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Hoist and Winch Operators

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

What you’d do

  • Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
  • Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
  • Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
  • Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
  • Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
  • Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.
  • Move 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.
  • Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Time Management
  • Active Listening
  • Operation and Control

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Hoist Operator
  • Hoistman
  • Service Operator
  • Winch Derrick Operator
  • Hoisting Operator
  • Winchman

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