What is ECOL?
ECOL is a European licensing system for operators of mobile cranes [as defined by the EN-13000 construction standard]. ECOL sets a standard for the training and examination of mobile crane operators, ensuring that the content and quality of both the training and the examination meet specific criteria.
ECOL Goals
ECOL aims to:
- enable every crane operator in Europe to demonstrate compliance with industry standards for safe operation of mobile cranes.
- facilitate seamless professional mobility for operators across European Member States,
eliminating the need for redundant retraining and testing. - help employers assess the qualifications and experience of potential operators.
- enable site and plant managers to check the qualifications and experience of crane operators entering their sites or plants.
ECOL Cornerstones
- Comprehensive theoretical and practical training
- Certified training institutes
- Independent examinations
- Registration of operator experience
- Validity of licence limited to 5 years ensuring up-to-date know-how and experience
Experience registration
Once licenced under the ECOL programme, an operator is required to register his experience in the SkillRecord experience registration system. This registration involves the type of crane operated and the type of work performed and allows him to prove his experience as operator to new employers or new clients.
ECOL Licence validity
The validity of ECOL licences can be checked using the credential checker on this website. This can be used to determine whether a licence is valid and has not been revoked. This eliminates the risk of card fraud.