Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator
What the work is
Operates stationary and mobile cranes, hoists, lifts and winches to lift, move and place materials, equipment and people in areas such as building sites, factories, mines, sawmills and shipyards.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Operates controls for cranes, hoists, lifts and winches to lift, move and place materials, equipment and people
- Inspects and maintains cranes, hoists, lifts and winches to ensure they are in proper working condition
- Determines the weight and dimensions of loads to be lifted, and selects appropriate equipment and lifting methods
- Positions and secures loads using slings, chains or other lifting devices
- Monitors and adjusts crane movements to ensure safe and efficient operation
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a city building site with a tower crane, and a yard where mobile cranes are hired out. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A heavy load rises, swings and lands exactly where the crew wanted it, with no one shouting
- The view from the cab at dawn, before the site has woken up
- A calm radio, a calm crew and a day where every lift goes to plan
Hard days
- Wind picking up and a long list of lifts that people still expect to happen
- Sitting alone in a small cab for hours, and having to stay sharp all day
- Being the one who says no to a lift when everyone below is watching the clock
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 732131, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.