Carpenters International Certificate Committee

Carpenters International Certificate Committee

Table of Contents ABOUT THE CARPENTERS INTERNATIONAL TRAINING FUND... 2 TRAINING... 2 THE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTER... 3 RIGGING AND SIGNALER CERTIFICATE PROGRAM... 3 CERTIFICATE ELIGIBILITY AND APPROVAL... 3 REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS... 3 IF YOU ARE A MEMBER... 3 IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER... 4 MATERIALS TO BRING TO THE TRAINING... 4 TRAINING ATTENDANCE... 4 RENEWAL... 4 REFRESHER CLASSES... 4 RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS... 4 SECURITY OF CERTIFICATE RECORDS... 4 TRAINING MATERIAL... 5 INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES... 5 TRAINING EXAMINATION CONTENT... 5 DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXAMINATIONS... 6 QUALIFICATIONS OF TRAINING INSTRUCTORS AND EXAMINATION DEVELOPERS... 7 PASSING POINT... 7 SCHEDULING PROCEDURES... 7 COMPLAINTS, APPEALS AND DISCIPLINARY POLICIES... 7 WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS... 7 REVIEW OF CERTIFICATES... 7 REVIEW OF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS... 7 RE- TAKING THE CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION... 8 POLICY VIOLATIONS... 8 1

About the Carpenters International Training Fund The Carpenters International Training Fund (CITF) was founded (under a different name) in 1990 with a mission to provide quality training for union members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC). The UBC is one of North America s largest construction unions, with more than a halfmillion members in the construction and wood-products industries. The UBC s mission is to recruit new members, train all members, and build on the union s nearly 130-year history of improving lives through hard work, education, and solidarity. The UBC recognizes that in order to remain strong, their signatory contractors need to succeed in today s highly competitive marketplace. To do so, they need workers who are committed to safety, productivity, and the proud legacy of the Brotherhood. A continent-wide system of local unions and regional councils provides a solid foundation for the Brotherhood, and it is the gateway through which aspiring carpenters learn their trade and enter the union. Accountable to the mission, councils stand up for carpenters and defend workers rights by confronting businesses that underpay or otherwise mistreat their employees. Sustaining the vision is the investment in unequaled skills training provided by the CITF. With 223 training centers across North America and a state-of-the-art International Training Center in Las Vegas, CITF has nearly 550 training instructors, and over 19,000 union members qualified in rigging and signaling. With an annual budget of more than $175 million, 2,500 full-time instructors, and a curriculum that meets or exceeds industry standards, the CITF s training programs offer the finest skills-development courses in the construction industry. Nobody else comes close. All questions and requests for information about training application should be directed to your Local Training Center. Training The union exists to help carpenters succeed today and to build a better tomorrow for their families and communities. The founder s vision inspires UBC members to fight for fair treatment of workers and to train carpenters for challenging, productive careers. 2

The International Training Center The Carpenters International Training Center (ITC), located in Las Vegas, is a 345,000-square-foot monument to the Brotherhood's commitment to lifelong learning. With 60,000 square feet of shop space, more than 40 classrooms, and nearly 300 dorm rooms, the ITC serves as a hub for rapidly providing UBC members with high demand cutting-edge skills. From the 12-acre campus, UBC members develop new craft skills in areas such as interior systems, scaffolding, commercial door and hardware, concrete formwork, and gas- and steam-turbine installation and maintenance. In addition, the ITC s Curriculum Development Project has published over 85 training manuals for the CITF. To find a training center location visit: http://www.carpenters.org/craftsandskills/ TrainingCenters.aspx Rigging and Signaler Certificate Program The CITF offers a certificate that verifies a certificate holder understands and meets the ANSI Safety Requirements for Rigging Qualifications and Responsibilities in the Construction Industry and OSHA Cranes and Derricks. Certificate holders may state they hold a Rigging and Signaler Qualification certificate; however, certificate holders should not make claims or imply that the certificate is a professional certification or make misleading or unauthorized statements about the purpose and scope of the certificate. Each Member Certificant receives a wallet sized card and an 8 1/2 by 11 certificate. The printed cards and certificates contain the name, date of expiration and the unique membership ID number of everyone who has successfully completed the Rigging and Signaler Certificate. Certificate Eligibility and Approval In order to receive a certificate of completion, a participant must be an active member of the UBC. Certifiers at one of the local training centers provide the training necessary and administer the examinations for a UBC member to become a Rigging and Signaler Member Certificant. To become a Member Certificant, a candidate must attend a training course and successfully demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills from the curriculum. Evaluations of a candidate s successful completion of a course are determined using one written and one practical assessment. All costs, except wages, associated with certifying the Member Certificants are paid by the local training program. Registration and Certificate Application Instructions Registration forms are distributed at the local training centers at the beginning of each Rigging and Signaler training session. If you are a member Contact your local training center to schedule a session for the next certificate course date. 3

