National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.3

7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

These occupations include trades supervisors and contractors, construction and mechanical tradespersons, operators of transportation and heavy equipment and trades helpers. These occupations are found in a wide range of industrial sectors, with many in the construction and transportation industries.

This category includes most of the apprenticeable trades, including all those related to the construction industry. Other occupations in this category usually require completion of college or vocational education programs combined with on-the-job training. Helpers obtain training on the job site. Progression to supervisory positions or self-employed contractor status is possible with experience. There is limited mobility or transferability of skills among occupations in this category due to specific apprenticeship, training and licensing requirements for most occupations.

73 - Maintenance and equipment operation trades

This major group comprises occupations in maintenance and equipment operation trades, which usually require more than two years of apprenticeship or on-the-job training in the trade. It includes contractors and supervisors, maintenance trades and heavy equipment and transport operators; machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles); automotive service technicians; other mechanics and related repairers; train crew operations occupations; crane operators, drillers and blasters; and printing press operators and other trades and related occupations, not elsewhere classified.

737 - Crane operators, drillers and blasters

This minor group includes crane operators; surface mining, quarrying and construction drillers and blasters; and water well drillers. They are employed by construction, industrial, cargo handling, railway, mining and quarrying companies; drilling and blasting and water well drilling contractors; and governments; or they may be self-employed.

7371 - Crane operators

Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations. They are employed by construction, industrial, mining, cargo handling and railway companies.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • boom truck crane operator
  • bridge crane operator
  • climbing crane operator
  • construction crane operator
  • crane operator
  • dragline crane operator
  • gantry crane operator
  • hoist operator (except underground mining)
  • mobile crane operator
  • tower crane operator
  • tractor crane operator

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • rigger (except shipbuilding and aircraft assembly)

• Exclusion(s)

  • Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (See 7521 Heavy equipment operators (except crane))
  • Hoist operators - underground mining (See 8231 Underground production and development miners)
  • Supervisors of crane operators (See 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate mobile and tower cranes to lift, move, position or place equipment and materials
  • Perform pre-operational inspection, and calculate crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
  • Operate pile driving cranes to drive pilings into earth to provide support for buildings and other structures
  • Operate cranes equipped with dredging attachments to dredge waterways and other areas
  • Operate gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side
  • Operate locomotive cranes to move objects and materials at railway yards
  • Operate bridge or overhead cranes to lift, move and place plant machinery and materials
  • Operate offshore oil rig cranes to unload and reload supply vessels
  • Operate cranes mounted on boats or barges to lift, move and place equipment and materials
  • Operate dragline cranes to expose coal seams and ore deposits at open pit mines
  • May assemble tower cranes on site
  • Perform routine maintenance work such as cleaning and lubricating cranes.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program
    or
    Industry courses in crane operating are usually required.
  • Mobile crane operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Northwest Territories.
  • Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in Prince Edward Island.
  • Hoist operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads.
  • Internal company certification as a crane operator may be required by some employers.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified mobile crane and tower crane operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

• Additional information

  • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.