SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (Saudi Aramco) G. I. Number  Approved  

7.025
GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE REPLACES
ISSUING ORG. ROADS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT
07/25/2008 07/15/2008
 APPROVAL PAGE NO.
SUBJECT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION  AFW 1 OF 8 

1.0 PURPOSE

This General Instruction (GI):

1.1 Specifies the requirements for testing and certification of Saudi Aramco and/or contractor
onshore and offshore heavy equipment operators. 

1.2 Identifies personnel authorized to operate heavy equipment.

1.3 Identifies the USER responsibilities to certify heavy equipment operators.

1.4 Improves Saudi Aramco and contractor safety performance when using heavy equipment.

2.0 REFERENCES

It shall be the responsibility of Saudi Aramco USERS and contractors to be familiar with the current
version of the publications referenced below.

API: American Petroleum Institute

A) API - SPEC 2C Specification for Offshore Cranes-1995

B) API - RP 2D Recommended Practice for Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes
th
(4  Edition-1999)
C) GI 6.001 Notification Requirements for Incidents (Including Fires)
D) GI 6.003 Guide for Committees Investigating Major Incidents and Engineering
Reviews of Other Incidents
E) GI 7.024 Marine and Offshore Crane, Hoist and Rigging Operations
F) GI 7.026 Cranes and Heavy Equipment Accident Reporting Procedures
th
G) Saudi Aramco Construction Safety Manual, 4  edition, 1993
H) Saudi Aramco Medical Services Policy MSP-98, Attachment E “Mobile
Heavy Equipment Operators”
I) Saudi Aramco Safety Handbook

3.0 SCOPE

This GI covers all onshore and offshore Saudi Aramco and contractor personnel operating heavy
equipment within Saudi Aramco facilities, on Saudi Aramco jobsites outside of operating facilities,
off Saudi Aramco property under a Saudi Aramco contract, and in applicable Saudi Aramco
domestic joint venture companies.

4.0 DEFINITIONS

* CHANGE ** ADDITION NEW INSTRUCTION COMPLETE REVISION

 

SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (Saudi Aramco) G. I. Number  Approved  

7.025
GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE REPLACES
ISSUING ORG. ROADS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT
07/25/2008 07/15/2008
 APPROVAL PAGE NO.
SUBJECT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION  AFW 2 OF 8 

4.1 HOME COUNTRY CERTIFICATION – Certification for non-Saudi Aramco marine

 personnel from a recognized international institution (Refer to GI 7.024 for additional
information).

4.2 PROPONENT – See USER

4.3 SAG – Saudi Arab Government

4.4 USER - Saudi Aramco proponent department or other organization authorized to act on
 behalf of the Saudi Aramco proponent department.

5.0 HEAVY EQUIPMENT REQUIRING OPERATOR CERTIFICATION

5.1 Use Table #1 below to verify the operator certification requirements for a particular piece of
equipment.

NOTE #1:  Additional pieces of equipment, not currently listed in Table #1, may also
require a specific certification. Contact the USER department for information regarding
unlisted equipment.

TABLE #1
EQUIPMENT TYPE SAUDI ARAMCO HEAVY SAG PUBLIC
CERTIFICATION SAG DRIVER’S
LICENSE LICENSE
W/STAMP
Backhoe YES YES --------------------
Boom Truck – Articulating YES ---------- YES
Boom Truck – Telescoping YES ---------- YES
Bulldozer YES  YES --------------------
Crane – Mobile YES  YES  --------------------  
Crane – Pedestal YES  ----------   --------------------  
Crane – Tower YES  ----------   --------------------  
Forklift YES  YES  --------------------  
Gradall YES  YES  --------------------
Grader YES  YES  --------------------  
Loader – Skid (Bobcat) YES  YES  --------------------  
Loader – Wheel YES  YES  --------------------  
Manlift – Hydraulic YES  ---------- --------------------  
Manlift – Scissor YES  ---------- --------------------  
Manlift – Telescoping YES  ---------- --------------------  
Sideboom – Pipelayer YES  YES  --------------------  
** Straddle Carrier YES ---------- --------------------
Telehandler YES ---------- --------------------
Tractor - Scraper YES  YES  --------------------  