If you are not a member Only UBC members can attend this certificate course. Contact the nearest UBC local union to join. Materials to Bring to the Training All course participants should make sure to bring work clothes, work boots, hard hat, and a calculator to the training course. Training Attendance It is imperative that participants arrive on time to the training and attend all days of instruction in order to take the certificate examination. Participants who miss a class will not be able to take the examination. Renewal The certificate provided to Member Certificants is valid for four years. Within one year of the expiration of the certificate, Member Certificants must pass a written test to renew their certificate. If renewal isn t completed within one year of expiration, the entire program must be taken to renew the certificate. Refresher Classes Candidates must take Refresher Classes before their certificate expires in order to renew their certificate. A student may take a Refresher class after their certificate expires only if the class has a Grace Period and if the student is within the Grace Period. If the class does not have a Grace Period and the student is not within the Grace Period, the full qualification program must be repeated in order to receive a certificate. Candidates are not eligible for Refresher classes unless they have previously taken the full qualification certificate course. Resolution of Complaints and Appeals All rigging accidents and incidents involving Member Certificants must be reported to: Carpenters International Certificate Committee (CICC), 6801 Placid Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119. The CICC will review the accident and incident reports and take appropriate action. Appropriate actions include: No action required Require partial re-evaluation to maintain certificate Require full re-evaluation to maintain certificate Void certificate The action of the CICC may be appealed by the Certificant by sending a letter to the CICC explaining why the Certificant feels the action should be changed. Security of Certificate Records All individual Rigging and Signaler certificate holders are recorded in a password-protected database called TRAIN. Every UBC member has a unique eight digit membership ID number. Access to the TRAIN membership records system is controlled. In addition to the CITF Staff, only authorized personnel at local training centers can enter, view, and modify the records in TRAIN of CITF certificate holders within their area. Only the CICC can view and modify the records of all certificate holders. The written examination and the hands-on evaluation checklists are kept in a password 4

protected folder at the ITC in Las Vegas, NV. After successfully completing the written and hands on evaluations Training Centers are given a CD with the most current evaluation instruments. Training Centers are required to maintain the security of the evaluation instruments in their possession by following the CITF standard administration procedures. Training Material The CITF training materials include both knowledge transfer and practical safe application. Course materials are designed to add to the hands-on experience gained in the training on rigging techniques and hardware. The course textbook introduces the subject by beginning with the history of rigging, followed by information about safety wire rope, chain construction, slings, hardware, and knot-tying techniques. Following these fundamental hardware chapters are chapters that discuss rigging procedures. These procedural chapters discuss common hitch configurations, hardware and sling attachments, working with different types of cranes, and directing crane movements with hand and voice signals used by riggers to signal crane operators. The curriculum in this training provides an introduction to rigging and serves as an excellent field reference for those who will be using this hardware and these procedural techniques on the job. Intended Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this workshop, you should be able to do the following: 1. Describe a basic rigging operation. 2. Demonstrate safe work practices. 3. State the use and limitations of various slings and hitch configurations. 4. Identify and demonstrate various types of knots. 5. Explain how to select rigging equipment and hardware needed to perform safe rigging procedures. 6. List and describe the different types of cranes used for rigging operations. 7. Demonstrate proper use of hand and voice rigging signals. The Rigging and Signaler Training also features important safety precautions and practices, as they apply to each activity. In any rigging operation, safety can never be stressed enough. All riggers and operators on the jobsite are responsible for their own safety as well as the safety of others. Safety considerations include proper inspection and upkeep of rigging hardware and equipment. This training details how to properly inspect and care for rigging equipment and how to check for damage to ensure a long service life. 5

