If you have excellent hand-eye coordination, you might want to learn how to become an overhead crane operator. Either by remote controls from the ground, or in the cab of an overhead crane, the operator must rely on hand-eye coordination and sound judgment for safe and accurate lifting of heavy objects and materials at construction sites, loading docks or inside manufacturing facilities. An overhead crane operator’s day might include controlling wrecking balls or maneuvering buckets of molten metal, and they might be inside the crane hundreds of feet above the ground.

Needless to say, the job of an overhead crane operator is highly challenging. No wonder why after you receive your initial training and certification, you must go through re-certification every five years, according to the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) website. General requirements include being 18 years of age, meeting physical requirements, complying with substance abuse policies and a Code of Ethics, and passing both a written and practical exam within a twelve month time frame of each other. You can find crane operating courses in all states. Operators are required by OSHA to have a valid certificate either through an accredited testing organization or an OSHA-audited employer program.

You must have a basic understanding of math and physics plus good depth perception and mechanical aptitude, as you follow grade plans and judge height, distance and weight of loads. Errors mean cranes tip, cables snap, and electrocution happens if a power line is hit.

You must be able to effectively communicate with other workers on site either by radio or hand/flag signals. And, you must possess a calm temperament under pressure and extreme temperatures, gas fumes and noisy environments.

To begin a career as an overhead crane operator, you can get on-the-job training in an entry-level construction job or as a machine operator’s helper. Or, you can go through a union apprenticeship with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).

Google “How to Become a Crane Operator” to get started!