Print Page   |   Sign In   |   Register
IAMU Informer
Blog Home All Blogs

IAMU Mobile Crane Operator Certification Classes - 2021 Dates

Posted By IAMU, Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities will be holding mobile crane certification and examination classes for digger derrick, service truck, and mobile crane operators.  OSHA’s updated crane standard REQUIRES that operators of lifting equipment be trained, evaluated and tested in order to obtain certification.

Background Information:

Although the new standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, specifically exempts the digger derrick and the operator from meeting the requirements of the standard, the exemption applies only when it is used for work within the provisions of the power generation, transmission and distribution standards, or for construction work within the telecommunications standard.  The exemption does not apply if the digger derrick is used for lifting materials or to operate in working environments outside the scope of the standard because the equipment is essentially being used as a mobile crane.  For example, unloading materials from a truck, lifting a motor from a pump house to assist your water department, or providing assistance to any other city department will mean that the exemption no longer applies.  When equipment is used as a mobile crane, all provisions of the standard apply, including the operator certification rule.  OSHA also now requires that an operator be certified in specific areas when they operate equipment outfitted with a boom and winch and able to lift at least 2,000 pounds.  This includes service trucks in your public works, or water departments.

The new standard has very specific operator requirements, one being to obtain operator certification from an independent testing organization accredited by a nationally recognized organization.  OSHA’s updated crane standard, 1926.1427 in Subpart CC, requires that for a testing organization to be considered accredited to certify operators, it must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency based on that agency’s determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment and personnel have been met.  IAMU is an Accredited Assessment Center through the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).  We are authorized to conduct both hands-on assessments and practical examinations which are part of our Mobile Crane Operator Certification Program.  Additionally, we are offering Qualified Hand Signal Person and Qualified Rigger programs (available at a future date).

Who Should Attend:

Digger derrick and service truck crane operators who do not currently hold a mobile crane operator’s certification.

What Do These Classes and Certification Consist Of:

Classes will be a week long, requiring classroom instruction, an on-line exam that has a 80% pass requirement, a practical exam for certification of mobile crane, and then finally a short class and practical exam for the signalperson and rigging qualifications. Students who pass the written and practical exams receive nationally recognized certification from the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).

Where Do These Classes Take Place:

IAMU Training and Office Complex
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA  50021

When Will Classes Be Held:

Dates have been scheduled for the remainder of 2021 at the IAMU complex.  Please click HERE or visit the IAMU website for available dates.

August 23rd - 27th

September 27th - October 1st

October 25th - 29th

November 8th - 12th

December 6th - 10th

 

Mobile Crane Operator Certification/Examination Class Schedule:

 

Class Day

Times

Classroom/Exam

Monday

9:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Classroom

Tuesday 8:00 to 4:30 p.m. Classroom

Wednesday

8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Classroom/Exams

Thursday

8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Practical Exams

Friday (if needed)

8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Retake Exams

Class/Exam

Examination retakes are $100 and may be taken during any scheduled exam date.

Additional Notes:

  • There is a maximum of 8 participants per class session.
  • Lunch will be provided Monday through Thursday.
  • All participants will attend classroom days. Exams will take place on the Thursday of each class session. Depending on the number of participants, Wednesday evening and Friday may also be used for exams.
  • Each participant will need to create an account with NCCER before class; step-by-step instructions are included with the study guide.  Please bring your account number with you to class.

For additional information about the classes and online registration for each event, click HERE .

Questions?

If you have any questions in regards to the classes, or requirements, please contact:

Margret Meade, IAMU Safety Outreach Coordinator (mmeade@iamu.org )
Phone:  (800) 810-4268

Tags:  Mobile Crane  NCCER 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Communications Corner: Ask key questions to figure out who should handle your communications

Posted By IAMU, Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Communications are important to a utility’s success, no matter its size. You want to make sure your communications are as effective as possible, right? But how? Should you use internal staff to get the job done or look to an outside vendor to take care of everything? The answer: It all depends.
 
