Crane Operators

Nature of work

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

Mobile crane operators use mobile cranes to lift, move, and place heavy objects. Hydraulic mobile crane operators also repair, maintain, and move cranes, booms mounted on trucks, wheeled frames or crawlers, and hoisting equipment with a vertical mast or tower and jib. Tower crane operators use any mechanical device or structure that incorporates a power-driven drum with a cable or rope and a vertical mast or tower and stationery or luffing boom.

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

You should have good health, physical stamina, and strength. Agility, coordination, and mechanical aptitude would be helpful. You must also be able to work at heights, work with precision and attention to detail, take direction, and carry out instructions given by supervisors.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• A one- to three-year apprenticeship program or high school, college or industry courses in crane operating are usually required.
• Mobile crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia.
• Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory 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.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) is also available to qualified mobile crane and mobile crane (hydraulic) operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Other considerations

Robotics and computerized controls will increase the skill requirements for crane operators. Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Regulations

Contacts

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