NACB Holds Annual Professional Development Conference

Enlarge Image Ted Blanton, NACB president, discusses crane simulation.

November 19, 2007 • The North American Crane Bureau, Orlando, Fla., held its annual Professional Development Conference Nov. 12-16 in Las Vegas, Nev. The conference, now in its third decade, was held at Palace Station Hotel & Casino. Industry experts presented up-to-date information on crane, hoist and rigging safety standards, certification requirements and inspection criteria. Approximately 150 participants — crane operators, safety managers and inspectors, among others — attended the week-long event.

 

Throughout the week, conference attendees were able to participate in a crane simulator rodeo. Crane operators competed against their peers, using a crane simulator to perform specially developed rodeo exercises. Computerized scoring generated the top 10 participants in two categories: mobile hydraulic crane and cab-operated overhead crane.

 

Winners of the contest were named during an attendee appreciation dinner on Thursday. Mike Gibbs, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, won the rodeo in the mobile crane division. Steve Earl, with the Boeing Company, won the overhead crane division.