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Crane and Tower Operators Occupation Detailed Description

Crane and Tower Operators career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Crane and Tower Operators

The main tasks and work activities of Crane and Tower Operators are to verify information or specifications, weigh materials to ensure compliance with specifications, operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment, install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment. In general, for the Crane and Tower Operators, operation and Control, operation Monitoring, critical Thinking, active Listening and other 6 skills are required.
Crane and Tower Operators Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Crane and Tower Operators jobs. 31.53% of Crane and Tower Operators have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 60.63% of Crane and Tower Operators have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
7.84%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
31.53%
Post-Secondary Certificate
60.63%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Crane and Tower Operators

  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
  • Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
  • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
  • Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
  • Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
  • Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.
  • Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
  • Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.
  • Inspect bundle packaging for conformance to regulations or customer requirements, and remove and batch packaging tickets.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Verify information or specifications.
  • Weigh materials to ensure compliance with specifications.
  • Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
  • Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
  • Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems.
  • Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
  • Clean machinery or equipment.
  • Direct material handling or moving activities.
  • Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
  • Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
  • Secure cargo.

Skills and Abilities for Crane and Tower Operators

  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Depth PerceptionThe ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Response OrientationThe ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • All terrain cranese.g. All-terrain cranes
  • Anemometerse.g. Anemometers
  • Angle grindere.g. Angle grinders
  • Below the hook devicee.g. Anti-two block devices
  • Ball peen hammere.g. Ball peen hammers
  • Drum grabse.g. Barrel clamps
  • Bench visese.g. Bench vises
  • Rotary position sensorse.g. Boom angle indicators
  • Linear position sensorse.g. Boom length indicators
  • Bridge cranese.g. Bridge cranes
  • Hydraulic truck cranese.g. Cab cranes
  • Hoistse.g. Chain falls
  • Earthmoving buckets or its parts or accessoriese.g. Clamshell buckets
  • Claw hammere.g. Claw hammers
  • Lifting hookse.g. Clips
  • Box end wrenchese.g. Closed-end wrenches
  • Pullerse.g. Comealongs
  • Track cranese.g. Crawler cranes
  • Demolition hammerse.g. Demolition hammers
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.