Will “Derrick Hand” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.

• Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.

• Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.

• Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.

• Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.

• Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.

• Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.

• Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.

• Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.

• Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.

• Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.

• Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.

• Move levers, pedals, and throttles to stop, start, and regulate speeds of hoist or winch drums in response to hand, bell, buzzer, telephone, loud-speaker, or whistle signals, or by observing dial indicators or cable marks.