A movement is building in crane operations. This rapidly changing industry now recognizes a need for national certification.

"Crane technology, such as integrated computer systems and larger capacities, has advanced at an astonishing rate," said instructor Derek Henson, who owns CH Crane & Rigging Consultants Inc. in Caldwell, Texas.

All this is reshaping the way crane operators are mentored to maneuver these mammoth machines. While the benchmarks and fundamentals established long ago still matter, the requirements have crept higher than ever. And the groundwork is being laid to meet the challenge.

"Once all us boomers are gone, there will be a shortage of skilled operators," said J.R. "Joe Bob" Williams, president of the East Texas Crane Academy LLC in La Porte.

The company, based near Houston, provides training through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (www.nccco.org). Another trade group offering assistance is the International Union of Operating Engineers (www.iuoe.org).

"We deal primarily with operators who work construction or maintenance in area petrochemical facilities," Mr. Williams said.

"Crane operators must know all rules and regulations, be familiar with their crane and its functions and limitations, and exhibit load control techniques. These skills are validated through certification."

Schooling coupled with a hands-on approach govern the instruction at Louisiana Crane Co. LLC in Grand Prairie. The company's multiple sites in Texas and Louisiana offer a broad array of applications – from mechanics to road construction, telecommunications and refinery work, said general manager Neal Goings.

Crane operators find employment in energy and maritime industries as well. "I have also had the pleasure of meeting several crane operators who work for NASA and use cranes to place the shuttle on the fuel tank," Mr. Henson said.

It takes determination and ambition to learn the trade. Beginners often struggle to make the grade. "On-the-job training involving a lot of 'seat time' is essentially a critical part of the process of becoming a first-rate crane operator," said Mr. Henson, who estimated that hourly wages range from $10 for entry-level workers to $40 for veterans.

Jobs are available in union and nonunion shops, although the unions' presence in Texas is limited. "Both have great craftsmen, and the industry accepts both," Mr. Goings said.

An employee usually starts as an apprentice, oiler or rigger, assisting with ground crane operations. After this, a trainee graduates to small and less-risky functions under a mentor's guidance. The big jobs are yet to come.

"Crane operators perform many tasks, including setting bridges, erecting office buildings, rescue and recovery work, and placing cell towers, to say the least," Mr. Henson explained.

As with any trade, experience and training boost workers' defenses. But crane operators should remain alert to danger at all times, Mr. Goings cautioned. Cranes can cause catastrophes when used improperly.

Electrocution is generally responsible for ground fatalities. Operator deaths happen less often and are typically due to crane turnover or wreckage.

"If a crane is working near an overhead power line and comes into contact with it, then the ones getting killed are the workers around the crane on the ground," Mr. Henson said.

Adequate endurance is necessary for daily tasks, which vary among diverse employers. In one industry, Mr. Henson said, an operator may have to set up a crane alone. But in another, several others may lend a hand. Physical strength is not as important as hand-eye coordination, agility and the ability to determine capacity, in Mr. Williams' estimation.

About 99 percent of operators are male. Of the more than 3,000 workers encountered by Mr. Williams' company in the last four years, only five or six were female.

"Women make good operators," he said. "They don't have any preconceived notions about how it should be done and don't fall into the macho trap."

Mr. Henson also expects women to round out new jobs arising from steady economic growth.

"Crane manufacturers have been reporting record-breaking backlogs," he said. "When all those cranes finally hit the market, there will be a shortage of qualified operators to fill them."

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