ECOL pilot schemes on track

Four organisations have agreed to take part in this month’s pilot – or test – run of the new European Crane Operators Licence scheme being launched by ESTA.

Fagioli’s Corporate Academy from Italy and EUC Lillebǣlt from Denmark have signed up as have both SOMA and the Mammoet Training Centre from the Netherlands. 

ESTA started work on a Europe-wide operator licence for mobile crane operators back in 2013 in an attempt to raise standards, improve safety and ease skills shortages.

ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “We are making excellent progress, and we want to trial the system with selected groups to ensure that it is working effectively before it goes fully live.”

Assuming that the pilot work goes to plan, ESTA will then be in a position to request the European Qualifications Framework to have ECOL registered and recognised at EQF Level 2 across Europe. 

Currently each EU member state has its own rules for professional competence and the certification of crane operators. It is ESTA’s intention to enable every crane operator in Europe to demonstrate that he or she meets the minimum requirements of the industry.

ECOL is receiving funding under Erasmus+, the new European funding programme for education, youth and sport (2014-2020).

For more information, go to www.ecol-esta.eu. or contact ESTA directly.