Hoist and Winch Operators Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Hoist and Winch Operators

The main tasks and work activities of Hoist and Winch Operators are to operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment, monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation, position material handling equipment, move materials, equipment, or supplies. In general, for the Hoist and Winch Operators, critical Thinking, monitoring, operation Monitoring, time Management and other 10 skills are required.

Hoist and Winch Operators Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Hoist and Winch Operators jobs. 41.21% of Hoist and Winch Operators have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 23.51% of Hoist and Winch Operators have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

26.72%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

41.21%

Post-Secondary Certificate

23.51%

Some College Courses

8.56%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

0.00%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Hoist and Winch Operators

Move levers, pedals, and throttles to stop, start, and regulate speeds of hoist or winch drums in response to hand, bell, buzzer, telephone, loud-speaker, or whistle signals, or by observing dial indicators or cable marks.
Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.
Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.
Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.

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.
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.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Position material handling equipment.
Move materials, equipment, or supplies.
Communicate with others to coordinate material handling or movement.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Connect cables or electrical lines.
Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.

Skills and Abilities for Hoist and Winch Operators

Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
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.
Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

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.
Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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.
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.
Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
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.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
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.
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.

Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrench sets
Floor or platform scalese.g. Bulk weighing systems
Belt conveyorse.g. Conveyor belt systems
Hoistse.g. Electric hoists
Winchese.g. Electric winches
Scissor lift or lift tablee.g. Elevating platforms
Grapplese.g. Fork-grapples
Hoistse.g. Gas powered hoists
Grease gunse.g. Grease dispensing guns
Lifting cablese.g. Hoisting cables
Slingse.g. Lifting slings
Hold down clampse.g. Load clamps
Oil cane.g. Oil dispensing cans
Pallet truckse.g. Pallet jacks
Light trucks or sport utility vehiclese.g. Pickup trucks
Hoistse.g. Pneumatic hoists
Hoistse.g. Power hoists
Skid steer loaderse.g. Skid steers
Ladderse.g. Stepladders
Wheel chockse.g. Stop blocks

MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Hoist and Winch Operators Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Hoist and Winch Operators

Skills and Abilities for Hoist and Winch Operators