The Northern Illinois Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee and CITCA have recently joined forces in developing a wind turbine rescue class that will be incorporated into all apprentice training programs of the IBEW. The new program, which included design and development of indoor and outdoor training props including a mock turbine, will kick off in January, 2010 and is expected to train upwards of 400 apprentices annually.

Steve Wilder, V/P and COO of CITCA called the new program the result of many months of hard work and effort by JATC and CITCA personnel. "CITCA will provide an in-house train-the-trainer program for NIEJATC instructors" according to Wilder "and these instructors will then train their apprentices in wind turbine climbing and rescue, using the CITCA program. Upon completion, the apprentices will receive the appropriate CITCA certifications, which are recognized and accepted across the nation".

Wilder praised the cooperation between the two entities. "Working with Todd Kindred and his staff at NIELATC was an absolute pleasure. Both of us are committed to training workers to work in the safest and most efficient means possible. When you share a common goal, the rest falls into place."

For more information on CITCA's safety and training programs, call 800-313-5159.

Steve Wilder, V/P and COO of CITCA, the Communication Industry Training and Certification Academy in Bradley, IL recently announced the opening a new regional training facility near Dallas, TX.

The facility, built on the campus of Rio Steel and Tower in Alvarado, TX includes classroom training facilities as well as a specially designed training tower. “For years, CITCA has enjoyed an incredible relationship with Rio Steel and Tower” says Steve Wilder, V/P and COO of CITCA. “This new facility allows us to expand our training programs in the Dallas area, where we have always had a strong presence. Plus, both existing clients and new clients in the area will have access to more affordable training, with less travel demands and lower expenses for their employees. Now we have both instructors and a facility in the area, so the cost of training goes down” Wilder added.

The facility includes a 60’ self supporting tower, designed specifically for training. “With some simple changes, it is almost an exact replica of the tower at our Illinois campus. It is built as a training prop, with student safety a top priority, and can be used for a variety of classes and subjects” he noted.

Wilder indicated that plans are on the table to cooperatively establish regional training sites with other clients across the nation as well. “Opening the Texas facility was the result of the incredible relationship we have with Rio Steel” according to Wilder. “We take pride in the relationships we form with our clients, and those relationships are now setting the stage for additional regional training sites in other parts of the nation as well. CITCA has become known for the quality of our programs and our instructors. In this economy, companies are watching their training budgets closely, and looking for ways to do more with less. Regionalizing training and reducing the costs is part of our efforts to assist them in meeting their goals”.

Anyone wishing more information or class schedules can contact Wilder at 800-313-5159.

Steve Wilder, Vice-President for Training and Development for CITCA, the Communications Industry Training and Certification Academy, announced today 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 programs 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”.

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.