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Job Definition
Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
Job Zone

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Interests
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Knowledge
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Skills
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Tasks
Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.
Climb ladders in order to position and setup vehicle-mounted derricks.
Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
Tend auxiliary equipment such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, in order to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.
Move levers, pedals, and throttles in order 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 in order to verify load positions and/or depths.
Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches in order 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.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $62,940.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $34,530.00 and $81,420.00.

Outlook

During 2004, there were approximately 180 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 190 employed in 2014. This occupation will have about 1 openings due to growth and about 6 replacement openings for approximately 7 total annual openings. This occupation experienced moderate growth.

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation - A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate and maintain a variety of heavy equipment, such as a crawler tractors, motor graders and scrapers, shovels, rigging devices, hoists, and jacks. Includes instruction in digging, ditching, sloping, stripping, grading, and backfiling, clearing and excavating.
Similar Occupations
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators - Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or equipment used for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators - Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters - Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons - Build or repair furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, ovens, etc., using refractory materials.
Riggers - Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders - Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators - Operate railroad track switches. Couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Signal engineers by hand or flagging. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.
Crane and Tower Operators - Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
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