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Crane and Tower Operators - 53-7021.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Crane Operator
  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Machine Operator
  • Mobile Crane Operator
  • Overhead Crane Operator
  • Port Crane Operator
  • Scrap Crane Operator
  • Winchman
  • Woodyard Crane Operator

SOC Occupation Groups

53-0000 Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
53-7000 Material Moving Workers
53-7020 Crane and Tower Operators
53-7021.00 Crane and Tower Operators

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
  • Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.
  • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
  • Inspect bundle packaging for conformance to regulations or customer requirements, and remove and batch packaging tickets.
  • Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
  • Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
  • Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Clean machinery or equipment.
  • Direct material handling or moving activities.
  • Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems.
  • Inspect work to ensure standards are met.
  • Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
  • Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
  • Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
  • Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
  • Secure cargo.
  • Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
  • Verify information or specifications.
  • Weigh materials to ensure compliance with specifications.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Able Seaman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Boatswain's Mate (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Boatswain's Mate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Bridge Crewmember (Army - Enlisted)
  • Cargo Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Crane Operator (Army - Enlisted)
  • Crane Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Damage Controlman (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Engineer Equipment Operator (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Equipment Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Horizontal Construction Engineer (Army - Enlisted)
  • Machinery Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Marine Safety Specialist Deck (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Marine Safety Specialist Engineer (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Maritime Cargo Handling Specialist-Supervisory (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Material Maintenance Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Naval Engineering Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Pavements and Construction Equipment (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pavements and Construction Equipment Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pavements and Construction Equipment Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pavements and Construction Equipment Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pavements and Construction Equipment Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Quarrying Specialist (RC) (Army - Enlisted)
  • Seaman (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Seaman (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Truck Crane Operator (Alternate Title: Crane Operator)

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Cantilever-Crane Operator
  • Cherry-Picker Operator
  • Derrick Operator
  • Derrick-Boat Operator
  • Dross Skimmer
  • Locomotive-Crane Operator
  • Monorail Crane Operator
  • Overhead Crane Operator
  • Sorting-Grapple Operator
  • Tower-Crane Operator
  • Tower-Loader Operator
  • Tractor-Crane Operator
  • Truck Loader, Overhead Crane
  • Truck-Crane Operator