AIMEE BROOKS
by Aimee Brooks
Here's the pictures of me with a 65 Ton American 5520, a large
lattice
boom crane.
These pictures were taken one day during training, when my crane
instructor and I decided to lay the boom of this handsome old crane
almost right out on the ground. You can see me posing with the end of
the boom, and later in the cab, lifting the boom back up. Our class had
fun that day, checking out the boom of the crane close up. A couple of
my classmates even did chin-ups on the steel, showing off a bit.
As for my story, I'm not a crane operator yet, but the union knows I am
eager to get to work ASAP, and my instructor (the school is affiliated
with the union) says that I will make a good operator when I get my shot.
I've always been interested in skyscrapers, construction, and other such
things. One of my favorite books describes the building of a 30 story
Toronto skyscraper, one of the highlights being an interview with one of
the Tower crane operators. About three years ago, I took a job as a
security guard, and was stationed on a construction site- a four story
condo, built of reinforced concrete. Across the road from my jobsite was
another such project, this one with a large Tower crane. I remember
patrolling the halls, seeing up close the kind of things my books had
described. I remember watching the crane across the road, admiring it as
it worked. One day, I told one of the workmen how I enjoyed watching
that crane, and he informed me that a woman operated it! Perhaps this
was the last straw, what finally lit the crane operator fire under my
behind. I hauled out my books on construction and reread them. I began
looking up info on cranes on the internet. Before long, it was clear- I
wanted (and still want) more than anything to become a crane operator.
I took a crane training course with the Operating engineers local 721,
who run a training school dealing with cranes and earthmoving equipment.
While there, I learned a valuable lesson, not just in load chart reading
or safe work practices, but also about respect. I had the chance to
operate several cranes, some of which are pictured here:
http://www.operatingengineerstraining721.ns.ca/equipment/cranes.html#
After cutting my teeth on an 80 ton Grove hydraulic crane, I moved onto
the American 5520. My first attempt at operating that crane was
memorable to say the least- I found it impossible to control, with the
hook blocks swinging every which way. After that experience, I went back
to operating the smaller cranes, but I knew I wanted another shot at
that American. After some more practice, including some on a smaller
lattice boom crane, I got back in the seat, to give it another try. This
time I was successful, no wildly swinging hook blocks. For the rest of
the course, that 35 year old American was my favourite crane, its
incredibly sensitive swing lever and other quirks finally figured out. I
mentioned respect? That crane took alot of BS pride out of me as a
result of that first wild ride. From that I learned that every crane
truly is different, and that one should approach such a machine not with
fear, not with cockiness, but with utmost respect. I am sure that in the
future this lesson will serve me well.
At the moment, I am waiting to begin an apprenticeship as a Tower crane
operator- things here in town are set to get extremely busy, where
cranes are concerned. I've met two female crane operators here in town,
attended many Tower crane dismantling and erections, and have done my
best to continue educating myself while I wait for my own apprenticeship
to begin. Hopefully very soon, I will be writing with pictures from the
cab of my first crane on a real job.
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OPERATOR