* CHANGE ** ADDITION NEW INSTRUCTION COMPLETE REVISION

 

SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (Saudi Aramco) G. I. Number  Approved  

7.025
GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE REPLACES
ISSUING ORG. ROADS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT
07/25/2008 07/15/2008
 APPROVAL PAGE NO.
SUBJECT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION  AFW 3 OF 8 

Traxcavator YES  YES  --------------------  

5.2 A home-country certification for non-Saudi Aramco marine personnel from a recognized
international institution shall be accepted for heavy equipment used offshore (See GI 7.024
for additional information).

** 5.3 Beginning January 1, 2010, heavy equipment operators for onshore fixed cranes (i.e. pedestal
cranes) and tower cranes (fixed or on rails) shall be required to pass a written and
 performance test.

6.0 GENERAL

6.1 Craftsmen (mechanics, electricians, inspectors, etc.) operating equipment for maintenance
and testing reliability shall be designated in writing by the USER department manager to
operate such equipment for repair, maintenance, and/or testing purposes only.

6.2 For this GI, equipment mounted on off-shore facilities/craft shall be considered 'fixed'
equipment. Regulations for operator testing and certification shall be implemented as stated
in API-Specification 2C, API-Recommended Practice 2D, and GI 7.024.

6.3 The Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate (Saudi Aramco or home country
certificate for offshore operations) shall be valid.

6.4 A SAG Public driver’s license (if required) shall be valid.

6.5 The USER shall verify that all onshore heavy equipment operators have been certified by
Saudi Aramco to operate the specific heavy equipment to which they are assigned.

6.6 The USER shall verify that all offshore heavy equipment operators have been certified by
Saudi Aramco or by a recognized international institution (See GI 7.024 for additional
information).

6.7 The USER may request re-certification of a heavy equipment operator at any time.

7.0 HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

7.1 The “Saudi Aramco/Contractor Request for Heavy Equipment Operator Certification Test”
application form (SA 9647) [See Attachment #2] shall be submitted to ITD for each heavy
equipment operator being tested.

In addition to the application form, the heavy equipment operator applicant shall provide
copies of:

a) Saudi Aramco USER sponsoring letter (for contractors only),

 b) Saudi Aramco ID (if required),
c) SAG Public Driver’s License or SAG Heavy Equipment Operator License (if required)
with specific equipment stamp,

* CHANGE ** ADDITION NEW INSTRUCTION COMPLETE REVISION

 

SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (Saudi Aramco) G. I. Number  Approved  

7.025
GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE REPLACES
ISSUING ORG. ROADS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT
07/25/2008 07/15/2008
 APPROVAL PAGE NO.
SUBJECT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION  AFW 4 OF 8 

d) SA 9663 - Saudi Aramco/Contractor’s Medical Examination for Heavy Equipment

Operators “Physician’s Examination Form” – Completed, signed, and stamped (See
Attachment #1), and

** NOTE #2:  For Saudi Aramco heavy equipment operators, form SA 9663 shall be completed
 by a Saudi Aramco physician in accordance with Saudi Aramco Medical
Services Organization (SAMSO) Medical Services Policy MSP-98, Attachment
E. Form SA 3941, “Medical Examination Request/Notice”, shall then be
completed by the physician and the SA 9663 placed in the Saudi Aramco heavy
equipment operator’s medical records. The heavy equipment operator’s
supervisor shall submit the completed SA 3941 and any other required
documents, along with the heavy equipment operator’s certification application
form SA 9647, to ITD.

For contractor heavy equipment operators, form SA 9663 shall be completed by

a physician in accordance with SAMSO Medical Services Policy MSP-98,
Attachment E. Upon completion, the contractor heavy equipment operator’s
supervisor shall submit the completed SA 9663 and any other required
documents, along with the heavy equipment operator’s certification application
form SA 9647, to ITD.

e) Two (2) recent photographs for each certification application.

