A school qualification, not an NCCCO card
Be clear on what this course is before you sign up. Completing it earns a Miller Crane Works Level I rigger/signal person qualification issued by the school. It does not include NCCCO exam preparation and does not lead to an NCCCO certification.
If you need the NCCCO Rigger Level I or Signalperson credential, take our 28-hour Rigger/Signal Person Certification Level I course instead. Many people start here and move on to the 28-hour course once they have some time on a crew.
Why bother with four hours at all? Because a safe lift is decided on the ground. The operator can only lift what the crew attached, and can only move where the signal person directs. A cracked hook, a sling at a bad angle or an unclear signal puts everyone under that load at risk, no matter how good the person in the cab is. Short, practical training for the people doing that ground work is a sensible place to start.
Who sends people to this course
- New ground crew. Before your first lift, learn what to check, how loads are attached and where to stand.
- People who will give signals. Learn the standard hand signals an operator is watching for, and how voice and radio signals work.
- Workers planning to certify later. Build a foundation before the 28-hour NCCCO preparation course.
No rigging experience is needed. If several people from one company need the basics, our company classes page explains how to enroll a group; all classes are taught at our Seagoville facility.
What fits into four hours
The session mixes classroom teaching with hands-on practice. It is short, so it sticks to the essentials a crew member uses on every lift, whether the crane is mobile or tower.
Rigging hardware
Slings, shackles and hooks: what each is for, and how to do a visual inspection that catches cuts, crushing, heat damage, bent or stretched hardware and missing tags. Damaged gear comes out of service; you will learn to recognize it. The checks follow the ideas in the ASME B30 standards that cover slings and rigging hardware.
Hitches and sling angles
The vertical, choker and basket hitches and when each makes sense. You will also see why a sling pulling at a flat angle carries far more tension than one hanging nearly vertical, which is the reason a load can overload slings that look strong enough.
Staying safe around the load
Using tag lines to control a load, watching for pinch points, and keeping yourself and others out from under a suspended load.
Signals and the signal person's job
Standard hand signals for mobile and tower cranes, practiced until they are clear and correct; the basics of voice and radio signaling; and what a signal person is responsible for during a lift.
How the four hours run
- Classroom basics: hardware, hitches and the duties of a signal person.
- Hands-on practice: inspect real rigging hardware and run through the hand signals.
- Level I qualification: finish the course and receive the Miller Crane Works Level I qualification.
- Optional next step: we will advise you on moving into NCCCO rigger and signal person certification through the 28-hour course.
Federal crane rules (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1428) require signal persons on construction sites to be qualified, and the NCCCO card is one recognized way to show that. Ask your employer which proof they need; this course is a starting point, and the 28-hour course is the certification route.
Price and signing up
Tuition is $395. Ask us about any funding options that may apply to you, including employer sponsorship.
To enroll, call or use the form and tell us your role on the job site. We will confirm the course fits, go over the school's admission requirements and help you pick a class date. Then come to 304 Tunnell St in Seagoville for the session. The admission page lists every step. If your employer is paying, have them contact us directly; we can work out the enrollment with them and send the details you need for your class date. Please read our grievance policy before enrolling, and wear work boots and clothes suited to hands-on work outdoors.