Siemens Energy Strengthens Its Safety Culture Through CCO Certification
Siemens Energy strives to ensure every lift is performed by knowledgeable, confident, and well-prepared professionals. With CCO’s nationally recognized Rigger certifications and Event Online Testing (EOT), Siemens Energy has created a culture in which certification is not simply encouraged; it is expected, supported, and woven into everyday operations.
For Siemens Energy, lifting and rigging are essential parts of daily work. Training Manager Greg Boone, Campus Rigging & Lifting Lead, Mike Jenkins, and Technical Training Specialist, April Weaver, help guide a thoughtful, structured approach to rigging competency, one that blends comprehensive internal training with the gold standard in industry certification from CCO.
How the Partnership Began: Why CCO?
Siemens Energy began requiring CCO Rigger certification in late 2019 into early 2020. After a brief pandemic interruption, the company resumed training in 2022 and has stayed on a steady monthly cycle ever since. Today, the Siemens Energy campus count roughly 450 Rigger Level I and just under 100 Rigger Level II certification holders, a scale that places Siemens Energy among CCO’s top employers.
The decision to focus on rigging certification was data-driven. During a sitewide workshop, Siemens Energy analyzed more than a decade of incident reports. That insight pushed Siemens Energy to strengthen rigging competence first, and CCO’s program provided the standardized, accredited path they needed.
Administering Exams Through Event Online Testing (EOT)
Siemens Energy delivers all CCO written exams through Event Online Testing (EOT) on campus. CCO provides secure, computer-based exams where required tools, like calculators and rigging load charts, are available on screen. Providing EOT allows CCO to serve a, 24/7 – five-shift operation efficiently, scheduling monthly EOT sessions for groups of 15 to 18 employees without sending them off campus or disrupting production.
EOT also reinforces employees’ focus on preparation and confidence. Before exam day, candidates can use CCO’s online demo exam to get comfortable with the platform, practice navigating questions, and learn how to use the on-screen tools. By the time employees sit for their EOT session, the format is familiar, and the exam functions as a relevant capstone to Siemens Energy’s training process and a clear confirmation of each employee’s readiness to work safely.
A Training Pipeline That Builds Real Skill
Certification is the culmination of a longer pathway that Siemens Energy intentionally designed. Every employee begins with overhead crane awareness training during orientation. Those who will work directly with cranes continue to a three-day, overhead crane course, followed by Rigger Level I and, when needed, Rigger Level II. Employees must also complete on-the-job crane training hours before CCO certifications are granted.
Boone emphasized that certification helps prove competency. “To qualify someone, we really don’t want somebody that’s just held the crane position for a length of time, but not actually doing lifts,” he said. “We verify they’ve done real lifts and can perform well.”
Certification gives employees with no prior rigging experience a clear progression. Weaver reflected on going through certification herself, noting that she “learned so much” and developed a stronger ability to recognize issues on the floor. In sum, certification can reinforce Siemens Energy’s speak up and escalation culture and help employees participate even more actively in maintaining a safe work environment.
Visible Results: Safer Behavior and Better Decisions
One of the clearest indicators of culture change has come from rigging inspections and the related optimizations that have been documented as part of this process.
That documented optimization reflects better inspections, improved understanding of sling selection, and stronger stop-work habits across the workforce. The impact, in Jenkins’ view, is unmistakable.
Confidence has grown as well. Boone described employees who recognize hazards earlier, and, based on Siemens Energy’s longstanding speak-up culture, feel empowered to ask questions when something appears off. The CCO certification process enables Siemens Energy’s employees to communicate better, understand their roles and responsibilities, and reinforce their confidence to assess and manage risks.
Why Certification Matters to Siemens Energy
For Siemens Energy, CCO certification ties directly into job expectations. Some employees must maintain certification to continue performing their roles. Boone described the importance of clear expectations, so that crane-dependent roles can be maintained.
Their investment in certification reflects and reinforces Siemens Energy’s broader philosophy of safety first: safe work must be intentional, structured, and reinforced at every level of the organization. Siemens Energy’s approach demonstrates how a disciplined internal pipeline, paired with CCO certification, can produce measurable improvements in both performance and safety culture.
CCO is proud to acknowledge Siemens Energy as a difference-maker and looks forward to supporting their ongoing efforts to reinforce their safety culture, strengthen workforce development, and ensure that every lift is performed with care, competence, and professionalism.
