WORKING AS A CONSTRUCTION CRANE OPERATOR

I'm a Vancouver based KZbinr and adventure blogger, and got to climb to the top of a construction crane.
Mega Cranes took me up 200 ft. to the top of their tower crane on a construction site in Burnaby, BC. For me to climb the tower required me to have my Fall Protection Certificate, which I took online prior to climbing the crane.
Something else I needed was a bunch of security equipment, including:
Hard hat: amzn.to/2qeyKn8
Safety vest: amzn.to/2poPofw
Steel toed boots, harness and my Fall Protection Certificate.
Thanks to Mega Cranes and Mike for having me come up. www.megacranes.com

[@nxios]

Much respect for crane operators

[@obviouslytwo4u]

and the banksman too.

[@brockmccauley3760]

wheres the love for the crane operators swampers

[@Yanick-jt1if]

Someone have to do it I guess

[@patgenier1965]

Thanks. Its a great way to feed the family and pay the bills.

[@smkngunzzz1843]

@@patgenier1965 Great way for some kinda tragedy to happen too 🤨.

[@bluebellharleyrider]

I’m not kidding my ass was tighter than a banjo string just watching this video. I couldn’t imagine doing this in real time.

[@DownieLive]

No kidding, right?!!! Thanks for watching!

[@justinlewis899]

What afraid of heights

[@kingoftrolls19]

DownieLive once I’m high in the air I’m fine but I get scared climbing up too super high heights

[@LifeOfDeeG]

I do it for fun , it's the most amazing feeling

[@awm891]

L🤣L

[@realf1rme]

So scared of heights that my stomach n balls hurt just watching him sit on the operating seat...

[@lorenzolarsen8406]

Imagine cell tower climbers , I hang like 400 ft in the air with nothing underneath me ! Haha

[@realf1rme]

@@lorenzolarsen8406 laugh now splatter later LMAO

[@evansuddreth388]

Actually the operation seat was injured because of the size of his balls

[@dennisthemenace4440]

Lol then dont watch the youtuber Shiey.

[@Bawbag0110]

I thought I was the only one who gets the balls thing 😂

[@sheldonwisdom2161]

I worked on work over rigs oilfield be careful when climbing with pelican hooks don’t put pelican hooks on the rung the part you step on put it on the actual ladder if one rungs breaks the next one will catch you then

[@totallyfrozen]

Life saving advice! 👍🏻

[@JackLego37]

Lol that’s genius

[@madej5]

Life advice bruh !💯💯

[@thealchemist8422]

What’s the name of the music at the end of the video?

[@thetruebrit85]

Did it for year's! Brilliant in winter when it's freezin snow and ice on the ground! I'm up in my tower crane with the heater on full. My brevile toaster cooking my ham and cheese toasties. My kettle ready to "Pop" Ub/40 On the radio. The lads on the ground freezing and piss wet through cause when the concrete arrives it's all hands on no stopping for at least twelve hours.....Great memories

[@risingphoenix1484]

These are the men that make our country great.... shout out to the fireman, fisherman, farmers, engineers, doctors, lawyers and etc too....

[@cloroxxbryant8500]

Longshoremen too never forget that buddy cargo.we delivered your goods and worked during covid u ungrateful p.o.s...

[@asquithmainlines699]

I love online certification courses. Way better than having a classroom presentation with practical demonstrations. I just completed my Brain Surgeon last week and it was only 25 bucks! Next week, Rocket Scientist. Oh by the way great video,I know that because I am a certified camera operator as well as director. I am going to need a bigger wall for all these certificates.

[@kingstonchris5841]

🤣🤣💀🏺

[@mVpkilla93]

Lmfao thats true but thats life currently

[@toccabrigitte2684]

In Ontario, fall protection training (aka Working at Heights) is strictly in class. You must pass a multiple choice exam as well as a practical one.

[@835g]

I took my police exam online. I passed, I did have little help from a friend . Their mailing me my gun and badge. Should get it by next week.

[@pvtrichter88]

@@835g are you in TEXAS ? sounds like something i would expect from the lone star state ! lol!

[@willread8376]

I'm out here staring at a massive crane against a tall building, and I was just fascinated how these things could have been put up. And so sturdy to lift all that weight. Mad props to you guys man I couldn't work that high I would get nothing done.

[@shyguy1630]

That view. I almost passed out on my couch.

[@davidgray8089]

And it is much more spectacular when you are actually up there, except for all the creaking and banging the cranes does, especially older ones that develop some play in their swing gears.

