Are you a practical person who likes to drive and the thought of driving heavy machinery doesn’t intimidate you? Then you might be a good crane operator.
Some people who work as laborers on construction sites may end up deciding to further their skills (and career) by training to be a crane operator. It’s not unusual for a man or woman to be an apprentice, of sorts, to a working crane operator, learning all about the job from them while under their supervision.
Crane Operator Skills
What are some skills a good crane operator possesses? Well, attention to detail and good spatial awareness are two key skills. Patience is also important– a crane operator has to be calm even during stressful moments and situations. Then there’s the aspect of working with tools and machines– understanding how they work and troubleshooting them if and when something’s not right. Finally, a crane operator needs to be able to work as part of a team– it’s not a solitary job requiring little to no interaction with other people.
Safety is Paramount
Crane operators honestly have a bit of pressure on them to perform their job safely and without any major incident(s). After all, they’re working with cranes which can do a lot of damage. There’s always the potential for people to be injured or die if the crane hits them or a load falls on them. There’s also potential for property damage. If and when something bad happens on a site, crane operators are often the people who “get blamed” and have to “take responsibility” for whatever happened. Construction companies have reputations to uphold, and therefore the powers-that-be expect crane operators will do everything properly (and safely) in order to avoid any negative publicity or problems.
Multiple Hats
Crane operators deal with a lot of people during the course of their work, including riggers, signal persons, lift directors, site supervisors and crane owners. Communication between all of these people is key in order to get the job(s) done as intended. It’s important to be surrounded by qualified and trained workers rather than amateurs who don’t know what they’re doing. Crane operation comes with many risks– it’s not child’s play.
Standards to Follow
There are actually set standards for people involved in lifting operations. Without going into much detail, just know that The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have plenty of set standards regarding lifting operations. Those who operate heavy machinery need to be both qualified and competent.
Eyesight and Hand Eye Coordinator Like a Great Hitter
Cranes have the capacity to lift very heavy items– thousands of pounds! Crane operators must have good eyesight and hand-eye coordination since their work involves making precise movements. They must also be able to hear well, since they need to communicate with other people on noisy job sites.
Variables to Contend With
Job sites can often be loud as well as dusty, dirty and/or dangerous. Workers have to contend with seasonal changes, extreme weather, birds/animals, power lines, onlookers, etc. Crane operators have to be able to maintain focus despite a lot of “extra stuff” going on around them. This requires discipline.
Crane Operator Certifications
In order to be a proper crane operator, certification by type or type and capacity is required. This certification can be done through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and/or on-the-job training programs and apprenticeships. Basically, it means that an operator has been checked by others to make sure they know what they’re doing!
If you’re in New England and need to rent a crane for your construction site, call Astro Crane at 978-429-8666. Astro Crane can also connect you with qualified crane operators who are available to help you complete your job.
