National Certificates

National Certificate in Crane Operation: Mobile, Tower, Overhead

Holders of these qualifications are able to operate a mobile, tower, or overhead crane efficiently and safely in a dynamic working environment. They are able to determine the nature of each lift, stabilise loads, and place loads to requirements, in a manner that ensures the safety of all people and property. They are also able to maintain their equipment to a safe operational standard.

National Certificate in Cranes: Advanced Mobile Crane Operation

This qualification ensures the trainee demonstrates specialised crane operations knowledge, and operating skills. The person securing this qualification has the ability to undertake a wide range of complex operational work at the most advanced level and will generally have operated cranes and completed a wide range of crane duties using different crane configurations over many years of direct experience. The qualification builds on skills acquired in a crane operating environment.

^ National Certificate in Cranes: Mobile Crane Supervision, Tower Crane Supervision

These qualifications ensure the trainee achieves and demonstrates advanced on and off site knowledge in the operation and supervision of mobile or tower cranes as well as senior administration and management skills.

This qualification recognises the skills and knowledge required to plan and manage crane operations from depot to site. The skills include operational job planning skills including industry mathematical calculation abilities; instigation and interpretation of work plan drawings; the ability to complete documentation and provide written reports in clear terms.

^ National Certificate in Cranes: Mobile Crane Dispatch Supervision

This certificate is awarded to people who can demonstrate fundamental crane industry knowledge and the ability to select and dispatch suitable cranes to and from the work site. The person obtaining this certificate will have proven skills of customer liaison and sound interpersonal communication abilities, knowledge of office functional requirements including clerical management and the ability to write in plain English.

^ National Certificate in Crane Operation: Piling and Foundation Operations

This certificate is intended for people who have previously gained the National Certificate in Crane Operation (Mobile) and now wish to specialise in piling and foundation operations.

The qualification recognises the skills required to operate cranes and equipment for the purposes of piling and foundation operations, efficiently and safely in a dynamic working environment. Candidates are able to deliver cranes and equipment to and from site; configure cranes, select the most appropriate crane for the piling and/or foundation equipment and operation; drill pile holes; and drive and extract piles using a range of equipment. They are also able to carry out service maintenance on their equipment to a safe operational standard.

^ National Certificate in Scaffolding (Basic)

As the range of equipment is limited, those who hold a Certificate of Competence based on this National Certificate will be basic strand certificate holders whose work is primarily with prefabricated systems where the design criteria have been calculated by the manufacturer. Hence the strong emphasis in the unit standards on working 'in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions'. As the range of equipment is limited, holders of this qualification will be able to work unsupervised on this limited range only. In saying this, it does not mean that they cannot work on other types, but rather that they cannot take unsupervised charge of work with equipment outside of the specified range.

The core compulsory section of the National Certificate in Scaffolding shares some unit standards with the core compulsory section of the National Certificate in Rigging with strands in Advanced Rigging, Basic Rigging, and Intermediate Rigging so people wishing to change direction in their work or add further skills are able to do so.

^ National Certificate in Scaffolding (Suspended)

Suspended strand certificate holders are those whose work is quite specific in its equipment range - that of cable supported scaffolds in their various configurations.

^ National Certificate in Scaffolding (Advanced)

Advanced strand certificate holders are those whose work is in the planning and erection of 'tube and clip' scaffolds to meet the highest demands found in the scaffolding industry. This is the highest level qualification available in this industry.

Within the industry, it is generally recognised that a person who can satisfactorily construct a scaffold with 'tube and clip' materials (core components of the advanced strand) can certainly be considered competent to construct utilising prefabricated components (core components of the basic strand). The reverse is certainly not the case.

Note: There is a direct relationship between this qualification and the Certificate of Competence as contained in the Health and Safety Employment Regulations.

^ National Certificate in Rigging (Basic)

The National Certificate in Rigging recognises the skills and knowledge required to work as a rigger. The terms 'Basic', 'Intermediate', and 'Advanced' refer to the range of equipment used, and to the content of the certificate or level of attainment of the holder. The range of equipment widens in range and complexity from the Basic, through the Intermediate and Advanced strands.

Holders of the certificate with the Basic strand are able to select the proper sling; sling loads; direct and position loads. They will work safely within the capability of the crane and with straightforward loads.

^ National Certificate in Rigging (Intermediate)

Holders of the certificate with the Intermediate strand are able to carry out all basic functions; rig cranes, conveyers, and similar gear for heavy lifts; handle the associated rope work; and work at heights.

^ National Certificate in Rigging (Advanced)

Holders of the Advanced strand are able to meet the top equipment usage level in the rigging industry, such as guyed derricks, gin poles, cable ways and fabricated hung scaffolds. They are also able to plan and supervise complex operations. This is the highest level qualification available in this industry.

The Core Compulsory section of the National Certificate in Rigging is common to the National Certificate in Scaffolding so that people wishing to change direction in their work or add further skills are already part way towards scaffolding by virtue of holding this qualification.

^ National Certificate in Industrial Rope Access (Elementary Rope Skills)

The National Certificate in Industrial Rope Access (Elementary Rope Skills) is designed as a national qualification to empower people by recognising basic skills and knowledge required by an industrial rope access worker. This certificate is the first of two national certificates that comprise the qualifications in Industrial Rope Access: the second is the National Certificate in Industrial Rope Access (Working on Ropes).

These qualifications aim to:

• provide people with the knowledge, skills and attitude to seek employment in the industrial rope access industry;
• develop skills in the safe use of a wide variety of industrial rope access equipment;
• develop a wide range of rope techniques;
• develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health and safety in the workplace;
• develop skills for emergency situations;
• provide students with a solid foundation on which to further their skills.

The qualifications recognise knowledge and skills required by industrial rope workers in a commercial environment.

^ National Certificate in Industrial Rope Access (Working on Ropes)

The National Certificate in Industrial Rope Access (Working on Ropes) is designed as a national qualification to empower people by recognising skills and knowledge to enable them to manage industrial rope works in a controlled environment. The certificate is the second of two national certificates that comprise the qualifications in Industrial Rope Access: the first is the National Certificate in Industrial Rope Access (Elementary Rope Skills)