When CITCA was established in 2004, it was in response to an identified need in the communications tower erection industry. When company owners and safety officers alike told us that the industry needed training that was portable, affordable, focused on outcomes, and was competency based, we listened and we responded.

Over the past year, we heard the same need expressed again, this time by a new and unique industry. And again, we listened and we responded.

In late 2007, CITCA expanded its role to include not only communications tower safety, but wind tower safety as well. Today, CITCA works closely with several of the major alternate energy construction companies across the nation, training their workers to climb wind towers as well as perform wind tower rescue. Mark Clapp, Instructional Supervisor for CITCA, notes that "the alternate energy industry is growing in leaps and bounds. Wind tower climbing and rescue training is much different than communications towers, but we had the staff of specialists to meet the challenge, and today, our clients are thrilled. The feedback from the contractors has been fantastic!"

For more information on CITCA's wind tower safety programs, contact Michelle Adams at 800-313-5159.

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Steve Wilder, Vice-President for Training and Development for CITCA, the Communications Industry Training and Certification Academy, recently announced that CITCA has been notified that they are now a Bechtel approved provider of training for the tower erection industry.

In making the announcement, Wilder noted that “we have been confident all along that we would earn the Bechtel recognition. As a company whose mission is focused on safety and training, we knew that our philosophy on workplace safety and quality training was parallel to that of Bechtel”.

As a result of the approval, Wilder expects a major increase in training requests. “Every month, we receive calls from companies asking for our training, but needing us to be Bechtel approved. Our reputation for quality training programs at affordable rates has been the basis for our ongoing growth in the past few years. Now, companies who are Bechtel contractors can take advantage of those program benefits as well” he noted.

CITCA, which offers college accredited training for its clients, is based on the campus of Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, IL, about 60 miles south of Chicago. As Wilder noted, “college accreditation is one of the unique features that sets us apart from non-accredited programs. Regardless if a CITCA student is using the credits toward earning a college degree, it is an important credential that employers recognize when hiring the most qualified candidates, and that they recognize when they evaluate the quality of the training their employees are receiving.”

In addition to the campus in the suburbs of Chicago, CITCA classes are portable. “Our instructors travel, and we regularly visit the client’s site to provide the same accredited training that we provide on our campus. In today’s tight economy, it is another opportunity for us to save our clients money while making sure they receive the quality training they demand” he added. “We are presently involved in discussions to open training facilities in other parts of the nation, which will only expand what we are able to offer to the industry”.

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Safety should always be the first and foremost concern on any tower construction site, and to make safety training more accessible to the industry, TESSCO now offers Bechtel approved training from CITCA, at locations throughout the United States.

TESSCO customers are encouraged to contact their local sales representative for more details.

the objectives of the program include:

Understand OSHA and it’s relationship with the Tower Erection industry
Be able to research and locate OSHA standards affecting the tower erection industry
Be able to read, understand, and apply OSHA standards related to the tower erection industry
Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive company safety and health program.
Recognize, identify and eliminate job site safety hazards that affect employee safety and health
Understand and explain recordkeeping requirements, including both OSHA and non-OSHA requirements.
Be capable of conducting a thorough accident investigation.
Identify, through recordkeeping, costing and trending job related accidents, and how improvements in the safety management program can result in improved financial performance for the company.

For additional information, contact Michelle Adams at CITCA at 800-313-5159.