A Houston builder of complex buildings
Vaughn Construction is a family-owned general contractor headquartered in Houston. The company describes itself as one of the largest contractors in Texas and a builder of research, healthcare, higher education and biomedical facilities. It works under design-build, construction manager-at-risk and hard-bid contracts, and uses tools like laser scanning and building information modeling. Its company history lists a 149,000-square-foot expansion for the University of Houston-Downtown in 1995 as its first major general contracting project, and a 20-story courthouse for Harris County, finished in 2006 on a very tight site.
How cranes shape a hospital or lab project
Buildings like these are dense with structure and equipment. A typical project sees a tower crane or large mobile crane through the frame, then a long run of picks for air handlers, chillers, generators and rooftop units, plus curtain wall panels and precast. On a crowded medical campus, the crane may swing near occupied buildings, helicopter paths and public walkways.
The general contractor usually owns the logistics: where the crane sits, when it is booked, which trade gets it, and how lifts near the public are controlled. Superintendents and project engineers do not need to run the crane to do that well, but they do need to read a lift plan, know what a load chart allows, and recognize when a pick needs more planning.
Rooftop equipment sets are a good example. A mobile crane may come in for a single weekend, parked in a closed street lane with mats under the outriggers, picking units onto a roof it cannot see. The rigging crew on the roof, the signal person on the radio, the street closure and the crane rental all have to line up on one morning, and the person organizing it needs to know what questions to ask the crane company ahead of time.
Training for the people around the crane
Signal persons and riggers
When the operator of a tower crane cannot see the load, OSHA 1926.1419 requires a signal person, and 1926.1428 says that person must be qualified. On building projects, those signals often come over the radio from a trade foreman or a GC field employee. The 28-hour Rigger/Signal Person Certification Level I course prepares people for the NCCCO Rigger Level I and Signalperson exams, including standard voice signals and how to build rigging for awkward mechanical units.
Field staff who need the basics
The 4-hour Level I Rigger/Signal Person class gives assistant superintendents and safety staff a short grounding in hitches, sling angles, hardware and hand signals. It is a Miller Crane Works qualification rather than an NCCCO certification.
Operators
If the company or its subcontractors employ tower crane operators, the 40-hour tower crane course prepares for NCCCO Tower Crane Operator certification on the tower crane in our yard, where the tower practical exam is also given.
Coming from Houston
All of our training happens at 304 Tunnell St in Seagoville, on the southeast side of Dallas and about 240 road miles from Houston up I-45. Most Houston employees stay near the school for the length of the course rather than driving it daily. The Premium Tower Crane Operations 48 Course offers optional room and board; for the shorter rigging courses, a one- or two-night stay is usually enough. We do not hold classes on job sites or in Houston.
Arranging training for a project team
Ahead of a crane-heavy phase is a good time to send people. Use company classes or call (214) 763-0513 with how many people need training, their roles and your target dates. We will suggest courses and check the schedule for openings. Questions about invoicing or prerequisites can go through contact us.