Overhead Crane Operator Training

What To Know About Overhead Crane Operator Training

A casual look at almost any construction site where a building of any appreciable height is being built will reveal certain kinds of equipment. One of these is an overhead crane, which is a long, slender and tall crane used to move building materials and equipment around in a rapid manner. Learning how to operate one can take skill, so what to know about overhead crane operator training can be important to those who'd like to try to do so.

To begin with, all cranes, whether of the overhead variety or the more traditional kind, are part of what's called the "operating equipment" class. These kinds of equipment include bulldozers, large scrapers, and other construction-related heavy equipment. Becoming an operating engineer involves training, and operating an overhead crane will require even more on top of everything else. It also requires good hand-eye coordination along with solid judgment.

In general, most overhead crane operators start out by obtaining on-the-job training from construction companies needing crane operators, applying for and then being granted a construction union operating engineer's apprenticeship or by paying for training from one of several schools specializing in training people to operate such heavy equipment. Generally, a union apprenticeship runs for 3 years, with both classroom and practical training taking place.

Crane operators face a variety of job tasks throughout their day. They are usually the leader of a team of construction workers responsible for safely moving bulky and large equipment around a construction or other job site, for one. There are also two main types of overhead crane; those that are operated from a cab and those that can be remote-controlled. Training for operators usually enables them to be able to control both equally as well.

As far as training goes, minimum age to attend a course varies from 18 to 21 years, depending on who's giving the training. Many crane operator training courses offer a student an opportunity to affiliate with available apprenticeship programs in the area. Entry into a crane operation apprenticeship training course is normally the first step required on the road toward full crane operator certification and status, by the way.

Crane operator training itself usually starts out with a great deal of time spent in a classroom learning safety and the basics of crane operation. From there, students graduate to learning how to apply what they were taught in class on actual equipment used in a simulated construction environment. Once that's been mastered, operator students will gradually move into real crane operation on real construction sites. This can take up to three years.

Overhead crane operator training is designed to enable a hopeful operating engineer to eventually master the intricacies involved in the operation of overhead cranes. Training is usually obtained from construction companies or through union-ran apprenticeship training programs. Almost all overhead crane operators today also must seek formal certification through NCCCO in order to work as operating engineer/crane operators.

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