Crane Operator
Name: Steve Hart, 42
Employer: Gentle Giant, a Somerville-based residential moving company.
What do you do? I go on site to look at jobs to see if we can use a crane or if we need to do it by hand. As far as craning goes, we move pianos, large chests, large couches, air conditioners, and many other things. On the day of the move, I come in and pick up paperwork and meet with the movers.
Where do most of your jobs take place? The majority of our customers are in the Boston area.
What was your biggest project? We moved the Harvard Development Office to University Place and that took about 40 movers and 10 trucks. The entire job took a weekend to complete.
What's the hardest part of your job? As the crew chief/crane operator, you have to oversee everything, set up the move, take precautions, and coordinate the activity.
What is the heaviest thing you've moved? I've actually carried a piano on my back.
What steps can you take to avoid injury in this type of work? It's important to have good body mechanics and be active before moving. You need to put a lot of forethought into whatever piece you're moving. You need to know what your limitations are and when you need help from another mover.
How did you get into this kind of work? I was looking for a job while I was in college. I attended Princeton University from 1977-1981 before going into the Army. I expected to go back to school but that changed. I went back to Gentle Giant in 1981 and have been working here for 14 years.
What do you love about your job? The people. I work with a great group. Every day is different, and there's always some sort of challenge.
What skills does this job require? The best skill is to be mentally tough. When it comes to physical demand, you have to have strength. I once did a job for 24 hours in a row. It's not unusual for our crew to work straight for 14 or 15 hours.
What is the average salary? The average starting salary would be about $15 per hour.
What advice would you give to someone trying to get into this type of work? You have to have a lot of motivation and love helping people. You have to be passionate about customer service, but also be athletic and active to keep in shape.
-NIKOLETTA BANUSHI
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