When you picture a city what generally comes to mind is the skyline. A row of tall buildings representing the most successful companies and individuals of that area. Where would that skyline be if not for the mighty crane and it’s crane operator? Cranes are highly complex pieces of machinery which require a serious amount of training to operate. While crane operator isn’t going to be the number 1 most sought-after job, it is attractive to those interested in engineering. There is always a need for Bay area crane operators; the region is always under development

Hiring a new staff member for any role can be a painstaking exercise, from filtering through the applicants to interviewing them individually. Here at Sheedy, being one of the major Bay Area crane rental providers, we have experience with crane operators and know which qualities to look for. 

Discipline

As one can imagine, sitting alone for extended periods of time in a confined space many feet above the ground can be unnerving. A good Bay area crane operator will be able to stay in that space while remaining attentive and focused on the task at hand.

The crane operator’s life should also be a fairly calm one, if your operator is going out after work every night then you will start to worry about how they work in the mornings. Not to say that an operator can’t have fun, just that they should know when to have fun and how to have fun without letting it affect their work. 

Distraction can spell disaster when operating a crane, so if a potential operator shows traits of becoming easily distracted they may not be right for the job.

Dexterity

Manual dexterity or having good hand-eye coordination is another integral element in operating cranes. The movement that translates from the levers in the control room to the movement of the crane is exponential. Being able to work the delicate controls while concurrently looking ahead to where you’re moving the crane is a constant part of the job.

Beyond the control room, the operator should also be comfortable getting up and down the crane efficiently. Also they should be able to climb on to various parts of the crane for any necessary maintenance or repairs.

Checking someone’s dexterity can only really be done in person, and there are several ways which one can do so. Try coming up with your own innovative dexterity test as part of the interview process.

Critical Thinking

Undeniably important in every job imaginable, and in life in general. Critical thinking goes beyond blindly questioning everything as your conspiracy-crazy relatives may have you believe.

The true value lies in problem-solving and the ability to shift perceptions. This comes in handy with crane operation in that the unexpected can and will always happen.

Freaking out about something unexpected while in the control room of a crane is not ideal, and can be catastrophic. An apt critical-thinker will be able to respond to problems with viable solutions in real-time.

Measuring critical thinking is almost impossible, as many people have learned to feign it. As with the dexterity test, giving the example of a work-related problem can be a good way to see someone’s critical thinking. 

Communication

While there is a degree of planning that goes into each day of working with a crane, constant communication is still key. Being able to understand, and report information is another necessary skill for life, and is especially important in crane operation. In fact, if someone shows excellent critical thinking, but terrible communication, then that critical thinking will count for nothing.

Good communication not only means knowing when to speak, but also when not to speak. If someone is constantly talking through the radio then that can lead to distractions on the rest of the site.

You will be able to gauge this from your (or your HR’s) interaction with them throughout the application process. 

Qualification/Certification

Although it may seem obvious, ensure that any potential crane operators have the correct necessary qualifications to do the job. The modern job marketplace is cut-throat, and the scarcity has born opportunists who will embellish their ability to gain a job.

The classic movie Catch Me If You Can is a great example of charisma outshining legitimacy. Although thankfully these days checking how legitimate something is has become much easier.

These shouldn’t be the only qualities you look for in a Bay area crane operator, nor should a crane operator be the only role you’re looking for these qualities in. Trust the judgement of those around you as well as your own gut instinct, and make sure to double check their certification. 

For all your Bay Area crane rental and rigging requirements, contact us today!

This year marks a milestone for the crane rental industry: the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. Commonly referred to as the NCCCO, this independent, not-for-profit organization administers a nationwide training and the NCCCO certification program for crane operators.

Since 1996, the NCCCO has worked with our industry to create courses and standards that reflect safety and practical knowledge requirements for crane operators.

Read on to learn why NCCCO certification is an important consideration for anyone searching for a Bay Area crane rental.

What does NCCCO certification mean?

NCCCO certifications cover all sorts of cranes — tower, boom truck, etc. — and accreditation for not only operators, but people in related positions such as signal persons and riggers.

These certification programs are formally recognized by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), making them a crucial component of any operator’s training, as they help ensure a safe work environment. In fact, OSHA now requires crane certifications to come from recognized partners such as NCCCO.

In addition to OSHA, NCCCO also works closely with a number of other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

NCCCO programs also meet the ASME B30 standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

According to the NCCCO, the organization has overseen more than 1.5 million exams and issued more than 425,000 certifications nationwide, which means a substantial number of load handling professionals have the proper training and qualifications.

The benefits of a NCCCO-certified Bay Area crane rental

NCCCO certification provides several benefits, including:

• Lower risk of loss
• Fewer accidents
• More consistent training
• More opportunities for people who work with load handling equipment
• Peace of mind for both people in the industry and the general public that load handling equipment workers have the proper training.

NCCCO has the support of a diverse group of industries that use load-handling equipment, including construction, energy, equipment rental, automotive and petrochemicals.

These programs are national in scope, operated by a private nonprofit and independent of labor relations policies.

NCCCO programs are tailored to different varieties of load-handling equipment activities, and accredited by the American National Standards, a nationally-recognized authority for professional credentialing.

Professional, NCCCO-certified Bay Area crane operators from Sheedy Crane

If you have a job that requires crane operators in the Bay Area and need to know you’re hiring NCCCO-certified professionals, look no further than Sheedy Crane.

We have a diverse and modern fleet of mobile and speciality cranes, all owned by Sheedy and operated by NCCCO-certified operators and maintained by our in-house maintenance shop.

Our cranes include:

• All-terrain cranes
• Lattice boom cranes
• Hydraulic truck cranes
• Rough terrain cranes
• Roof-mounted cranes

We can also provide auxiliary and support equipment such as crane mats, man-baskets, flying job, pallet forks and debris boxes.

Sheedy would be more than happy to send one of our estimators to your job site or office to help plan and price your Bay Area crane rental. Call us today.