Training
The National Utility Industry Training Fund is a partnership between the IBEW and several utility companies whose mission is to provide employees and prospective employees with the best training available in the industry today.
Crane Training
Rotating/Stationary Control Telescoping Crane and Digger Derrick Certification
Effective December 10, 2018, operator certification is required by OSHA for cranes and digger derricks. As part of that rule, those who operate cranes capable of lifting more than 2000 pounds are required to be certified as operators.
Electric utilities and contractors have been granted a partial exemption from the rule, but that exemption only applies to operating a digger derrick truck while doing Subpart V work. For all other equipment and work that is outside the scope of Subpart V, certification is still required.
The NUITF has a number of training instructors available to conduct a training class to prepare experienced crane and digger derrick operators (which include many linemen and wireman) for the (Electrical Industry Certification Association) certification tests for rotating and stationary control cranes as well as digger derricks. Classes and testing may be held at one of our locations or at yours. Our instructors teach the curriculum offered by ETA. Our classes also include testing, both written and practical, which is required for the EICA certification. Many of the classes we hold will be able to accommodate individuals from other companies, not just the employees from our host utilities. Those who successfully complete the training and testing will receive fully portable certification.
EICA was formed in 2015 to address a need identified by Employers and others in the electrical construction industry, that of crane operation near and around electrical lines, as well as the normal difficult terrain found in transmission line construction environments.
While other entities are doing crane certifications based on both construction and railroad scenarios, nobody specifically addressed the electrical power line environment. If you are working in the electrical construction industry, particularly in the power line construction segment of that industry, we believe EICA is the certification entity that will be held in the highest regard by the electrical industry.
