Crane Operators

Nature of work

Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, materials, equipment and other large things at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations. They work for construction, industrial, ship building, transport sector, mining, cargo handling and railway companies and public utilities.

Job duties

Crane Operators:

• Use mobile and tower cranes to lift, move, position or place equipment and materials.
• Complete pre-operational inspection and calculate crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting.
• Use pile driving cranes to drive pilings into earth to provide support for buildings and other structures.
• Use cranes equipped with dredging attachments to dredge waterways and other areas.
• Use gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side.
• Use locomotive cranes to move objects and materials at railway yards.
• Use bridge or overhead cranes to lift, move and place plant machinery and materials.
• Use offshore oil rig cranes to unload and reload supply vessels.
• Use cranes mounted on boats or barges to lift, move, and place equipment and materials.
• Use dragline cranes to expose coal seams and ore deposits at open pit mines.
• May assemble tower cranes on site.
• Complete routine maintenance work like cleaning and lubricating cranes.

Sample job titles

• boom truck crane operator
• construction crane operator
• crane operator
• hoist operator (except underground mining)
• mobile crane operator
• overhead crane operator
• skip operator
• tower crane operator

Skills

• Strength and stamina
• Agility and ability to work at heights
• Coordination and manual dexterity
• Good vision
• Mechanical aptitude
• Precision and attention to detail
• Ability to follow direction
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work independently when necessary
• Comfortable travelling to different locations

Job requirements

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• High school, college or industry courses in crane operating (usually).
• Certification for mobile crane operators is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Certification for tower crane operators is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads.
• Internal company certification as a crane operator may be required by some employers.
• Trade Qualifier option: write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for either mobile crane or tower crane operators.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.
• A licence is required from the Technical Safety Division to work in the mobile or tower crane operator trades.

Other considerations

• Setting: outdoors in all types of weather, often noisy, dusty conditions.
• Hazards: injuries from power line contact, crane overload, falls, weather conditions, manual lifting.
• Crane operators work a 40-hour work week and overtime is common.
• Robotics and computerized controls will increase the skill requirements for crane operators.
• Experienced crane operators may advance to supervisory positions.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

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