Crane technician

Crane technicians assemble industrial and harbor cranes components. They install conveyors and controls. Crane technicians perform the final assembly on site and maintain and repair cranes.

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required required to work as a crane technician.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Crane technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to crane technician.

forge equipment technician
fluid power technician
moulding machine technician
pneumatic systems technician
agricultural machinery technician

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of crane technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of crane technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

gas processing plant control room operator
oil refinery control room operator
air pollution analyst
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration engineering technician
desalination technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of crane technician.

• Blueprints: Must be able to read and understand blueprints, drawings and plans and maintain simple written records.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of crane technician.

• Repair crane equipment: Repair cranes and crane equipment, and replace defective components, parts and systems when necessary, using hand and power tools.
• Install electrical and electronic equipment: Install equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work, or equipment to generate, transfer or measure such currents and fields. This equipment includes switchboards, electric motors, generators or direct current systems.
• Maintain crane equipment: Ensure appropriate maintenance of crane equipment. Identify and report damage and malfunctions. Replace worn or damaged components if necessary.
• Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Set up crane: Set up cranes taking all safety measures into account.
• Install crane equipment: Install industrial or harbor crane equipment such as conveyor belts, controls, cables and winches and assemble the final product on site.
• Interpret 3D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.
• Inspect crane equipment: Inspect the suitability of cables, pulleys, and grappling devices that form parts of cranes. Ensure the ongoing maintenance of this equipment.
• Secure crane: Assemble and fix the crane and its elements so that they will not move, fall or cause damage under extreme weather conditions. Take the soil composition and stability into account.
• Interpret 2D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of crane technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
• Crane load charts: Understand crane load charts which detail the features of the crane and how its lift capacity varies depending on distance and angle.
• Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of crane technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Provide technical documentation: Prepare documentation for existing and upcoming products or services, describing their functionality and composition in such a way that it is understandable for a wide audience without technical background and compliant with defined requirements and standards. Keep documentation up to date.
• Set up tower crane: Assist in the installation of a tower crane. Set the mast plumb and pour concrete onto the base to secure it. Bolt the mast into the concrete. Add progressively more pieces to the mast, usually using a mobile crane. Add the operators cabin on top of the mast and attach the jibs piece by piece.
• Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
• Perform risk analysis: Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation’s functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.
• Resolve equipment malfunctions: Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
• Operate railway lever frames: Operate mechanical lever frames housed in signal boxes. Understand different applications of levers such as interlocking or signal receiving; read and comprehend the track diagram and signalling layout mounted above the lever frame. Operate hand-powered interlockings, power frames, mechanical, pneumatic or electric levers.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Advise on safety improvements: Provide relevant recommendations following the conclusion of an investigation; ensure that recommendations are duly considered and where appropriate acted upon.
• Use rigging tools: Employ rigging tools such as cables, ropes, pulleys and winches to safely secure high structures.
• Operate mobile crane: Operate a mobile crane safely. Take into account the condition of the terrain, weather conditions, load mass, and expected manoeuvres.
• Prepare compliance documents: Prepare documents with legal value which prove that an installation or a facility is conform to the regulations.
• Operate tower crane: Operate a tower crane, a tall crane used to lift heavy weights. Communicate with the rigger over radio and using gestures to coordinate the movement. Make sure the crane is not overloaded, and take into account weather conditions.
• Apply technical communication skills: Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
• Operate cranes: Operate cranes to move, position, lift or place machinery, equipment or other large objects at various locations.
• Write records for repairs: Write records of the repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, of parts and materials used, and other repair facts.

7233 – Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers

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References

1. Crane technician – ESCO