What You'll Do

  • Move levers, pedals, and throttles to stop, start, and regulate speeds of hoist or winch drums in response to hand, bell, buzzer, telephone, loud-speaker, or whistle signals, or by observing dial indicators or cable marks.
  • Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
  • Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
  • Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
  • Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
  • Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
  • Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
  • Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
  • Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
  • Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.

Essential Skills

Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.62/5
Operations Monitoring 3.62/5
Time Management 3.5/5
Active Listening 3.38/5
Operation and Control 3.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.25/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.25/5
Speaking 3.12/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.12/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Instructing 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Independence, Initiative, Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 3.88/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.63/5
Control Precision 3.63/5
Reaction Time 3.63/5
Depth Perception 3.63/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.5/5
Near Vision 3.5/5
Oral Comprehension 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Word

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Independence (High importance: 4.17/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.14/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.11/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.03/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.97/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Air Hoist Operator Air Lift Operator Boat Hoist Operator Boat Loader Boat Puller Bridge Rigger Building Rigger Cable Operator Cable Way Operator Cage Operator Cage Tender Casing Puller Cemetery Vault Installer Chute Operator Clean-Out Driller Clutch Operator Coal Handler Coal Trimmer Corner Bead Operator Cupola Hoist Operator Derrick Hand Derrick Operator Dry Transfer Man Dry Transfer Worker Dump Operator Electric Fork Operator Foot Tender Footman Gin Pole Operator Hoist Operator Hoisting Engine Operator Hoisting Engineer Hoistman Hydraulic Boom Operator Industrial Tugger Operator Jammer Operator Jump Roll Operator Lathe Spotter Lever Operator Loader Engineer Log Loader Marine Railway Operator Marine Service Operator Material Handler Ore Trimmer Pack Changer Pack Puller Pier Runner Pipe Puller Pit Hoist Operator Pitman Pneumatic Hoist Operator Pole Lift Operator Pulling Unit Floorhand Rigger Rigging Engineer Rigging Man Rigging Up Man Rigging Up Worker Rigging Worker Rod Puller Rodman Scrap Hoist Operator Scrap Yard Worker Scraper Loader Operator Service Operator Skip Hoist Engineer Skip Hoist Operator Slope Runner Slope Tender Sloper Steam Hoist Operator Stevedore Stiff Leg Operator Telescope Operator Transfer Controller Tugger Tugger Operator Vault Puller Well Puller Well Service Derrick Worker Winch Derrick Operator Winch Driver Winch Operator Winch Runner Winch Stripper Yard Worker Yarder Engineer Yarder Operator Yarder Puncher Yarding Engineer