National Occupation Code (NOC): 72500

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. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

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Job Duties for Crane operators

• 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.

Alternate Job 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
• 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
• Drilling Rig Crane Operator
• Electric Crane Operator
• Electric Dragline Operator
• Electric Gantry Crane Operator
• Electric Monorail Crane Operator
• 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
• Ship Crane Operator
• Skip Operator
• Tower Crane Operator
• Tractor Crane Operator
• Truck Crane Operator
• Walking Bridge Crane Operator
• Wrecking Crane Operator
• Boom Truck Operator
• Boom Truck