7371 – 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.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Apprentice mobile crane operator

Boat crane operator

Boom crane operator

Boom truck crane operator

Boom truck hoist operator

Bridge crane operator

Cantilever crane operator

Cinder crane operator

Climbing crane operator

Climbing tower crane operator

Construction crane operator

Crane and hoisting equipment operator

Crane hoist operator

Crane operator

Crane operator apprentice

Crawler crane operator

Demolition crane operator

Dragline crane operator

Dragline operator – crane

Drilling rig crane operator

Electric crane operator

Electric dragline operator

Electric gantry crane operator

Electric monorail crane operator

Electrical equipment operator – derrick

Floating crane operator

Gantry crane operator

Hoist operator – foundry

Hoist operator (except underground mining)

Hot metal crane operator

Jib crane operator

Ladle crane operator

Locomotive crane operator

Locomotive craneman/woman

Mechanical hoist operator

Mobile crane apprentice operator

Mobile crane operator

Monorail crane operator

Overhead crane operator

Pile driving crane operator

Power crane operator

Rail crane operator

Railway car puller – crane

Rigger (except shipbuilding and aircraft assembly)

Ship crane operator

Skip operator

Tower crane operator

Tractor crane operator

Truck crane operator

Walking bridge crane operator

Wrecking crane operator

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following 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.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program or industry courses in crane operating are usually required.

Mobile crane operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Northwest Territories.

Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in Prince Edward Island.

Hoist operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

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.

Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified mobile crane and tower crane operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Additional information

The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (7521)

Hoist operators – underground mining (in 8231 Underground production and development miners)

Supervisors of crane operators (in 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)