Training Examination Content The written examination consists of content relating to General Rigging; Hardware; and Wire Rope, Chain, Slings. The content of the written exam follows the examination plan detailed below that was derived from an in depth practice analysis validation effort conducted by the CITF in 2011. Dimension & Sub- Dimension Number of Items on Exam General Rigging Introduction to Rigging 15 Fiber Rope 5 Cranes 5 Signaling 10 Hardware 30 Wire Rope, Chain, Slings Wire Rope 10 Chain 5 Slings 20 TOTAL 100 The practical examination involves job simulation activities that largely pull in components from the entire training curriculum. The practical exam is divided into the following four parts: 1) Rigging 4- Leg Hitch With Hand Signals, 2) Rigging 3- Leg Hitch With Voice Signals, 3) Rigging 3- Leg Hitch With Transferred Hand Signals, and 4) Single Leg Hitch With Hand Signals. These hands-on tests were developed to replicate real-life situations in rigging and signaling. The reasons for including each part are provided below. Rigging 4-Leg Hitch with Hand Signals: This is the most common lift configuration. Hand signals are the most common method used to direct the crane operator. Rigging 3-Leg Hitch with Voice Signals: This lift configuration is used when the load must be level while it is hoisted. In this evaluation, the student must use voice signals to direct the crane operator. Rigging 3-Leg Hitch with Transferred Hand Signals: This is the same hoist configuration as hands-on test #2. When the operator cannot see the load, the signals must be transferred from the signaler directing the lifting of the load to a second signaler who directs the crane operator. Single Leg Hitch with Hand Signals: This is the method used to lift long objects and change the orientation of their long axis from horizontal to vertical or from vertical to horizontal. This hands-on test requires the trainee to rig and signal a long object from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane and then back to the horizontal plane. In this evaluation, the student must use voice signals to direct the crane operator. Development of the Examinations The design and administration of the examination meets the most rigorous testing methods. Examination questions for the Rigging and Signaler certificate program were written to target the required information listed in the ANSI A10.42-2000 (R2010) and OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Section CC Standards to ensure that the intended learning outcomes are consistent with the published purpose of the certificate. The examination has been designed based on the evaluations of expert Riggers and Signalers regarding the most important parts of the profession. There are specific links from the ANSI standards, to the training 6

material, to the written and practical examinations. Qualifications of Training Instructors and Examination Developers The qualifications of the training instructors and exam developers are extensive. The rigorous process involved in recruiting professionals with specialized skills in training and instruction delivery ensures first-rate training to participants. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) that were used in the examination design were selected to cover all areas of expertise within the field of Rigging and Signaling to aid in the creation of test materials. Additionally, SMEs were selected to be representative of the population of professionals ethnically, geographically, and by gender. Passing Point The practical examination was developed to ensure objectivity of the criteria used to assess candidate performance and ensure consistency across training locations and evaluators. The materials used help reduce differences between trainers when they evaluate trainees. The validated standard for the practical assessment is 13 errors across the 73 scoring units that are captured across the four activities of Rigging with Hand Signals, Rigging with Voice Signals, Transferring Hand Signals, and Single Point Lift. Candidates that make 14 or more errors in the practical examination will be ineligible to receive a certificate without further training and testing. The cut score for the written examination is 76%. The cut scores determine the level of a passing grade on the exams (e.g., getting 76 out of 100 questions correct on the written exam would be enough to attain the certificate). Scheduling Procedures Local training centers maintain schedules for all training and examinations, and each local training center has its own cancelation policy. A current UBC dues card is required when reporting to the Examination Center. Complaints, Appeals and Disciplinary Policies When an accident occurs When a certified rigger or signaler is involved in an incident or accident, the local certifier will investigate the cause of the incident or accidental report to the CICC. Review of Certificates The CICC Technical Coordinator in charge of Rigging and Signaler certificates will review all certificates issued by local certifiers to ensure they meet the criteria listed in the CITF Reference Guide. If a certificate by a local certifier does not meet the CICC criteria, the certifier will be sent a fax titled, Unable to Process Certificates. The certifier must contact the CICC Technical Coordinator in charge of Rigging and Signaler certificates. They will review the certificates in question and discuss corrective action. Review of Examination Questions If a member thinks a test question or handson evaluation is in error, he or she will bring it to the attention of the local certifier. The local certifier will contact the CICC Technical Coordinator and present the member s concern. The CICC Technical 7

Coordinator will research the member s concern and respond to the local certifier. The CICC Technical Coordinator may call on rigging and signaler experts to assist the certificate evaluation. Re- taking the Certificate Examination When a member does not meet the certificate requirements, they may retake the examination at any time with no penalty. Policy Violations In the event that a participant in the certificate program misrepresents his/her identity or eligibility status, gives or receives unauthorized assistance on the assessment, or engages in other violations of established policies, the CICC will void the certificate of that participant. 8