The Crane Operator and Mobile Crane Operators operate mobile cranes to lift, move, position and place materials and equipment to a designated location. They calculate crane capacities and determine load weight, set up and dismantle cranes and position and stabilize the crane before the lift. They also perform some routine maintenance of the crane equipment such as lubricating and cleaning.

 

Safety is the number one concern of crane operators, owners and contractors. Occupational hazards include injuries resulting from power line contact, crane overload, falls, weather conditions or manual lifting.

Crane Operators and Mobile Crane Operators are required to take site-specific safety training to be familiar with the company, contractor and jobsite safety requirements. The regulatory environment in which Canada’s crane industry operates continues to grow with more complex issues such as due diligence and liability.

 

Mobile cranes are used in many different industry sectors such as the construction of buildings and the assembly of large equipment used on construction sites, warehouses, factories, mines, oil rigs, refineries, railway yards, ships and ports. Mobile crane operators may be employed by rental companies, construction firms, manufacturers, public utilities, transport sector companies, ship builders, cargo-handlers, airports, railways and mines.

 

There are many different types of cranes such as crawlers, truck-mounted, rough-terrain and all-terrain. The boom of the crane may be lattice or hydraulic. Some cranes are fitted with equipment that can perform specialized functions including pile-driver, clamshell, dragline, wrecking ball, magnet, heavy lift attachments, tower attachments and luffing jibs.

 

Some operators work for rental companies and rarely work on the same site more than once and routinely perform a variety of tasks with different types and sizes of cranes.

 

Crane operators and mobile crane operators work outdoors, often in noisy, dusty conditions. They work in various locations in all types of weather. Typically a 40-hour a week is normal, but overtime is usually required.

 

Industry Changes

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The Crane Operator is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. As cranes are becoming more sophisticated, the need for training is increasingly important. Updated knowledge in computer technology, metallurgy and other areas associated with the engineering of crane equipment is beneficial to a crane operator’s career and safety.

 

Due to technological advances in operator aids such as Load Moment Indicators (LMI), crane operators are more aware of their crane operation limitations to increase safety and production.

 

Crane operation is becoming increasingly complex, so crane operators who have had educated training may find the most opportunities. Demand is also high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field.

Over the next five years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified technicians and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

 

Experienced crane operators and mobile operators may advance to supervisory positions, trainers, start their own business or set up their own crane rental businesses.

 

Safety

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Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

 

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

 

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

 

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

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Job Tasks

• Adjusting loads

• Blowers

• Brakes

• Calculate crane capacities

• Computers

• Determine load weight

• Drilling

• Engine repair

• Electrical

• Exhaust Systems

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)

• Gears

• Generators

• Heating Systems an Controls

• Hydraulic jack or hoist

• Lifting loads

• Leaks

• Lubricating equipment and cranes

• Oxyacetylene Heating and Cutting

• Position and stabilize crane before lifts

• Pre-operational Inspections

• Rigging

• Routine maintenance

• Set up and dismantle cranes

• Valves

• Welding

• …and much more

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Air powered tools

• Allen keys

• Ball peen hammer

• Bumping hammer

• Calculator

• Chains

• Come-alongs

• Crow bar

• Electrical multi-meter

• Flashlights

• Grease gun

• Grinders

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Interior tools

• Knock out punches

• Level

• Measuring tape

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mini pipe cutters

• Needle nose pliers

• Oil Can

• Safety equipment(goggles, boots, face shield etc)

• Scales

• Scrapers

• Screw driver set

• Shovels

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Spud wrenches

• Straight pick hammer

• Stud weld guns

• Tag lines

• Tin snips

• Tire pressure gauge

• Torches

• Vice grips

• Wrenches

• Wire rope

• Wire rope cutters

• Wire rope winder

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Ability to work at heights

• Critical Thinking

• Co-ordination

• Creativity

• Decision Making

• Good vision

• Good colour vision

• Analytical Thinking

• Manual dexterity

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Patience

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Use of hand signals

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $26.50

• Minimum -  $22.40

• Maximum - $38.20​

   

Sample Q&A

 

1. When the load line of the crane you are operating comes into contact with an energized power line, and visibly there is no sign of any other danger, such as fire, which of the following should the operator perform?

a. Climb down carefully from the crane cab
b. Jump down, feet together
c. Get as far away from the crane as possible
d. Stay in the cab until the lines are de-energized

Ans. D 

 

2. Which one of the following most accurately describes wire rope faults?

a. protruding core indicates that the rope should be tightly wrapped before reuse.

b. Strand nicking typically is caused by scrubbing or localized wear.

c. Fatigue fractures are always visible on the exterior of the wire rope.

d. Bird caging may be caused by sudden release of tension on an overloaded rope.

Ans. D

 

3. Which of the following types of blocking equipment should cranes have when using a manbasket or personnel hoisting equipment must have?

a. anti-two-block device

b. two-block device

c. timber blocking

d. two-block damage prevention

Ans. A

 

4. Which of the following may be a possible reason to believe there is an indication of broken wires inside a strand of wire rope?

a. lumps forming on either side of the damaged area.

b. lubricant sweating out.

c. grooves worn in the sheave.

d. reduced rope diameter.

Ans. D

 

5. Which of the following is the safest and most efficient method to hoist the tubes when re-tubing an evaporator?

a. weld lugs to each tube, then lift with a tugger.

b. use a crane, lifting device and tag line.

c. cut holes in each tube, then lift with a choker.

d. use wire rope or nylon slings with a minimum of three wraps.

Ans. B

 

6. Which of the following is the best place for slings to be attached when handling boom sections?

a. the lattice members
b. the pin connection points at the ends of the top chords
c. anywhere on the top chords
d. the pin connection points at the ends of the bottom chords

Ans. B 

 

7. Which of the following will the load on the crane be as you boom down, the leverage?

a. depends on the weight of the load being lifted
b. decrease
c. stay the same
d. increase

Ans. D