GWO Slinger Signaller - Paulo Cordeiro takes us through the instructor's perspective

GWO Slinger Signaller course is always one of the most fun courses to deliver as a instructor as firstly the range of knowledge and experience in terms of Slinger and Signaller varies in the classroom drastically and therefore requires some creativity to get the motivation of all participants. As an instructor on this module, one has to constantly try and tear down barriers and ensure correct outcomes are achieved and working along side the crane operator to try and make the experience as realistic as possible for the technician.

During Practical exercises we challenge the Hand Signal Skills and try to make it 2nd Nature for the technician to communicate with the operator to complete the exercise, even for the most experienced technicians it is challenging because most of the time they are used to 2 way radios and not hand signals.

During the training some of the key focuses and simulations thrown to the technicians was of the crane operator being distracted and on the phone while operating, incorrectly setting up lifting accessories to test observation skills from technician. Finally, a group effort on planning and executing a lift without any input to challenge the ability to sketch and execute lifting task with only readily available information from load charts and drawings.

Feedback from the technicians was that even though they were used to the tasks, when there are no 2 way radios it became more challenging to communicate and what was looked at as a simple exercise actually turned out to be a challenge. The training was designed in accordance with GWO Standards, and we have implemented a few add-ons to make it as realistic as possible. From picking up a piece of blade to a 20ft container, we have used real life objects to ensure we have prepared the technicians to embrace the new competency and role they will play going forward.

As a instructor it felt like a mission accomplished when the most experienced and the least experienced leave the training with the boxes ticked and assessments of the practical’s result having good feedback and that all “have taken” home something new and that I am confident they can execute lifts and instruct crane operators in a safe, productive and efficient manner.