If you are reading this article, you are probably exploring the idea of a career as a crane operator. If you have just begun your investigation, you have probably discovered that there is a lot more to being a crane operator than you originally assumed. If you are further into the learning process you know that the hoisting business is both broad and complex. This article will explain the business, where a Massachusetts 1C License fits in the overall scheme of things, and what you can do with the 1C License.
The Complexity of the Hoisting Business
The complexity of the hoisting business begins and ends with safety.
- Every component of hoisting training, whether for initial licensing or for continuing education, emphasizes safety, because . . .
- . . . every element of hoisting operations requires continual, intense focus on safety.
From the simplest forklifts to the largest tower cranes, each piece of equipment is designed and built for specific and limited uses. Licensing is the state’s method of confirming that applicants understand those uses and how to operate hoisting equipment safely within those parameters.
From the simplest forklifts to the largest tower cranes, each piece of equipment itself is complex. It is imperative that operators understand the complexities of each piece of equipment they are licensed to operate – within the context of safety.
Safety truly does come first in the hoisting business. Before using any equipment, operators must learn and be committed to the safety rules that are overarching for all hoisting jobs. Safety defines the principles of operation. The complexity of the business begins with the variety of equipment available in many models and types from a variety of manufacturers. Because there are so many variables, Massachusetts law requires that the manufacturer’s Operations Manual is kept in the operator’s cab for quick reference to ensure that the operator knows the limits of his or her particular machine.
Job site conditions compound the complexity. Soil conditions, weather, available space, and the presence of other people constitute an unknown variable until all are taken into account prior to and during a lift.
The Breadth of the Hoisting Business
This is where the opportunities are. The variety of places, from shipyards to skyscrapers and from airports to oil rigs, where hoisting equipment is used is even broader than the average person typically comprehends. That means jobs – lots of them. In fact, a recent search on Indeed.com returned over 3,700 jobs across the country.
Speaking of opportunity, according to the same website, the average salary for crane operators in Massachusetts was $49,900 as of July 2017.
The Place of the 1C License in the Hoisting Business
This is why you started reading this article. According to the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, holders of a 1C License are permitted to operate equipment with hydraulic telescoping booms and any other hydraulic equipment designed for the purpose of hoisting, excluding those with wire rope hoist lines. The licensee is also permitted to operate any equipment listed in class 1D.
- To see what the holder of a 1D License is permitted to do, read our article, “What Can You Do with Your Hoisting 1D License.”
- To gain an overview of all Class 1 hoisting licenses in Massachusetts, read “A Guide to Massachusetts Hoisting License Courses 1A-1D.”
To prepare for the hoisting license exam or to fulfill the requirements for continuing education, click here to learn how you can take our Hoisting License classes for free