EUROPE Ӏ ESTA


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agreed to recognise ECOL. This means that ECOL-qualified operators will be able to work in all those territories without further training or testing. Mutual recognition talks are


underway with Germany, Ireland, Spain and Switzerland.


ECOL TRAINING CENTRES Four ECOL training centres have already been approved – EUC Lillebælt in Denmark; Liebherr Werk Ehingen in Germany; Mammoet Academy in the Netherlands; and Sarens Academy in Belgium. Crane manufacturers Tadano and Manitowoc are also planning to become approved ECOL training centres. ECOL's online examination


system is now up and running in three languages – English, Dutch and Danish. A German version will be available soon. ECOL has certified examination


56 CRANES TODAY


Around €500 million is spent annually on applying for, obtaining, and complying with the provisions of exceptional transport permits.


institutes in The Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark and over 70 operators have been ECOL- qualified to date. There is no doubt in the minds of ESTA and the crane manufacturers that ECOL will make our European industry safer and more efficient. It is also worth stressing that the


overwhelming majority of crane industry incidents are caused by operator error and not mechanical failure, which underlines why training standards and initiatives such as ECOL are fundamentally important. But to really make a difference in the long term, we need: Stronger support from national training and regulatory authorities. Major clients to tell their contractors that they will use ECOL-qualified operators whenever possible.


All European crane companies to make operator training a top priority.


CLIENT SUPPORT Those clients and contractors who have dealt with ECOL have been very supportive of the project from the beginning.


One site manager from the


wind energy industry said: "We have to be honest. There are currently people out there who are operating a crane who should not be. As a client, often you do not have a clue who is sitting in the crane. ECOL is a tremendous step forward and could improve safety a lot"


A heavy lift manager in the


petrochemical industry said: "As an industry client, we have long struggled with the problem of judging whether a crane operator is truly qualified - and qualified to do what."


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