It is the ruling of the NCCCO to prevent a certified crane operator from working if tested to be under the influence of any substance that could affect his ability to safely perform his job responsibilities.
During the NCCCO test application process, you will attest that you have undergone a drug test and will comply with the ruling.
As a screening process, every student is required to undergo a physical test to be qualified to take the certification exam and as part of it, you are required to pass the drug test and submit yourself for such test if randomly selected throughout the certification period.
But what happens when you refuse to take a drug test? If you refused to be tested, the commission will treat it as a positive test. Again, the same policy applies, you will not be permitted to perform your duties as a crane operator and you will be subjected for a penalty that includes suspension or, in a severe situation, revocation of your certification. This means you won’t be able to get back to work or get employed.
Now if you’re thinking is it unlawful to force you to take a drug test? No, it isn’t. It is not illegal because it is a federal crime to use illegal substance and you’re committing a crime if you’re doing it.
How to Take the Physical Exam
The compliance with ASME B30 physical requirement is a prerequisite that needs to be met by crane operators. To comply with such requirement, you can show, but not limited to, a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examiner’s certificate.
If you are applying for a DOT medical certificate, you can look for a medical examiner in your area. The medical examiner is someone listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. The examiner could be a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, and doctors of chiropractic.
If the examiner agrees that the applicant is physically qualified to operate the crane, in accordance with their standard, the examiner will issue a certificate, see Form MCSA-5876.
The DOT medical examiner’s certificate is valid for 2 years. The examiner may issue a certificate to an applicant for less than the said validity period when the applicant’s condition needed to be monitored, such as when he or she has diabetes, a high blood pressure, etc.
Drug Abuse Policy of NCCCO
The commission is in a strong stance that testing positive for illegal substance is an automatic revocation of the crane operator certification. The NCCCO firmly prohibits the use of drugs, illegal substances and other over-the-counter medication that could impair the candidate’s ability to safely operate the heavy equipment.
What if you are in the state where cannabis is legal? Regardless of the state’s legalization stance in the use of such drug, the NCCCO substance abuse policy will remain firm. You shall abide by the policy and attest that you comply with it and as a requirement to the ASME B30.
Employers do also require their operator to undergo a drug test. Drug abuse causes many problems - damage to property, injury, even death. This results to increase in insurance claims. In addition to this, the repercussions of drugs among workers are loss of productivity and absenteeism that could result in loss of money on the part of the company.
Other NCCCO Requirements You Need to Comply
- To be certified by the commission, you must show that you have the skills and knowledge to perform the responsibilities of a certified crane operator. This includes passing the written test and practical exam.
- You also need to abide by the NCCCO’s code of ethics
- You also need to be at least 18 years old
- NCCCO strongly recommends students to be trained before taking the certification exams to increase the chance of passing it. You can enroll in a preparatory class.
If you have been certified by the NCCCO, the certification is valid for a period of 5 years, after which you need to recertify to keep your qualification current. If you need to recertify, you will receive a notice 1 year before the date of expiration.
If you will work in one of the state/city which has its own licensing procedure, you need to comply with the requirement. The procedures change every now and then, make sure to be updated on what’s current. As of this writing, there are 16 states and 7 cities that have a separate licensing requirement for crane operators. Visit this page to see those states and cities.
Passing the NCCCO Tests
Whether you’re new to crane operation or an experienced individual, taking a preparatory class in the best solution to boost the chance of passing both written and practical exams. It only takes several days or weeks, depending on the type of crane you want to get certified for.
The NCCCO has said it so, you must have knowledge and skill first prior to taking the certification exams in order to pass the tests. If you are willing to take a class, you can enroll at the school. In this website, we made a list of training schools in every state, just select your state on the menu, there you will find the directory of schools.
You may spend a small amount of money in taking the training class, an amount that you can easily recuperate once you attained the certification. A crane operator can make as much as $40,000 per year, will it depend on the location where you will be working since the salary varies from state to state.
Remember This
It is everyone’s best interest for the crane operator to be in good physical condition and health. Experiencing a medical emergency while operating crane could cause severe damage to property and could be deadly for the operator himself and other workers in the worksite.
This is the main reason why the NCCCO is requiring the crane certification candidates to undergo a rigorous physical and drug test that complies with the ASME B30 physical requirement. If you failed to fulfill this, you’re facing a career-ending repercussion.
