Crane Operators
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 are employed by construction, industrial, mining, cargo handling and railway companies.
Example Titles
boom truck crane operator
Register today for this job
bridge crane operator
climbing crane operator
construction crane operator
crane operator
dragline crane operator
gantry crane operator
hoist operator (except underground mining)
mobile crane operator
tower crane operator
tractor crane operator
Main Duties
- Operate mobile and tower cranes to lift, move, position or place equipment and materials
- Perform pre-operational inspection, and calculate crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
- Operate pile driving cranes to drive pilings into earth to provide support for buildings and other structures
- Operate cranes equipped with dredging attachments to dredge waterways and other areas
- Operate gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side
- Operate locomotive cranes to move objects and materials at railway yards
- Operate bridge or overhead cranes to lift, move and place plant machinery and materials
- Operate offshore oil rig cranes to unload and reload supply vessels
- Operate cranes mounted on boats or barges to lift, move and place equipment and materials
- Operate dragline cranes to expose coal seams and ore deposits at open pit mines
- May assemble tower cranes on site
- Perform routine maintenance work such as cleaning and lubricating cranes.
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program
or
High school, college or industry courses in crane operating are usually required. - Trade certification as a hoist operator is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Saskatchewan.
- Boom truck crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Manitoba and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
- Mobile crane operator (8-15 tons) trade certification is compulsory in Ontario and available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick.
- Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, and is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
- Trade certification as a hoist operator (hydraulic crane) is available, but voluntary, in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
- Mobile crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
- 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.
- Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to mobile crane operators
- Executive chefs may progress to managerial positions in food preparation establishments.
- Red Seal trade certification for mobile crane operators allows for interprovincial mobility.