NOTE #3: Additional crane attachments need to be specified in the Request form.

**  NOTE #4: Written certification tests (if required) for heavy equipment operators shall be
in the English language only. 

7.2 A heavy equipment operator shall have a valid Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment Certificate
(or, if offshore, a valid Saudi Aramco or home country certificate) to operate the specific
heavy equipment listed in Table #1 to which he is assigned.

** 7.3 The Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment Certificate shall be valid for three (3) years.

**  NOTE #5:  Certifications for all crane attachments and additional crane manufacturers
shall also expire with the expiration of the Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment Certificate.

7.4 A heavy equipment operator shall possess a valid Heavy SAG license (if required per Table
#1), with the specific equipment stamp for the heavy equipment to which he is assigned.

7.5 A heavy equipment operator shall immediately provide his Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment
Certificate (or, if offshore, a valid Saudi Aramco or home country certificate) and SAG
license [if required] to any authorized Saudi Aramco representative, upon request.

* CHANGE ** ADDITION NEW INSTRUCTION COMPLETE REVISION

 

SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (Saudi Aramco) G. I. Number  Approved  

7.025
GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE REPLACES
ISSUING ORG. ROADS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT
07/25/2008 07/15/2008
 APPROVAL PAGE NO.
SUBJECT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION  AFW 5 OF 8 

7.6 A heavy equipment operator, involved in a crane incident, shall immediately surrender his
Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment Certificate to the USER representative during the
investigation. Based on the outcome of the investigation, the operator certificate will be
returned to the operator or forwarded to ITD until such time as the operator is re-certified
(Refer to GI 7.026 for additional information.)

7.7 A heavy equipment operator, involved in a heavy equipment incident other than a crane
incident, shall immediately surrender his Saudi Aramco Heavy Equipment Certificate to the
USER representative during the investigation. Based on the outcome of the investigation, the
operator certificate will be returned to the operator or forwarded to ITD until such time as the
operator is re-certified. The heavy equipment operator shall not be allowed to operate any
other piece of heavy equipment for which he may also be certified until his operator
certificate is returned to him (Refer to GI 6.001 and GI 6.003 for additional information).

8.0 ATTACHMENTS

8.1 Attachment #1 - Saudi Aramco/Contractor Medical Examination For Heavy Equipment

Operators – “Physician’s Examination Form” (SA 9663)

8.2 Attachment #2 - Saudi Aramco/Contractor Request for Heavy Equipment Operator

Certification Test (SA 9647)

* CHANGE ** ADDITION NEW INSTRUCTION COMPLETE REVISION

 

SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (Saudi Aramco) G. I. Number  Approved  

7.025
GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE REPLACES
ISSUING ORG. ROADS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT
07/25/2008 07/15/2008
 APPROVAL PAGE NO.
SUBJECT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION  AFW 6 OF 8 

Recommended by:
Manager
Roads & Heavy Equipment Department

Concurred by:
Manager
Loss Prevention Department

Concurred by:
Director
Industrial Training Department

Concurred by:
Executive Director
Industrial Services

Concurred by:
Chief
Preventive Medical Services Division

Approved by:
Senior Vice President
Operations Services

* CHANGE ** ADDITION NEW INSTRUCTION COMPLETE REVISION

 

SA 9663 (07/08)  MSP-98 – Attachment E  

SAUDI ARAMCO/CONTRACTOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION GI 7.025 – Attachment #1 
FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

PHYSICIAN’S EXAMINATION FORM*

*(UPON COMPLETING FORM, PHYSICIAN SHALL SIGN IN THE BOX AT THE BOTTOM
AND VERIFY SIGNATURE WITH HIS PERSONAL STAMP AND HIS FACILITY STAMP)

EMPLOYEE NAME SAUDI ARAMCO BADGE #

(PLEASE PRINT)

COMPANY NAME DATE

(PLEASE PRINT)

VISION NORMAL ABNORMAL

1 – The vision shall not be less than 20/40 in each eye separately,
with or without the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
2 – Color vision and visual fields should be normal.
3 – Diplopia is UNACCEPTABLE.

