A full day of training focused on lift planning recently took place for Graycor Industrial engineers and interns as part of the company’s Engineer Mentor Program. The educational event—organized by the Engineer Mentor Committee (EMC)—began early on the morning of Aug. 9 at the company’s Portage, Indiana, facility where more than one dozen engineers and interns gathered to learn about working safely and properly around heavy industrial equipment and cranes.

The day’s topics included lift planning, equipment and an overview of the Portage Yard and Shop and its capabilities.

Starting in the classroom, Carlos Jaimes, the company’s lift/rigging engineer, educated the group on the potential safety hazards surrounding lift crane machinery. Attendees learned to develop their own lift plans that were then taken outside to the equipment yard area and put into action. Under Ernie Anderson’s direction, the engineers and interns were also given the operator’s perspective by climbing on board and operating a combination loader and forklift to understand what it is like to run those pieces of equipment. The exercise demonstrated the skill required by the operator, the visibility limitations when seated inside the equipment and awareness of the activities taking place around the area while operating the equipment.

... In our industry, the use of cranes and lift planning is an everyday occurrence, but in academia most programs don’t cover in-depth rigging and heavy lifting. This training fills that gap and stresses the importance of planning required to execute a safe lift.

Tony Dinnocenzo
EMC Mentor

According to Tony Dinnocenzo, EMC mentor, “Holding quarterly functions with our engineers is a great opportunity for team building, and having live hands-on activities is the best way to teach and learn. In our industry, the use of cranes and lift planning is an everyday occurrence, but in academia most programs don’t cover in-depth rigging and heavy lifting.” Tony adds, “This training fills that gap and stresses the importance of planning required to execute a safe lift.”

Following the training session, Graycor Industrial’s senior leaders met the EMC mentors, engineers and interns at Chicago’s Navy Pier where they departed for a river and lake architectural tour. Afterwards, the group enjoyed dinner at Harry Caray’s Restaurant.

Through its mentoring program, Graycor Industrial’s EMC recruits, mentors and trains new engineers hired by the company.