You may be able to go the internal route if you have…
  • Someone in-house who has a design and communications background.
  • Someone who can review any communications before they go out.
  • A dedicated employee who has time to distribute content.
  • A budget for producing communications.
  • A seamless system for distributing communications.
On the other hand, you may want to work with an outside vendor if you…
  • Have limited staff time available for communications.
  • Need ready-to-use content vetted, written for a consumer audience, and reviewed.
  • Want communications done by an expert or an organization that specializes in utility issues and concerns.
  • Want writers and editors to conduct interviews, use credible research sources, write, and edit your content.
  • Want a multi-media approach (newsletters, posters, brochures, calendars, blogs, videos, and/or social media, etc.), but lack the necessary skills and time to produce it.
  • Seek the confidence of having seasoned professionals handle all details for you.
If you decide to go with an external vendor, make sure the vendor is the right fit for your utility. Here are some interview questions for any potential vendors:
  • How long have you been doing communications?
  • What is the experience of you and/or your team with utilities?
  • Will my utility/city have a dedicated point-of-contact?
  • Do you handle all aspects of communications – from creation through distribution?
  • How much input/review on each project do you expect from my utility/city?
  • How much lead time will you need to create communications?
These are just a few questions to ask. You may also want to get samples of a vendor’s past projects and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses for a few of its clients whom you could then contact.

Tags:  Communications Corner 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

IAMU Reply Comments, IUB Docket No. RMU-2021-1114

Posted By IAMU, Tuesday, August 10, 2021

On Monday August 9th, 2021, IAMU filed reply comments in IUB rulemaking docket No. RMU-2021-1114, Federally Registered Planning Authority Transmission Plans [199 IAC Chapter11]. 

Read the comments here.

Tags:  IUB 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Algona Municipal Utilities and Iowa State EPRC to Lead National APPA Webinar on Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Posted By IAMU, Thursday, August 5, 2021

Webinar Date:
August 31st, 2021
1 - 2 PM CST
 
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) can get you a lot of great data, but what's the best way for small utilities to use it to make conclusions about their customers' behavior and rate classes?
 
Since 2016, Algona Municipal Utilities and Iowa State University’s Electric Power Research Center have collaborated to create a tool which summarizes very large AMI data sets into smaller, organized files with summary results, exporting analyses as tables and graphs. The latest version of the tool, which incorporates machine-learning and clustering techniques into its design, doesn’t just help define customer rate classes. The tool can set minimum demand definitions and identify customers whose usage may differ from their assigned rate class, offering a small utility the opportunity to reassign or even redesign rate classes as needed. It puts power back in the hands of small public power utilities by allowing them to check the accuracy of AMI analysis provided by billing and meter data management contractors.
 
During this webinar, researchers from ISU will share their work making in-house AMI analysis easier than ever through their ongoing partnership with Algona Municipal Utilities and the DEED Program. DEED members can check out this project's DEED Project Library page for more information on the tool.
 
Recommended For
  • Any public power system which gathers AMI or SCADA data.
Speakers
  • John Bilsten, General Manager, Algona Municipal Utilities
  • Zhaoyu Wang, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University
  • Anne Kimber, Director of the ISU Electric Power Research Center
  • Shahnawaz Siddiqui, Graduate Student in Electrical and Computer Engineering
 
You can register for this webinar here: https://www.publicpower.org/event/deed-webinar-ami-insights-all

Tags:  Algona  AMI  DEED  ISU 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Communications Corner: Email as a communication tool isn’t dead; just understand where it needs to live in your communication strategy

Posted By IAMU, Wednesday, August 4, 2021
In the era of ever-evolving electronic communication, the old-timer among the many tools, email, still has its place, but you need to make sure you have it positioned correctly to use it effectively.
 
With texting and other modes of modern-day communication available at just about everyone’s fingertips 24/7, many people still go to email as their first or preferred communication channel.
 
According to the 2019 “Adobe Email Usage Study,” Americans check their work email (three-plus hours a day) and personal email (two-plus hours a day). This comes out to around five hours per day checking emails.
 
Considering the demise of email was predicted for more than a decade, the study shows people still value it. It is one of the most or most preferred methods of communication for work, important correspondence, and even marketing.
 
So, knowing when and when not to use email to talk to employees, customers, and others is key.
 
Email is effective for:
  • Giving timely, consistent information to a group
  • Ensuring a record of your communication
  • Directing the receiver to online sources of information or content in an attachment
  • Providing brief status updates
 
Email may not work well for:
  • Providing bad or negative news
  • Giving complex, detailed, or lengthy information or instructions
  • When the receiver deserves a chance to give instant feedback or response
  • When there might be nuance or context that may not come across well in written words (such as expressing feelings)

Tags:  Communications Corner 

PermalinkComments (0)
 
Page 192 of 495
 |<   <<   <  187  |  188  |  189  |  190  |  191  |  192  |  193  |  194  |  195  |  196  |  197  >   >>   >| 
Membership Software Powered by YourMembership  ::  Legal