What Do Crane and Tower Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Crane and Tower Operators operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions. They also determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.

Other tasks include:

• 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 and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
• Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
• Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
• Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs as necessary.
• Load or unload bundles from trucks or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.

We asked Crane and Tower Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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60% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Crane and Tower Operators inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed. They inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.

A typical day for a Crane and Tower Operator will also include:

• Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
• Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
• Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.
• Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs as necessary.
• Load or unload bundles from trucks or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.

We asked some Crane and Tower Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	42% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	63% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	64% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	62% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Crane and Tower Operators also clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs as necessary. They may also direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Crane and Tower Operators Load or unload bundles from trucks or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment. They might also Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.

In addition, they Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.

To some Crane and Tower Operators, it is also their responsibility to Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Crane and Tower Operator, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/material-moving-machine-operators.htm

http://www.werc.org/

http://www.iuoe.org/

http://www.nccco.org/