Operating a crane is an exhausting and demanding job. It is an industry-specific role that’s hard to fill and requires years of experience. This is one of the reasons why employers have such a specific list of demands and requirements when looking for a crane operator.
If you’re an employer who’s wondering what you should look for in an ideal candidate—or if you’re someone who wishes to be hired as a crane operator—read on.
The Core Skills a Crane Operator Should Have
A crane operator can be a salaried employee or an independent contractor. They transport objects using a crane, or multiple types of cranes, and spend most of their days inside cranes—and that can get very uncomfortable.
Crane operators aren’t just needed in construction sites. They work in various industries, and places like warehouses and in ports.
You might be looking for an entry-level candidate, or someone who has some experience in the field—all of this depends on the use case.
A crane operator needs to have good physical strength, reflexes, and manual dexterity. But for someone working on a construction site with expensive and demanding equipment, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
You need someone who:
Can Communicate Well and is a Team Worker
When hiring a crane operator, make sure they are a good communicator.
As a crane operator, they’ll need to be in contact with multiple other workers on the ground, and if they can’t communicate clearly, there will be errors. A lack of clear communication and miscommunication are often the leading causes of accidents.
Whether you’re working on a construction site or in another industry, a crane operator will need to work as part of a larger team. You need to assess how well a prospective candidate is at taking and managing orders, how smoothly they converse with others, and so on.
Knows the Equipment
Since a crane operator will be working with cranes, it’s important that they know how cranes operate and work. They should know how levers and electromagnets and wheels and cherry pickers function as well, among many other pieces of equipment.
They should also be well-versed with all the functions of the crane--how the navigation and speed are controlled, how a crane rotates on a chassis, what the security protocols are, how the load line is lowered and raised, and so on.
About Crane Warning Systems Atlanta
Crane Warning Systems Atlanta is an Atlanta-based U.S. distributor of RaycoWylie Load Indicator and crane safety instrumentation, such as monitoring systems and load indicators. If you’re curious about us, you can reach out to us online.