Working a tower crane, the type of crane that dots construction sites all over downtown Toronto, is an intensely demanding and dangerous job performed while hundreds of metres in the air — while not exactly glamorous, this gig is at least impressive. And just think of the eagle eye view of the city you get, as demonstrated by crane operator Robert MacFarlane, who’s found a bit of fame thanks to the images he’s taken of Toronto high in the air from the cab of his tower crane.
In addition, to the magnificent views, crane operating offers terrific pay and a whole variety of opportunities, not just locally but all over Canada from the oil fields of Alberta to the coast of Newfoundland.
Tower cranes are prevalent in Toronto because they can lift heavier loads and are thus ideal for constructing tall buildings — but they are by no means the only game around. Another type of crane called a boom truck is used for delivering building supplies and installing advertising signs as well as power poles and lines. And mobile cranes, which are set on wheels or a track system, are used to do work a boom truck can’t do — higher lifts, heavier loads, and lifts that need a longer reach. You’d more likely see them around on large construction projects such as bridges, dams and mines.
In addition, there’s all kinds of specialized crane work. For instance, some operators drive pilings into the earth to provide support for buildings. Others use cranes to dredge waterways, and some operate gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side. There are also workers who unload and reload supply vessels from offshore oil rig cranes.
Working conditions
Despite the high-earning potential and the ample job opportunities (which we’ll discuss further below), don’t jump into crane operating before doing your research — it’s a field fraught with long hours, isolation and a sometimes wicked pace.
“Being late or not showing up doesn’t cut it,” says a former mobile crane operator named Jim in this A Day in the Life of a Crane Operator article . “Quite often there’s a crew sitting there waiting for the crane and if that crane’s not there, the job can’t be started.” Frank, interviewed for the same series, confirms that the pace is just as quick for tower crane operators. When work is in full swing “our hands are on the sticks for the most part and you don’t get a break,” he says.
In this industry, jobs may be seasonal, and they always involve working outdoors, whether it’s freezing rain or there’s hail the size of golf balls. Although some operators run their cranes from the outside using controls, many do so from inside their cab, which means they can’t move around much. (In fact, those working in a tower crane must bring an empty bottle for bathroom purposes as they can’t just swing out to a toilet whenever nature calls.) On top of this, the workplaces is noisy, and there’s plenty of potential safety hazards (for example, dropping a load on a construction worker), meaning you have to be alert and aware of your surroundings the entire shift.
On the positive side, according to Canada’s “Big Hooks”, tower crane operating has become more user-friendly, thanks to the tremendous advances in controls design.
Aptitudes and skills
For this job, there are a number of “must-haves,” such as excellent eye-hand coordination and vision. In addition, “good depth perception is crucial so that you can make precise judgments about landing loads safely,” says the aforementioned Jim. You also need math skills for such tasks as calculating how much weight the crane can safely lift. You should also have experience working with your hands and have aptitude for machinery as you must inspect your crane, and you may have to assemble and repair it at the job site as well. Experience with heavy equipment or construction can help prepare you for this career.
Crane operators also need good soft skills as they work closely with others. (For instance, they are guided in their lifts, including blind lifts [where the crane operator can’t actually see the load] by other crew members who communicate through hand signals or by radio.) Good communication skills, excellent judgment and the ability to keep cool under stress are bonus traits in a field as dangerous as this one.
Physical fitness also helps — especially when you have to climb hundreds of steps each day just to get to your workplace.
Salary and job prospects
As mentioned earlier, this is a good field for those motivated by earning potential. “This is a great field to get into these days,” says Kevin Keays, both an instructor at Durham College’s mobile crane apprenticeship program and the coordinator of its Construction and Hoisting Techniques Program. According to Keays, an operator for a crane company in Toronto makes about $120,000, while those working out West can make anywhere from $150,000 to $250,000.
More than a few websites confirm Keays’ optimism. For instance, this Crane & Hoist Canada article says 2013 could see a continued shortage of skilled crane operators both out West in the Alberta oil fields or with the Saskatchewan potash mines but also in Northern Ontario and Toronto. The Labour Shortage in Canada story in Cranes Today talks about the dearth of crane operators in Newfoundland and across the country. Working in Canada confirms that employment prospects in the Toronto region are good.
Training
You need to be certified to work a mobile or tower crane, which means you need to find an employer to apprentice with. In addition to the Durham College apprenticeship program mentioned above, the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario runs two types of mobile crane apprenticeship programs and one for tower cranes at its Oakville campus.
Those who choose the eight-month hoisting techniques program learn to operate small cranes and are prepared for jobs with a general construction or crane company, such as forklift telehandler, manlift operator and rigger. Keays, who has 30 years experience operating mobile cranes, says that many of the graduates from the program have gone on to become crane operating apprentices. In fact, he says that five recent graduates (including two females) from the eight-month hoisting techniques program just got hired as apprentices in Alberta, starting out at a whopping $90,000.
This article originally appeared in poss.ca.