HEARING NORMAL ABNORMAL

4 – Hearing shall be adequate for normal speech communication
with or without a hearing aid.

POTENTIAL SUDDEN INCAPACITY NORMAL ABNORMAL

5 – Any condition likely to cause sudden incapacity is
UNACCEPTABLE. This includes, but is not limited to, a
history of seizures after the age of 5 years, vestibular disorders, heart
disease, and diabetes mellitus.

MISCELLANEOUS – The following must be considered: NORMAL ABNORMAL

6 – Impairment of musculo-skeletal capacities.
7 – Coordination and progressive or disabling neurological
disease.
8 – A history of psychiatric illness or emotional instability.
9 - Substance abuse.
10 – Medication and its side effects.

FIT TO WORK? YES NO

REMARKS:

PHYSICIAN’S NAME (PLEASE PRINT) PHYSICIAN’S SIGNATURE 

FACILITY NAME (PLEASE PRINT) FACILITY LOCATION (CITY)  FACILITY TELEPHONE # 

 

 
SA 9647 (07/08) Saudi Aramco GI 7.025 Attachment #2
SAUDI ARAMCO/CONTRACTOR
REQUEST FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION TEST
*MAIL TO SUPERVISOR FOR LOCATION LISTED AT BOTTOM OF PAGE 

Check appropriate box:  SAUDI ARAMCO CONTRACTOR

Check appropriate box:  ONSHORE OFFSHORE

SAUDI ARAMCO INFORMATION

USER Dept.: Org. Code: Telephone #:
CONTRACTOR INFORMATION
Company Name: Company Contact Name:
Mailing Address Job Title:
Room or Box #: Telephone #:
City: Fax #:
City Code: Saudi Aramco Contract #:
Contract Date:
OPERATOR INFORMATION
Operator Name: Saudi Aramco ID#: Expiration Date:
Saudi Arab Government (SAG) License (if required) Expiration Date:

 ATTACH COPY OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS. PLACE CHECK IN BOX TO VERIFY.

Saudi Aramco Sponsoring Letter (For Contractors Only)
Saudi Aramco ID (if required)
SAG Public Driver’s License or Heavy SAG License (if required) with Specific Equipment Stamp
SA 9663  “Physician’s Examination Form” – Completed, Signed, and Stamped
Two Recent Photographs for Each Certification Application

Crane Manufacturer & Model #: Crane Capacity:

BOOM ATTACHMENTS EQUIPMENT  EQUIPMENT

Fly Jib Backhoe Loader – Skid (Bobcat)
Luffing Jib Boom Truck – Articulating Loader - Wheel
Power Pin Fly Boom Truck - Telescoping Manlift - Hydraulic
Super Lift Bulldozer Manlift - Scissor
Swingaway - Hydraulic Crane - Mobile Manlift - Telescoping
Swingaway – Manual Crane - Pedestal Sideboom - Pipelayer
No Attachments Crane - Tower Straddle Carrier
Forklift Telehandler
Gradall Tractor-Scraper
Grader Traxcavator
SPECIALIZED CRANE OPERATIONS (Written Test Only)
Manbasket Operations Pick & Carry Operations Tandem Crane Lifts

Requesting Superintendent (Print Name):

Signature: Date:

*Central Area: Supervisor, CAITD-Driver/HEOPTU, P.O. Box 41772, Riyadh 11531 KSA Phone 01-285-2190/2188, Fax
01-285-2122; *Eastern Area: Supervisor, EAITD-Driver/HEOPTU, P.O. Box 89, Dhahran 31311 KSA, Phone 03-876-
1857/4501, Fax 03-876-4430; *Western Area: Supervisor, WAITD-Driver/HEOPTU, P.O. Box 5250, Jeddah 21422 KSA,
Phone 02-427-4214/4147, Fax 02-427-4202