Valero operators muscle to meet California deadline

Crane operators from the Maintenance Department of Valero Energy Corporation's Wilmington, CA refinery recently set out toachieve the task of earning their NCCCO certification.

Attempting to comply with Cal-OSHA's June 1st, 2005 deadline was challenging for refineries throughout California, and many resorted to assistance from local contract crane companies to supply them with cranes and operators. However, even local crane companies reported that they, too, were struggling to get their operators certified.

Valero's Wilmington Refinery, already a VPP star site, was the first California refinery to accomplish this task. All ten of Valero's crane operators successfully completed the written and practical testing and obtained their required certification. This included Carlos Barajas, one of Valero's newer crane operators.