Advanced Rigging Concepts Specialty certification exam approved for development by NWSA Board

In Daily News Briefs by Wireless Estimator

NWSA-Rigging

The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) has announced that the certification organization’s Board of Directors has approved the development of a new Advanced Rigging Concepts Specialty certification exam.

This Advanced Rigging Concepts Specialty exam will offer a second option to the current certification pathway for those individuals seeking a Foreman credential. Development efforts are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2023 and conclude with the launch of the exam in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“NWSA is excited to move forward in the development process of this new specialty exam,” said Executive Director Duane MacEntee. “We anticipate the Advanced Rigging Concepts Specialty endorsement to draw heavily upon the requirements of the A10.48 Standard. Looking at industry site safety data trends, there have been numerous instances where dropped loads have caused damage to equipment and towers, and injuries to workers, not to mention the delays that those incidents cause to network build outs. The idea is for the specialty to validate a worker’s ability to understand rigging at a high level and test competency in load calculations and rigging plan development and implementation,” added MacEntee.

NWSA, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, is a national non-profit assessment and certification organization established to provide thorough, independent assessments of knowledge and skills and provide verifiable, ANSI accredited trade certifications to enhance safety, reduce workplace risk, improve quality, encourage training, and recognize the skilled professionals who work on towers and other non-standard communication structures.

NWSA currently offers the following industry-wide trade certification programs: Telecommunications Tower Technician 1 (TTT-1), Telecommunications Tower Technician 2 (TTT-2), Telecommunications Tower Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty Certification Program.

Other assessment and certification programs NWSA will likely unveil in the future include Structural Modifications, Small Cell Technician, Gin Pole Operations and Broadcast Tall Tower Technician.

Industry workers, companies and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the NWSA website at www.nws-a.org to learn more about the organization and how to begin the process of obtaining certification.