
the Vertikal Days exhibition, which
have to an otherwise unknowing
workers retiring with 20–30 years
for them,” says Brent. “The NCCCO
took place in May. My Future
industry. Simulation programming
of experience, who will need to be
can offer them a certification which
My Choice is a charity aimed at
and technology has advanced to a
replaced. Our generation created
represents a professional credential
promoting engineering to young
point where it now allows for more
the problem—many parents
that they may not otherwise pursue.
people, with the event hosting
accurate representation of a real
have focused on young people
It’s an option that young people may
children from the ages of nine
world environment.
staying in education and getting a
not have even considered, as they
to 14 from the local area and
degree. The downside to this is
may see construction work as difficult
explaining what a potential career in
been progressive in informing and
that the construction industry has
and in unappealing conditions—we’ll
engineering could involve, as well as
implementing the use of simulation
suffered—the upcoming generation
explain that actually the inside of
visiting the stands at Vertikal Days
to train without the risk that real
has focused on computer-based
a crane cab is more comfortable
to see cranes up close.
life presents. From my perspective,
work and have drifted away from
than they might imagine. We’ll be
construction.”
backed by Skills USA, a scheme
Next generation training
a bit slow to progress into the world
that promotes ‘dirty jobs’ to young
Anyone planning to train to become
of simulation. I think that they, like
people.”
a crane operator, whether a young
many other organisations that have
There are plenty of positive
person or a member of another
ready access to cranes, see that the
says Kaktis. “Some people have
aspects of working as a crane
sector of the industry, faces the
use of a real crane is better training.
told young people to move away from
operator that can be used to
challenge of gaining sufficient
Many fail to try to comprehend the
construction after some workers
promote it as a career choice,
experience of operating a crane to
true cost and money savings that
were laid off and they began viewing
says Brent: “In the US, wages
be employable to a crane company,
simulation brings to the table when
working in the industry as a risk.”
for crane operators are relatively
says Graham Brent:
it comes to both reducing ‘wear
“Parents have pushed kids to
go to college, so they can have a
college education to fall back on,”
Tierney says: “Ten years ago,
high compared to other markets.
“Other high-risk industries have
crane rental companies have been
“In 1995-96 there were only a
and tear’ to real heavy equipment,
nobody was trying to make the
Operators who can run a 600t or
few training companies, and it was
and the improved training that a
industry more attractive to young
800t crane are in high demand, so
therefore hard for the NCCCO to gain
simulator provides in enhancing the
people—now there are many
are paid high wages. It’s the best
momentum, as we don’t offer training
operators skills and productivity.”
organisations doing it, and Lift &
job on the construction site in some
directly. Since then there has been
Move will be moving from city to city.
respects, being stationed in an
an explosion in the number of training
Service Industries (CSI) uses a
I think we’ll be successful.
air-conditioned cab, although it does
companies, with at least 150 listed
Vortex simulator manufactured by
of course also come with the most
on the training providers page on the
CM Labs Simulations, after seeing it
hazards and responsibility.”
NCCCO website.
at ConExpo last year.
“At Imperial Crane we’ve hired
six apprentices over the last 18
months, and we’re continuing to
The financial incentives of
“However, there isn’t so much
Crane training provider Crane
Dub Huggins, who manages
add more. One of the reason our
a career as a crane operator
training specific to the full process
training at CSI, says: “The main
company has been so successful is
does need to be highlighted
of becoming a crane operator. Many
benefit of Vortex is that it cuts down
that we have many operators who
to the next generation, agrees
places offer training in the theory,
on actual crane time—you can get
have been here for more than 20
Tierney: “If there’s one point we
hazards, rules and regulations and
the guys to ease in and ease out
years. But, this means many of
need to get across more, it’s the
so forth, but there are not many
of a swing on the simulator, and
them will be retiring in the next few
financial benefits of working in the
schools who can train a student with
ease in and ease out of the boom
years, and at the moment we do not
construction industry—including the
no experience into a crane operator.
and then catch the load, and you’re
have their replacements—so we are
lack of tuition fee debts, and the
working on developing them through
insurance schemes.”
“Equally, there are not many
not putting that wear and tear
crane companies who will take on
on the real crane. It has reduced
untrained operators, due to the risk
our maintenance and fuel costs
are being held throughout the
involved, time demands and so on.
phenomenally.
with the experienced operators,
US, notes Ted Blanton, president
So you end up with a chicken and
as cranes usually require two
of the North American Crane
egg situation.
operators—one main operator and
Bureau (NACB): “There are several
an additional person such as an
programmes and associations
make the industry more attractive to
going to turn over a crane, they’re
oiler. There’s no better way for the
working very hard in this area.
people who may want to join.”
not going to break a rotation bearing,
apprentices to learn than that.”
Build the Future and NCCER are
One method of giving trainees
two organisations running in the
experience operating a crane is to
the Certification of Crane Operators
forefront of this challenge. These
use a simulator—something which L
CM Labs has also supplied
(NCCCO), headed by chief executive
not-for-profit associations sponsor
D Stutes, vice president of sales and
simulators to the Crane Institute of
Graham Brent, was also involved in
hundreds of high school programs
marketing at the NACB, is keen to
America, Nigeria’s JCI International,
the Lift & Move show.
to introduce our youth to the
see more of.
Mammoet, and Canada’s Northern
apprenticeships.
“We put the apprentices in
The National Commission for
“We’ll be pitching entering the
crane industry to high-schoolers as
an alternative to going to college, and
saying to young people that actually
40 l CRANES TODAY
Other schemes and programmes
construction trades including crane
operations.”
