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Testimonials
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Justin Erwin, I have been a member of Local 3
Operating Engineers as a Crane Operator for 30 years.
Many of the projects that I have worked on have been
with experienced riggers and signal persons. Quite often
these individuals are Structural Ironworkers.
I have also had the displeasure of working with
inexperienced riggers and signal persons that the
contractors feel compelled to try out on the phones with
no training or experience in signaling a crane. This
common practice affects both safety and production.
It is very important to have trained personnel working
with the crane, and wordage has been included in many of
the standards that govern the use of cranes in America
today. Unfortunately enforcement has taken a back seat
to the over shadowing of the NCCCO which requires a
license of crane operators in many states. Now the crane
operator has more responsibility, and the constant worry
of his license being jeopardized by the actions of
untrained personnel. Training and a license are required
for all crane operators, the same should apply to
riggers and signal persons.
The Signal-Rite training program has been used on a
number of jobs that I have worked on, and the results
have been outstanding. Rigging, crane signaling and
general crane knowledge and safety have increased
substantially. I highly recommend this program to
employers and feel that this should be included into
Title 8 of the CCR. Confusion causes accidents and
Signal-Rite eliminates confusion in regards to verbal
crane signals.
Sincerely,
Justin Erwin
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To Whom It May Concern:
As the newly mandated NCCCO certification for crane
operators sweeps across the landscape why only address
one side of the triangle. It has been my experience many
times during a 26 year career with the Operating
Engineers, Local #3, to literally put the rig “on the
dog,” until incompetent co-workers were removed from
both rigging duties and signaling the crane while using
two way radios.
Let it be stated here and now personal freedom to ad lib
and individual creativity does not coexist while engaged
in the arena of working a crane “in the blind.” How is
it possible that one of the most dangerous elements of
crane work, handling loads, “in the blind” has remained
unregulated, unchecked and un-enforced until hopefully
now.
Jeff York, founder and president of Signal-Rite, LLC.,
has developed a model for verbal crane signals, implying
concise, direct one word commands that erases all of the
aggravating freelance nonsense which has been the norm,
producing countless arguments, repeated downtime due to
disputes and contempt between everybody and the
operator, which has disintegrated in the past to several
near fist fights.
Hopefully the leaders of our industry will not only
address this critical lapse of non enforcement, but also
acknowledge the glaring need of a model which
establishes a standard that can be integrated into the
field so that the days of the crane operator enduring
ten hours of : all stop, stop that, stop hook, hook
stop, load stop, stop load, load, high load, load high,
line stop, stop line, line high, that's about good,
that'll get her, hold that, and on, and on, and on will
be a distant, sorry memory that will not too soon, cease
to exist.
Sincerely,
Duffy L. Best
Reg. #1785682
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To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Brian Minor, I have been working in the
construction industry for fifteen years. During this
period I have noticed an overwhelming need for some
mandatory training for personnel who work under the
hook. The State of California now requires operators to
be trained and licensed. This has created a one sided
burden which falls on the operator because the standards
do not adequately address the signal person. The
operator frequently must rely on the signal person or
rigger to be competent in his/her position, especially
when working blind.
The lack of formal training for signal persons and
riggers has been the contributing factor to many
accidents. Many jobs that I have been on, I end up
spending a large amount of time scolding people on their
poor signaling and rigging techniques. This is not my
job but in the event of an accident undoubtedly the
blame is going to be pointed in my direction.
Anyone that has been in the industry knows you cannot
just take someone off the street without any training
and expect them to signal a crane, or properly rig a
load. All my training cannot overcome an unqualified
signalperson while working in the blind. They need to
know what they are doing to get the job done safely. I
think personnel who work under the hook should be
licensed to signal and rig thus avoiding the confusion,
frustration, and accidents that occur from lack of
training and experience.
Sincerely,
Brian T. Minor
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June 12, 2006 To Whom It May Concern:
I got my first crane license in New York City, Local #14
in 1967. The hardest part was not operating long boom
cranes, but working in the blind, each rigger having his
own style of voice signals. Very frustrating not knowing
how to solve this problem.
Now 35 years later, with another crane license N.C.C.C.O.
and still running long booms and tower cranes, the same
poor voice signals. The “Two Word” signals with HOLD as
the command which only makes you
anticipate (load,swing,trolly) reaction time is delayed,
therefore too much time for error.
Now after implementing the Signal-Rite system reaction
time has greatly improved. The one-word command is easy
to say and hear especially “High” for stopping the
hoist... The rigger can say it faster and the operator
has instant reaction time, less chance of an accident.
It is about time the industry had a standard language
everyone can use, and now it is here.
I recommend every crane working, use the Signal-Rite
system to increase production and safety...
Sincerely,
James Beyer
Local #3 Operating Engineers
Honolulu, Hawaii
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Aloha Jeff,
Just wanted to let you know we
are very pleased with our decision to purchase
the Magic Arm.
The ability to land crates of
material directly in the bay that they get
installed in is a major labor savings. What we
will save on labor from not having to maneuver
crates from a landing platform through halls and
around steel stud walls will pay for itself on
this project alone. I'm also looking forward to
not having any back charges for repairs
to interior trades installed materials.
Best Regards,
Christopher Knitter
Central Pacific Glass Inc.
73-5568 Olowalu Street
Kailua-Kona, HI. 96740
P: 808-329-3151
F: 808-329-8679
W:
www.cenpacglass.com |
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Aloha from Hawaii
May 2006
I reunited with Jeff, through a fellow mentor
Jim Beyer, a month ago. Jim had been conversing
with Jeff by phone. I was seeking some relief
from the unorganized rigging and radio practices
that I’ve been encountering recently at my job
site with out repeating, what has already been
said, in testimonials given by: Justin Erwin,
Duffy L. Best, Brian T. Minor & Jim Beyer. I’m
well aware of their frustrations, for they speak
the truth of experience. After speaking with
Jeff off and on for a week, and visiting his web
site and reading his published articles.
I had him send me some training material, to
hand out to personnel, and a large placard to
post on site where everyone could see it. The
placard was welcomed by my immediate Supervisor,
and I got some rigging workbook material to
review on my own. I have to say, the
improvements have been substantial. Since then,
things have settled down a lot and work has been
much more bearable. Although I believe we could
only benefit from Jeff’s training classes it is
not up to me.
I do believe Jeff’s training is more assertive,
than most people are used to and I also believe
that it would benefit our industry here in
Hawaii.
Mahalo Nui Loa JEFF YORK, for all your KOKUA
I trained under Jeff at the H-3 Highway Project
in
Halawa, Hawaii.
Click on Links Below to see.
Koolau Mountains -
http://www.terragalleria.com/pacific/oahu/koolau-mountains/koolau-mountains.html
HDCC -
http://www.hdcc.com/ (Company we worked for
back then)
H-3 Control Tower and Tunnel -
http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Interstate-H3.htm
Sincerely,
Dee Nako’oka
Tower Crane Operator - IUOE, Local 3, District
of Hawaii |
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