Hoist and Winch Operators

Wages
In 2015, the average annual wage in a Alabama was $46,890 with most people making betweeen $21,430 and $62,110
Wages by Industry
  • Support Activities for Water Transportation $66,530.00
  • Logging $37,910.00
  • Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution $50,080.00
  • Support Activities for Mining $42,320.00
  • Ship and Boat Building $39,870.00
  • Coal Mining $43,640.00
Education Required
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Common Majors
  • Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
About the job

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

What you'll do
    • Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
    • Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
    • Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.
    • Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
    • Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.
    • Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
    • Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
    • Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
    • Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
    • Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.
Things you need to know
    • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
    • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
    • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
    • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
    • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
    • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
    • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.