In the UK, Liebherr-GB sponsored
the My Future My Choice event at
“It all comes back to how we can
“I feel the growth of simulation
has really been attributed to
“It allows the student to get
comfortable with the controls, and
it takes that fear away—they’re not
they’re not going to be slapping
cable on the boom.”
Crane Services Group.
Over in Abu Dhabi, offshore
exposing people to the true benefits
lifting company Enermech has taken
and capabilities that the systems
a similar approach, installing a
➤
Training | Operator shortages
simulator that had previously been
Steele, manager of training, safety
crane operators within Europe in the
central database that will enable
used by the company at its locations
and technical at CPA, is involved in
near future.
crane companies to check the
in Australia and Singapore. Training
developing the project.
crane operators is one of its key
“There is a shortage of operators
“We’ve looked at training
schemes in regions across Europe
experience an operator has, and if
they are suitable for a job role.
services, and due to the nature
in general, not just in the crane
and there is some commonality
of its key market—oil and gas—
sector. At the moment, if you’re
between them. We now need to
available by January 2018—we
performing this on-site is expensive
qualified in the UK, you are required
determine what requirements must
are currently applying to the EU for
and potentially hazardous.
to complete further tests to work
be met for operators to reach a
funding, and if successful this will
in Europe, as well as needing to
certain level, to set occupational
help to speed up the process.”
understand national regulations.
standards, and to calculate the
Using a highly-specialised piece of
software, the simulator recreates the
experience of operating an offshore
“ESTA wants to standardise
“We plan to have the license
In the US, there are different
number of ‘learning hours’ required,
issues to address, says Graham
crane with screens filling almost 180º
the training programme for mobile
as this currently differs between
Brent: “One of the big debates in
of vision and a full set of controls.
crane operation across Europe, by
national regulations. We have
the US at the moment is the matter
introducing the European Crane
studied and compared all the
of certification versus qualification.
Mobile workforce
Operator License (ECOL). This
existing schemes across Europe and
They’re clearly distinguished in the
Another method of increasing the
will allow a nomadic workforce
aim to find a happy medium between
US, with legal underwriting, and OSHA
available workforce is to make it
to travel round Europe and work
all the different approaches. We
requires employees to be qualified
more straightforward for qualified
where demand requires it, with a
have also looked at US and
to operate cranes—while the NCCCO
operators to move between regional
broad knowledge of cranes across
Australian licence scheme models.
provides certification, which we
and national markets, and for
Europe. In turn this will boost the
contractors to know how experienced
EU economy, as more work will
standardised training programme
employers to use to determine if an
an operator is. To this end, ESTA is
be completed. This is the reason
and accompanying training providers
employee is qualified.
currently working on a standardised
why ESTA has committed itself to
who have been vetted by ESTA. It
training scheme across Europe for
developing a system for optimum
will have a card-based system,
of qualification—an operator also
mobile crane operators. Haydn
distribution of safe and qualified
similar to the UK’s CPCS, with a
needs other factors on their side
42 l CRANES TODAY
“We’re aiming to establish the
say is one ‘tool in the toolbox’ for
“Certification is not a guarantee
➤
Training | Operator shortages
such as experience, a safety record,
was subsequently put back to 2017
Graham Brent adds: “The issue
the APGST said in a statement
experience specific to each job and
to allow for further discussion. A
with larger-capacity cranes is that they
in February. “Shortages in this
crane type, and so on. Our field of
statement from OSHA in September
are more likely to have accessories
industry have been well documented
expertise ends with certification—
2014 explained the reasons for the
fitted, such as a larger boom. But
in recent research, as well as in
and while we offer several categories
extension:
other than this, most of the industry
direct union and employer feedback
didn’t believe that operating a different
from across Canada. Data from
of certification, we still can’t take
“During the three-year period,
into account all the configurations
OSHA will address operator
capacity of crane automatically
BuildForce indicates excess demand
and models.
qualification requirements for
requires a different skill set.”
for mobile crane operators in
“Employers agree that
the cranes standards including
Meanwhile in Canada, the
many provinces. Citizenship and
certification is not full qualification,
the role of operator certification.
Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table
Immigration Canada has included
but they still want it to exist. It’s
The final cranes and derricks
(APGST), a partnership of labour,
crane operators as one of the 29
also important that we can offer
rule required crane operators on
business, and education and training
occupations that are
given priority in
independent testing—this avoids the
construction sites to meet one
institutions, is spearheading an
the immigration application process
possible vested interest of training
of four qualification/certification
initiative to create a standardised
because of short supply.
bodies in passing their students.”
options by November 10, 2014.
test for mobile crane operators.
Meanwhile, in 2010 OSHA (the
After publishing the final rule, a
The benefits of the proposed
“Several provinces in Canada
offer mobile crane operator training
Occupational Safety and Health
number of parties raised concerns
‘DOST’ (Demonstration of Skills
programs that include theory testing,
Administration) put forward proposed
about the Standard’s requirement
Test) would be reduced costs and
practical assessment through a DOST
certification requirements that would
to certify operators by type and
‘red tape’, increased safety levels,
method, certification and Red Seal
differentiate between crane capacity
capacity of crane and questioned
better assurance for employers
endorsement. However, approaches
ranges and crane types, potentially
whether crane operator certification
in meeting liability of worker
to DOSTs vary across the provinces
limiting the scope for operators
was sufficient for determining
competency, and more mobility for
and territories. This fragmented
to move between cranes. It was
whether an operator could operate
employers and workers, says APGST.
approach to mobile crane operators
due to come into effect in 2014;
their equipment safely on a
however, the deadline for the rule
construction site.”
“The need for a standardised
DOST comes at a critical time,”
DOST activities across Canada
creates many negative impacts.”
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44 l CRANES
TODAY