Crane Operator

The Crane Operator is responsible for safely operating lattice boom, hydraulic, crawler, rough-terrain, or other assigned cranes to support bridge construction activities, including lifting and placing structural steel, precast concrete, rebar cages, forms, piling, equipment, and other heavy materials. This position works closely with superintendents, foremen, riggers, signal persons, pile-driving crews, ironworkers, carpenters, and laborers to plan and execute lifts in accordance with project requirements, manufacturer specifications, OSHA standards, company safety policies, and site-specific lift plans.

• Operate cranes safely and efficiently during bridge construction, rehabilitation, demolition, pile driving, concrete placement, girder setting, deck forming, and related heavy-civil operations.
• Review lift plans, load charts, rigging configurations, crane setup conditions, ground bearing requirements, swing radius, overhead hazards, power line clearances, and access limitations before making picks.
• Perform daily crane inspections, document inspection results, and report equipment deficiencies, maintenance needs, unsafe conditions, or operational concerns to supervision immediately.
• Coordinate closely with qualified riggers, signal persons, pile-driving crews, steel erection crews, concrete crews, and field leadership to ensure safe load handling and accurate placement.
• Lift, move, position, and set materials such as bridge beams, girders, formwork, rebar cages, falsework, sheet piling, pipe, equipment, and jobsite supplies.
• Follow hand signals, radio communications, and established site communication procedures while maintaining constant awareness of personnel, equipment, traffic, waterways, utilities, and changing site conditions.
• Set up, level, and operate cranes on barges, temporary work platforms, bridge decks, uneven terrain, confined work zones, or other bridge-construction environments as assigned and qualified.
• Maintain control of loads at all times and stop work when conditions are unsafe, including high winds, poor visibility, unstable ground, improper rigging, congested work areas, or unclear signals.
• Assist with crane assembly, disassembly, mobilization, demobilization, minor maintenance, lubrication, and housekeeping as directed and within training limits.
• Comply with all OSHA requirements, company safety policies, project-specific procedures, DOT/work-zone requirements, environmental rules, and manufacturer operating instructions.

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Minimum of three years of crane operating experience preferred, with bridge, heavy civil, marine, pile-driving, highway, or structural steel experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to read and apply crane load charts, operator manuals, lift plans, site drawings, and basic construction plans.
• Strong knowledge of crane setup, load dynamics, boom angle, radius, counterweight configuration, rigging principles, ground conditions, and safe hoisting practices.
• Ability to communicate clearly with crews using radios, hand signals, and verbal instructions.
• Ability to work safely around traffic, water, elevated work areas, barges, cranes, pile-driving equipment, concrete operations, steel erection activities, and active construction equipment.
• Must be dependable, safety-focused, detail-oriented, and able to work cooperatively with field crews, supervision, inspectors, subcontractors, and project owners.
• Willingness to travel to project sites, work overtime, weekends, nights, or variable shifts as required by project schedules.

• Current crane operator certification by crane type from an accredited certifying organization, such as NCCCO, or…