Crane Operator Work
A crane is heavy machinery that lifts, carries and arranges bulk packages from one destination to another. The one who drives this heavy machinery is the crane operator. There are certain requirements and responsibilities peculiar to this job profile. Find here a crane operator work description for your reference.
Crane Work Nature
The crane operator is a typical example of heavy equipment machinery operators. He is responsible to operate a crane and maneuver over an area. The basic job nature of a crane operator is operations, repairs and maintenance. They perform manual work and hardly ever are seen working from office. As no office work is performed, most of the functions of planning, data management are absent from his profile. His profile may include supervision and training along with operations, depending upon his role.
Work Responsibilities
Crane operator work responsibilities include the following functions:
- Inspect the work site for facilities, restrictions or risks
- Arrange the machinery and check functioning of each component
- Use pulleys, levers to hoist the boom and lift materials
- Drive the crane and place the materials at desired locations
- Ensure safety to the goods and appropriate positioning of the materials
- Provide regular maintenance of the cranes and repairs in event of malfunctioning
Crane Work Requirements
- Education: Candidates do not require formal education to work as a crane operator. However recruiters prefer to hire candidates with at least a high school diploma.
- Training: Crane operators are trained on operating the crane, maneuvering it and bringing it to a hoist position. They must be adept at controlling the vehicle using levers, pulleys and brakes and ensure a firm grip on the materials for transportation. Additionally, they are trained to follow the safety measures and identify the risks and reasons for breakdowns.
- Licensure: Certain states require operators to acquire the licenses. Licenses are awarded after candidates completed stipulated hours of theoretical and practical training and pass the driving tests.
- Skills: Physical fitness, stamina and endurance are primarily important to perform work as crane operators. Besides they must be attentive and cautious towards the safety measures. They must possess manual dexterity. Additionally, ability to work in shifts, good eyesight and sense of balance are important too.
Work Conditions
- Work Place: Crane operators perform work in the open. They work at construction sites or docks. They do not work in offices at all.
- Work Timings: Crane operators perform duties for 8-9 hours of the day. Most of them work in shifts. Working at night, on weekends or during festivals is not uncommon. Often they work overtime as per the project requirements.
- Work Safety Hazards: Crane operators are vulnerable to accidents. Even a minute incident of negligence can cost one's life. Crane operation is a physically enduring work. Candidates require strong minds and physical agility to work as crane operators. Crane operators sit in the crane's cabin and operate it from there. The operator's position is uncomfortable and often causes back pains.
Work Prospects
Most crane operators work under the guidance of the contractors or chief operators and follow their directions. Certain crane operators can work as independent contractors. They select jobs that suit his competence and skills. They can work as operators or hire a group of operators to do the job. With experience, operator can work as instructors and teach the juniors techniques of operating a crane. The profile is resistant to economic changes.
Employment Outlook
The job opportunities for crane operators are expected to be stable. Those with competence in driving newer machineries and with the ability to adapt to mechanization and computerization have better job prospects. The requirement for crane operators is expected to increase in shipping industry.
Employment Industries
Certain industries may own cranes of their own or else hire it from heavy machinery renting services. Other industries hire crane operators for tenure and avail their services. Crane operators find job opportunities in the following industries:
- Heavy Machinery Industries
- Trade and Shipping
- Commercial Construction Site
- Civil Engineering
- Railways
Crane operators play a pivotal role in transportation of heavy materials. They offer safety and convenience that facilitates construction and shipping processes. Hence, crane operator work is one of the prominent career profiles.
