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Hoist and Winch Operator

What They Do

Hoist and Winch Operators Career Video

About This Career

Operates or tends hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Moves levers, pedals, and throttles 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.
  • Starts engines of hoists or winches and uses levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
  • Observes equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
  • Operates compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
  • Moves or repositions hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
  • Selects loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
  • Signals and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
  • Attaches, fastens, and disconnects cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
  • Applies hand or foot brakes and moves levers to lock hoists or winches.
  • Oils winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
  • Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Requires getting into awkward positions
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Whole body vibrations, such as when operating a jackhammer
  • Work at heights above 8 feet more than once a month on structures such as ladders, poles, scaffolding, and catwalks

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
  • Maintaining a body position that prevents falling when in an unstable position
  • Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Detecting sounds and hearing the differences between sounds of different pitch and loudness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Hoistman
  • Material Handler — Moves merchandise and materials through the company from shipments into the company to the production floor and shipments on its way to customers.
  • Service Operator
  • Winch Derrick Operator

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support