Primary Function:
The NCCCO Certified Crane Operator safely operates mobile and truck-mounted cranes to lift, place, and set structures, equipment, and materials on substation, transmission, distribution, civil, and industrial projects, and is responsible for load chart compliance, crane setup and stability, pre-operational inspection, and coordination with riggers and signalpersons on every lift. This is not a seat-only position. Lifting activity is intermittent, and when no lift is required the operator works as a full member of the substation crew on steel erection, bus and equipment installation, rigging, and general field support. The position is based at Dacon's assigned project sites and reports to the Electrical Foreman.

Duties & Responsibilities

Employee may be called upon to perform any or all of the following functions:

Crane Operation

Operate mobile, truck-mounted, rough terrain, and/or carry deck cranes within manufacturer load chart limits at all times.
Set up the crane on adequate supporting surfaces, deploy outriggers and mats, and verify level and stability before lifting.
Calculate load weights, radii, boom configurations, and capacities and confirm capacity before every pick.
Execute lifts in coordination with qualified riggers and signalpersons using standard hand and radio signals.
Maintain clearance from energized power lines and enforce required approach distances during all crane operations.

Lift Planning

Participate in lift planning and critical lift plan development with the Foreman and project team.
Verify rigging configuration, sling angles, capacity, and load control methods with the rigging crew before the lift.
Identify ground conditions, underground utilities, and overhead obstructions that affect crane placement.
Stop the lift whenever load, signal, weather, or ground conditions become unsafe.

Inspection & Maintenance

Perform and document daily and shift pre-operational crane inspections, including wire rope, hooks, brakes, controls, and safety devices.
Verify annual and periodic crane inspection documentation is current and available on site.
Perform operator-level maintenance and report all defects, damage, and malfunctions immediately, removing the crane from service as required.
Maintain crane logs, load charts, capacity documentation, and rigging inspection records.

Substation Crew Support (Non-Lift Activities)

Work as a full member of the substation crew when lifting activities are not required; this position is not a full-time, seat-only crane assignment.
Assist with substation steel erection, including sorting, laying out, bolting up, aligning, plumbing, and torquing structural steel and equipment stands.
Assist with installing bus, insulators, hardware, connectors, jumpers, and grounding as directed by the Foreman.
Assist with setting and aligning high voltage equipment, including transformers, breakers, switches, and instrument transformers.
Perform rigging, tag line handling, and signalperson duties for other operators and lift crews.
Support material receiving, offloading, staging, inventory, and laydown yard organization.
Assist with general field tasks, including tool and equipment maintenance, housekeeping, and site cleanup.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

Safety & Site Compliance

Participate in daily job briefings, tailboards, and pre-task safety planning.
Comply with all Dacon, OSHA, and client-specific safety policies, and use always required PPE.
Identify, correct, and report unsafe conditions, near misses, and incidents immediately to the Foreman or General Foreman.
Maintain a clean and orderly work area and support site housekeeping and environmental compliance.
Monitor and comply with wind speed, weather, and visibility limits established by the manufacturer and the lift plan.
Maintain awareness of energized equipment, clearance boundaries, and barricading at all times while working in the substation yard.
Works effectively with other trades on the job site, communicates respectfully, and collaborates to keep work progressing safely and efficiently.

How You Will Make an Impact

Execute every lift within load chart limits, protecting personnel, equipment, and the client's facility.
Keep critical setting operations --- transformers, breakers, structures, and steel --- on schedule.
Add crew capacity between lifts by working productively on steel erection, bus, and equipment installation rather than waiting in the seat.
Prevent contact incidents through disciplined power line clearance and lift planning.
Reduce downtime and regulatory exposure by keeping inspection and certification records current.
Raise field lift discipline by coaching riggers and signalpersons on safe practice.

Minimum Qualifications / Experience

Required

High school diploma or GED, or equivalent field experience.
Current NCCCO certification for the crane type(s) to be operated (e.g., TLL, TSS, LBC, LBT).
Minimum of 3 years of documented crane operating experience in construction.
Demonstrated ability to read and apply load charts and to calculate load weights, radii, and capacities.
Knowledge of OSHA 1926 Subpart CC crane requirements, including power line clearance rules.
Working knowledge of rigging practices, sling capacities, and standard hand signals.
Willingness and ability to perform hands-on craft work with the substation crew when lifting activities are not required.
OSHA 10 certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
Must be at least 18 years of age and legally authorized to work in the United States.
Valid driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle record.
Ability to pass pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol screening, background checks, and client-specific site access requirements.
Ability to travel to and work at project sites, including overnight travel, extended hours, and callout availability.

Preferred

Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with air brake and, where applicable, tanker endorsements.
NCCCER Basic/Advanced Rigging Certification.
Substation steel erection, bus installation, or equipment setting experience.
Experience setting substation equipment, transformers, breakers, and steel structures.
Digger derrick and aerial device operating experience.
OSHA 30 certification, First Aid/CPR, and client-specific safety training (e.g., TWIC, Basic Plus).
Experience developing critical lift plans.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, crawl, and climb on uneven terrain for the majority of a 10- to 12-hour shift.
Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of up to 50 pounds unassisted; team lifting of heavier materials as required.
Ability to work from ladders, scaffolds, elevated platforms, aerial lifts, and in trenches or confined spaces as the task requires.
Sustained use of hands and arms for tool operation, including repetitive gripping, pinching, and overhead reaching.
Ability to wear all required PPE for the full shift, including but not limited to, hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, FR clothing, and steel-toe boots.
Vision, hearing, and depth perception sufficient to identify hazards, hand signals, and moving equipment on an active job site.
Ability to sit and operate crane controls for extended periods with sustained concentration.
Ability to safely climb onto and off of the crane, boom, and deck using three points of contact.
Vision and depth perception sufficient to judge load position, clearance, and signals at distance.
Ability to perform full craft labor between lifts, including structural steel handling, bolting, torquing, and work at height from ladders and aerial lifts.

Environmental Conditions

Outdoor work in all weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, wind, and high humidity.
Exposure to dust, mud, noise, vibration, fumes, and moving heavy equipment.
Work on active construction, industrial, refinery, and utility sites subject to client-specific safety and access requirements.
Extended hours, night shifts, weekend work, and emergency or storm callouts may be required.
Travel to and temporary assignment at project sites away from the home base may be required.
Operations near energized overhead and substation equipment requiring strict clearance control.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions as defined by Company policy.

Dashiell

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NCCCO Certified Crane Operator