Detailed information on the required technical equipment maintenance privileges is provided in Regulation of the Minister of Enterprise and Technology of 21 May 2019 on the manner and mode of checking qualifications required for the operation and maintenance of technical devices, and on the way and mode of extending the validity of qualification certificates.

We decided to collect the most important information for the most used crane equipment in industry, production and warehouses.

Future operators must apply for confirmation of a certificate enabling the handling of lifting equipment:

• fixed cranes
  Whether it’s going to be jib crane column, wall or broken arm, an employee using this type of equipment must pass the test to acquire a permit – the period of validity of such document is 10 years.
  (This is no different for mobile and portable cranes. In contrast, 5 years is important acquired the right to use mobile cranes, rail cranes, tower cranes, high speed cranes, railways, deck cranes and floating cranes.
• cranes
  Available on the market cranes track-side, suspended overhead cranes and light-duty overhead crane systems are also subject to mandatory operating rights. Here too, the document is valid for 10 years.
• gantry winches
  Whether or not the employee will use with the gate a fixed or mobile certificate with suspended load is eligible for mandatory and valid as above 10 years.
• Chain hoists and cable winches — electric 
  It should be taken into account that these lifting units are suspended on cranes, cranes or gantry winches. For example, an operator working on a crane with a chain hoist suspended must have separate rights for cranes and separate rights for puller – in both cases 10 years of validity shall apply.
• In case of lifting bogies with a powered lifting mechanism, the operator qualification is valid for 10 years. For trucks with a boom or a lifting mechanism that raises the operator together with the load, the qualification documents are valid for 5 years. 

Of course, you don’t always need permission. For some devices, read the user manual, follow the health and safety rules and instruction will be sufficient. 

For example, operators are exempt from the need to hold papers Scissor lift tables. . . Here they should not be confused with mobile platforms (uplifts).

They do not need to have any special permissions also for users of hand-operated devices of all mechanisms, e.g. hoists and winchand (line and chain) or vacuum equipment (suspension and lifts).

To be handled hand pallet truckswhether platform trolleys also no permissions are needed. Here we can also pass hand-operated trucks with electric drive and lifting bogies with platforms or forks not subject to technical supervision.

Key issues concerning the examination

Everything starts with an application for checking qualifications – here we choose the range – operation or maintenance of a given device. Maintenance powers require us to have technical, detailed knowledge and usually only specialists working in the crane industry take tests every day. The first option is therefore sufficient to acquire the permission to operate.  

It will be important to indicate where the theoretical and practical examination is carried out. The place where the exam is held depends largely on the company conducting the training. Sometimes it will be in their square, and sometimes in the company where the future operator works.   

From the moment of submission of a complete application, an examination period shall be fixed without delay, which shall not exceed 30 working days.

The theoretical part is carried out in paper or electronic form. Knowledge of the construction of a device, health and safety regulations, operator activities or basic legal acts will be important here.  

The second practical part checks the handling skills of a given installation. The result is given immediately after the exam.

FAQ

1. Is it necessary to perform psychotests in order to take the exam? 
   For a forklift truck, yes. If an overhead crane or a jib crane is operated from ground level “0”, psychological aptitude tests are not required.
2. Do I have to take the exam again after the expiration of my privileges?
   There’s no need. An application for renewal shall be submitted three months before the expiry of the validity of the licence (but not later). It says that in the last 5 years, we have worked as an operator for at least 3 years. The application is filed with the unit in which we were issued an earlier certificate.
3. What is the period of validity of allowances in case of increases?
   When we talk about mobile stand stands, qualifications are valid for 10 years. In the case of mobile platforms, this is 5 years.
4. Do you also need permission to handle scaffolding?
   Installation and dismantling rights are needed scaffolding. . . It shall have an unlimited period of validity unless there is a greater omission—then it may be received.