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Crane
Licence
Advice on what licence you need to operate particular cranes, what training you
can take and what the working enviroment will be like if you choose to pursue
a career in crane operation.
To drive any kind of crane on the road you need a drivers licence. The type of
mobile crane you can drive on the road is dictated by its weight.
To drive a mobile crane weighing between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes a Category C1 Driving
Licence is required and a Category C Licence if the crane is over 7.5 tonnes.
If you intend to use a crane on the public highway in the UK you will need
to apply to the local council for a separate crane licence, or crane operators
licence, in the area where you intend to operate. This licence is divided
into two categories. The Minor Crane Operations Licence is for the short term
use of smaller lifting platforms and cherry pickers. The Standard Crane Operations
Licence covers all larger jobs.
Applications can be made to the relevant council and a fee will be payable. There
is no standard fee for this and it will vary from council to council. To operate
a crane on a site you do not necessarily need a drivers licence though you will
need adequate crane operator training. The industry standard qualifications and
certificates are provided by the CITB.
Entry routes
No specific academic qualifications are required, although GCSEs (A*-E) in English,
maths and technology can be helpful. The Diploma in construction and the built
environment can also provide a relevant introduction to the sector.
Most entrants begin their career through the ConstructionSkills crane operative
Apprenticeship, which requires a pre-entry test. Training can start aged 16, but
to drive and operate a mobile crane, a full driving licence is required and operators
need to be at least 18 years old.
Apprenticeships provide structured training with an employer and, from August
2009, pay at least £95 per week. A recent survey found that the average wage for
apprentices was £170 a week.
Training
Apprentice crane operators spend 12 weeks on block release at the National Construction
College (NCC) East during the first year of their two-year Plant Apprenticeship:
crane operation training programme. The rest of time is spent on site, gaining
practical work experience.
During training, apprentices are taught how to operate a variety of cranes safely
and efficiently and basic maintenance and risk assessment checks. They also work
towards recognised certification/qualifications including:
NVQ Level 2 in plant operations (construction)
functional Skills Level 1 (application of numbers and communication)
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) Technical Test, a practical test
of ability and a theory test
Construction Skills Health and Safety Test.
All crane operators must have a CPCS card, proving they are competent to work
on site. During their Apprenticeship, they qualify for the CPCS Blue Competent
Operator card. Applicants must pass the CPCS Technical Test and Health and Safety
Test and have the relevant NVQ Level 2. Blue cards are renewed every five years.
Legally, employers in every industry sector need to ensure crane operators have
job-specific health and safety training. Those who transport cranes between sites
need a large goods vehicle (LGV) category C licence.
To aid progression, it is possible to take an NVQ Level 3 in construction plant
and equipment supervision.
What
is the work like?
Crane operators mainly work in construction and engineering, lifting and moving
heavy loads, such as building materials, tools and equipment.
Based inside the crane cab, operators take instructions from an assistant on the
ground, called a slinger or signaller. Directed via radio communications or by
visually observing their hand signals, the crane operator will operate levers
and controls, accurately positioning the hook, grab arm or hoist to load/unload
items.
Precision is essential. Crane operators must follow strict safety procedures,
protecting people working around them. They must constantly be aware of:
The cranes stability limits and safe working loads (SWLs), making sure they
are never exceeded
Weather conditions and the cranes wind resistance
Rotential dangers of surrounding obstacles, such as power lines, trees and buildings.
Operators may work different types of cranes, including:
Mobile cranes which are transported to sites, often along public roads. Crawler
cranes can move around construction sites and sometimes over rough terrain.
Overhead cranes on rails which are often found in factories, metal foundries
and works, power stations, ship building yards, passenger ports and commercial
docks and workshops.
Tower cranes (up to heights of 750 metres or more) and small fixed cranes which
are used for special projects and are found on larger construction developments.
Lorry loaders which are employed to load and unload lorries.
• They may also be involved in the erection and dismantling of modular and
portable buildings.
Mobile crane operators are usually responsible for:
Transporting cranes to the site and setting them up
Checking all the equipment is working safely and effectively every time the
crane is used
Conducting routine maintenance and mechanical inspections
Making the crane safe at the end of each day
De-rigging or removing the crane if no longer required.
Tower and overhead crane operators do not have the responsibility for erecting
and dismantling their cranes. This is carried out by a specialist group of crane
installers.
Crane operators can also work in the media and music industries, controlling cranes
carrying heavy camera equipment and camera operators around film and stage sets.
This can include steering remote heads above locations on a high-tech Strada crane,
capturing a birds-eye view of the action.
Hours and environment
Crane operators usually work Monday to Friday. The work can be changeable, with
more jobs, overtime and weekend opportunities available during spring and summer
months. It can involve early mornings and late finishes.
Mobile crane operators often have to travel to different sites, sometimes locally,
but potentially throughout the UK. Some crane operators are self-employed. Short-term
contracts and part-time opportunities are also available.
Although operators work inside the crane cab, they are exposed to varied weather
conditions and temperatures. Operators generally work alone in the cab, but are
in regular contact with construction groundworkers and site supervisors.
Crane operators need to be physically fit to climb up to thier cabs. In some cases
this might be several hundred feet. It can be noisy, dusty and muddy. Good eyesight
and hearing are essential. Operators are required to wear personal protective
equipment, including safety helmets, footwear and ear protectors.
Crane operators in the media sector are usually freelance, often working with
camera equipment facility houses. Work on commercials, feature films and television
programmes may involve travel abroad.
Salary and other benefits
Rates of pay vary, depending on the employer, location and type of work you are
doing. Below is a round-up of the estimated pay you could recieve:
Crane operators may start on around £375 a week, equivalent to £19,500 a year.
With experience, salaries average around £30,000, rising to around £39,500 a
year for a tower crane operator.
Operators of special types of crane and equipment may earn up to £50,000 annually.
The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) establishes minimum
wage rates annually. Overtime payments are common and lodging allowances are provided
if working away from home.
Skills and personal qualities
Crane operators should have:
Good practical skills
A responsible attitude, especially to health and safety
High levels of alertness and concentration
Excellent judgement, co-ordination and spatial awareness
Steady hands
Stamina and agility for climbing up to crane cabs
A good head for heights
Good eyesight and hearing
Strong teamwork skills, but equal ability to work independently
Excellent communication skills
A basic knowledge of vehicle mechanics.
Interests
It is important for crane operators to enjoy:
Hands-on work
Working in busy construction or engineering environments.
Getting in
There are around 10,000 crane operators in UK employment. Cranes are used in many
UK industries, and jobs exist with:
Crane hire companies
Large building construction or civil engineering companies
Demolition firms
Manufacturing plants
Docks and harbours
Local authorities
Energy utility companies, including gas, electricity or water.
Some large contractors sub-contract work to smaller firms. There are jobs throughout
the UK for construction crane operators, particularly in urban development areas.
Employment opportunities fluctuate with the economy. Industrial areas, ports and
docks in the Midlands, North East and North West tend to provide more employment
for operators engaged in engineering work.
Getting on
There are many different types of cranes used for many different tasks. Learning
the techniques to operate one particular type of crane may eventually lead to
specialist roles in sectors such as the oil industry or marine engineering.
With further training and qualifications, experienced crane operators may progress
to become construction or engineering site supervisors or managers
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