Finland has formally recognised ESTA’s European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL).
Finland’s regional state administrative agencies (AVI) recognised the licence. The European association of abnormal road transport and mobile cranes (ESTA) said that the agencies are regional arms of the state with a wide range of regulatory, supervisory and permit-granting responsibilities across basic public services and occupational safety.
In future, an ECOL licenced operator will be able to request the issue of a crane operator licence – on provision and acceptance of their credentials – without the need for any further training or testing.
Finland is the sixth territory to recognise ECOL following Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and British Columbia in Canada.
“We are delighted at the Finnish decision,” said Ton Klijn, ESTA director and general manager of ECTOL, the body that oversees the crane and transport operator projects. “Getting Europe-wide recognition for ECOL is a long process – as we always knew it would be. Each country has its own regulatory authorities and each has to be individually convinced of the benefits of ECOL and of our high standards.”
