After breaking ground for the local’s new rigging yard last April, Local 374 journeymen and apprentices began erecting the steel frame.
New addition reinforces lodge’s commitment to contractors, customers
MEMBERS OF LOCAL Lodge 374 have not one, but two high-tech training facilities. One is located by their lodge office in Hammond, Ind.; the other can be found about 300 miles south in Dale, Ind., where members recently completed a new rigging yard.
The rigging yard will be used to train all Local 374 apprentices in multiple rigging classes. The 60-ft. by 80-ft. structure has tuggers and a snatch-block system, but still has enough room for mobile equipment. It has three fixed tiers on the west end, and a removable structure on the east end that will be used to teach steel erection and dismantling.
Ground was broken for the Dale rigging yard last April by Sterling Boiler crews who performed the site and civil work, including the footings, piers, and flat work.
The structure was fabricated offsite and arrived in mid-July. Local 374 journeymen and apprentice volunteers then erected the structure in 14 days, working in summer temperatures of over 100 degrees.
“This new addition to our training program will reinforce Local 374’s commitment to our contractors and customers that our craft’s goal is to be the leader of the Building Trades servicing heavy industry,” said Local 374 BM-ST Paul Maday.
