Ribbon Cutting for Centered on Safety Training Center
Dec. 7, 2015—West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) and Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) held a program showcase and open house on Dec. 2, 2015 to celebrate their partnership through the College’s Economic Development Division.
The ceremony took place at the Centered on Safety™ Training Center on the Murphy Campus in Waco, Ga., which showcased hands-on, job specific training for the crane and rigging industry.
Approximately 40 people, including Georgia State Senator Mike Dugan (R), attended. Other guests included Angela Royal from the Georgia Department of Labor; Vann Pelt, Vice President of Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, which provided the cranes for the Showcase; representatives from business development group Carroll Tomorrow, Carroll and Haralson County chambers of commerce, as well as contractors, utility companies, and union representatives.
The availability of expanded technical courses comes at a time when construction starts are growing in Georgia, while the labor supply fails to meet to the demand.
“Our entire state is experiencing shortages of skilled laborers. Many were lost to other forms of employment during the Great Recession. But there is also a generation that has lived through a heavy emphasis on attending traditional four-year universities rather than learning a trade. In Georgia, we are working hard to reverse the trend,” said Sen. Dugan. He cited the importance of the State’s Move On When Ready program, but said cooperative efforts between government, institutions and private industry will likely have the biggest impact.
Those thoughts were echoed by WGTC President Steve Daniel, who welcomed Crane Industry Services. “It takes employers, educators, and private business working together in order to provide the expertise and types of technical training that the industry seeks,” he said.
Event highlights
The ceremonial ribbon was held by two crane hooks in honor of the Centered on Safety™ Training Center’s purpose to provide crane, rigging and construction craft training. The event included crane operation and rigging demonstrations.
Cliff Dickinson, president of Crane Industry Services, enlisted volunteers from among the guests to demonstrate typical rigging tasks, such as how to turn a load, finding load center of gravity, and proper hand signals. Terry Norris and Gary Lloyd, Crane and Rigging Specialists for Crane Industry Services, demonstrated basic crane operation.
Courses delivered by CIS’s certified instructors are essential to construction, utilities, power generation, manufacturing, and mining and refining. Courses include Basic and Advanced Rigging; Rigging Inspector; Crane Operator training, certification and qualification for Mobile, Overhead, and Tower Cranes; Crane Inspector; Crane Site Safety Management; and Power Line Safety for Utility Workers. Additional courses are in development. Custom courses and open enrollment options are available.
