You do the heavy lifting, not pumping iron but lifting thousands of kilograms of it at a time – pipe spools, heat exchangers, vessels, fare stacks…if it’s large and needed for construction or operations, then the energy industry needs you. You use different types of cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects. Could you hang out in this job? If so, read on.
Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects at construction or industrial sites.
In the cab of a crane, these operators must manipulate a number of levers and pedals to rotate and raise this giant piece of heavy equipment to lift heavy loads and accurately and safely place these into the right spot. Sometimes, they may pick up a piece of equipment and hang on to it for hours as a crew adds additional pieces to the load.
Crane operators follow hand signals from crew members to place loads into tricky, sometimes out-of-sight target destinations. As the one at the controls, crane operators are also responsible for the safety of the site during lift operations. This means taking control and communicating directions to the crew.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Oil and gas services, Oil sands
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary $61,000 to $89,000
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Stable
In this occupation activities may include:
- Ensuring awareness of all site conditions that could affect crane operation (e.g., overhead power lines, workers, mobile equipment, pedestrians etc.)
- Inspecting and adjusting crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage
- Inspecting cables or grappling devices for wear and installing or replacing cables
- Calculating crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
- Reading and understanding load charts
- Moving levers, depressing foot pedals or turning dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets or other equipment for lifting, moving or placing loads
Education
- A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)
- H2S Alive®
- Crane Safety Certification
- Fall protection
Licensing
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program is typically required to complete Level 1 and then the Certificate of Qualification for a specific type of crane. A certified tradesperson may qualify themselves to operate more than one type of crane. Another route into apprenticeship training is a pre-apprenticeship foundation program. In most provinces, both of these routes can begin in high school
- The Red Seal endorsement is the interprovincial standard of excellence, and is available to tradespersons upon successful completion of the Red Seal examination
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You use your strong leadership, hand-foot-eye coordination, depth perception, math skills, mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting abilities to get the job done. You can tolerate different paces of work and a high degree of stress as you’re responsible for a high-risk function of construction operations.
- Public safety and security
- Active listening
- Working with others
- Monitoring operations
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Maintaining equipment
- Coordination
- Controlling operations
- Building and construction
- Sub-sector Well site decommissioning
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a crane operator in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to other industries, including well site decommissioning, a sub-sector of the growing cleantech industry.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Ensuring awareness of all site conditions that could affect crane operation (e.g., overhead power lines, workers, mobile equipment, pedestrians etc.)
- Inspecting and adjusting crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage
- Inspecting cables or grappling devices for wear and installing or replacing cables
- Calculating crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
- Reading and understanding load charts
- Moving levers, depressing foot pedals or turning dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets or other equipment for lifting, moving or placing loads
Education
- A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)
- H2S Alive®
- Crane Safety Certification
- Fall protection
Licensing
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program is typically required to complete Level 1 and then the Certificate of Qualification for a specific type of crane. A certified tradesperson may qualify themselves to operate more than one type of crane. Another route into apprenticeship training is a pre-apprenticeship foundation program. In most provinces, both of these routes can begin in high school
- The Red Seal endorsement is the interprovincial standard of excellence, and is available to tradespersons upon successful completion of the Red Seal examination
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (well site decommissioning)
- Travel required (well site decommissioning)
- Work away from home/in camps (well site decommissioning)
- Primarily outdoor work (well site decommissioning)
- Physical work (well site decommissioning)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (well site decommissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (well site decommissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (well site decommissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (well site decommissioning)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You use your strong leadership, hand-foot-eye coordination, depth perception, math skills, mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting abilities to get the job done. You can tolerate different paces of work and a high degree of stress as you’re responsible for a high-risk function of construction operations.
- Public safety and security
- Active listening
- Working with others
- Monitoring operations
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Maintaining equipment
- Coordination
- Controlling operations
- Building and construction
- Sub-sector Modular fabrication, Construction
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a crane operator in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to other industries, including the modular fabrication and construction project life cycle stages of industrial construction and maintenance in energy.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Ensuring awareness of all site conditions that could affect crane operation (e.g., overhead power lines, workers, mobile equipment, pedestrians etc.)
- Inspecting and adjusting crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage
- Inspecting cables or grappling devices for wear and installing or replacing cables
- Calculating crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
- Reading and understanding load charts
- Moving levers, depressing foot pedals or turning dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets or other equipment for lifting, moving or placing loads
Education
- A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)
- H2S Alive®
- Crane Safety Certification
- Fall protection
Licensing
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program is typically required to complete Level 1 and then the Certificate of Qualification for a specific type of crane. A certified tradesperson may qualify themselves to operate more than one type of crane. Another route into apprenticeship training is a pre-apprenticeship foundation program. In most provinces, both of these routes can begin in high school
- The Red Seal endorsement is the interprovincial standard of excellence, and is available to tradespersons upon successful completion of the Red Seal examination
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (modular fabrication | construction)
- Travel required (construction)
- Primarily outdoor work (modular fabrication | construction)
- Physical work (modular fabrication | construction)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (construction)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (construction)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (modular fabrication | construction)
- Safety-sensitive environment (modular fabrication)
- Transition to a lower level (modular fabrication)
- Transition to a similar level (construction)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You use your strong leadership, hand-foot-eye coordination, depth perception, math skills, mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting abilities to get the job done. You can tolerate different paces of work and a high degree of stress as you’re responsible for a high-risk function of construction operations.
- Public safety and security
- Active listening
- Working with others
- Monitoring operations
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Maintaining equipment
- Coordination
- Controlling operations
- Building and construction
- Sub-sector Wind
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a crane operator in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to other industries, including renewables, such as the wind sub-sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Ensuring awareness of all site conditions that could affect crane operation (e.g., overhead power lines, workers, mobile equipment, pedestrians etc.)
- Inspecting and adjusting crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage
- Inspecting cables or grappling devices for wear and installing or replacing cables
- Calculating crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
- Reading and understanding load charts
- Moving levers, depressing foot pedals or turning dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets or other equipment for lifting, moving or placing loads
Education
- A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)
- H2S Alive®
- Crane Safety Certification
- Fall protection
Licensing
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program is typically required to complete Level 1 and then the Certificate of Qualification for a specific type of crane. A certified tradesperson may qualify themselves to operate more than one type of crane. Another route into apprenticeship training is a pre-apprenticeship foundation program. In most provinces, both of these routes can begin in high school
- The Red Seal endorsement is the interprovincial standard of excellence, and is available to tradespersons upon successful completion of the Red Seal examination
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (wind)
- Travel required (wind)
- Work away from home/in camps (wind)
- Primarily outdoor work (wind)
- Physical work (wind)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (wind)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (wind)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (wind)
- Safety-sensitive environment (wind)
- Transition to a similar level (wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You use your strong leadership, hand-foot-eye coordination, depth perception, math skills, mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting abilities to get the job done. You can tolerate different paces of work and a high degree of stress as you’re responsible for a high-risk function of construction operations.
- Public safety and security
- Active listening
- Working with others
- Monitoring operations
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Maintaining equipment
- Coordination
- Controlling operations
- Building and construction
