This article was originally published at www.rigzone.com
Companies such as Fluor Corp. and Bechtel Corp. often compete against one another to win engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts from oil and gas and chemicals clients. Many of the projects they vie for require the services of rigging engineers and lift planners, but there are shared concerns throughout the EPC sector about the future supply of qualified load handling specialists. As a result, they collaborated with nearly 20 other companies and organizations to create what is reportedly the world’s first and only rigging engineering program.
“This program is designed for lift planners, crane and rigging managers and other non-engineers who conduct lift planning activities,” said Arin Ceglia, director of learning and development with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which has vetted the program and approved it for continuing education units. “However, there are no experience requirements in order to qualify for this program. Anyone interested in rigging may complete this program.”
ASME has vetted the nine-course “Fundamentals of Rigging Engineering” program – administered by Industrial Training International (ITI) – and has approved it for continuing education units (CEUs). According to ITI, more than 120 students have begun the program to become crane and rigging professionals. ASME also reports that 14 individuals have completed the approximately two-year slate of required and elective courses, which are offered online and on-demand, on-site at ITI training centers and at various locations worldwide.
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