[@curtiswhiteheadjr1322]

You guys have my total respect. I work in a steel processing warehouse and have been trained, yet not certified like you guys, to operate a Stacker Crane which only goes about 50, 60 feet above the floor and it rocks and rattles like krazy as you take up and bring down 5000 pound steel bundles. Child’s play for you guys. 😊💯

[@Mirkuzz]

Mike & Mike, I’m seeing double.

[@dwalker420]

What's up man, I'm D. I've been operating tower cranes in Vancouver since 2006. I'm currently operating a Liebherr 290 downtown. The crane that you're touring through is a FM Grue. One of the coolest features of the Grue is that you can switch it over to remote control mode. I got a crazy video of me standing in the trolley basket, and rippin' myself out to the tip, while I swung around full circle... I was nuts in my 20's.

[@DownieLive]

That’s awesome!

[@nbHawkeye]

Funny thing - when I was a kid I believed that an elevator would take the crane workers up there. There was no way they actually would climb up there - or at least I thought so.

[@BRazurp]

I mean I have practice on the crab in gta lol

[@BRazurp]

Crane^*

[@ToddM452]

Climbing on a cold winter day when the wind is blowing at 6:30am or earlier!

[@Nikkii18]

I just moved into a high rise in downtown San Diego and across from me they’re building a skyscraper and I’m just watching them build for hours as I’m just so intrigued by how people can do this job. I absolutely would die of shock and fear 😅 just watching them makes me so anxious. Definitely some of the bravest people

[@kalebsteffenhagen3835]

Love being a crane operator can run them all pretty much except tower, one day hope to get in one.

[@Napoli85]

More power to you all who do this for a living. Whatever income you make doing this, you deserve more

[@lukelyle3019]

They make 100000s of dollars a year actually

[@williampollard4759]

Thank you very much for the opportunity to climb a tower crane, I found it very enjoyable. It was short and sweet, I’m very informative.

[@fionamortensen9421]

funny how i start crane operation tomorrow and i’m terrified of heights but w that pay i’ll do anything

[@SUNSHINESTATE904]

fiona mortensen you still hanging in there??

[@jakeee7941]

@@SUNSHINESTATE904 dawg I seen u commet n like 10 videos I watch from St aug ?

[@SUNSHINESTATE904]

Lil Jakee soooooooooooo??????

[@nickshades6727]

How long did you last before the panic attack?

[@mrdune5479]

Don't do this for money, you'll hate it

[@rangefromtblt4047]

As a 20yo woman, this is literally my DREAM JOB. Like, I've always loved tower cranes. They're really fascinating and cool. Heck, I'm literally AT THIS MOMENT wearing a shirt with a large, yellow tower crane on it. I don't know why, but the thought of operating one just gives me this feeling of power/might and excitement. I think especially since irl I'm really, really short and weak and I can't do shit with these muscles. Also, working at a construction site has seemed neat to me for a long time already and since I can't do the heavy work with my strenght, operating the heavy equipment would pretty much be PERFECT. And it's an important job too. I don't think I'll ever actually be able to do this for many reasons, but it's very fun to fantasize about. And even though it might never be my job, I do have entering that cabin once on my bucket list.

[@randomgirl-lj3xi]

Why can't you do it? I am a 37 yo female engineer and I climb up ladders and scaffolding or confined spaces in ships fairly frequently when I do structural assessments. Fyi the structural forces in play to balance a crane and pretty interesting

[@breakingvideos8564]

Salute to all crane operator for giving so up and then down . So tuff job . Appreciate you guys ❤️👍

[@tkx86]

I never took the time to appreciate all that gear they strap on them. My chest hairs just grew a good inch watching this video, cheers.

[@kurtdubling3026]

They must have a hard time walking with those balls of steel. Respect man!!

[@adonisjenkins3930]

My first job after high school was as a job site rebar and concrete inspector. It was a great gig, payed 16 an hour, and I felt like I plated be a big part in the whole construction process. One of my best memories so far was working with and talking to the tower crane operators while they were bucketing concrete up to the 5th floor of the new Yale science building. Those guys have serious nerves and work super efficient. I once saw a 2 page long “que” of tasks that the radioman on ground kept because everyone and their mother needed the crane to do something that day.

[@DownieLive]

Wow! Great story. Such a cool job to be a part of all that.

[@davidrobins4025]

Thanks for taking us along and showing us the view.

[@drfclad]

I have been operating tower cranes for a few years now and some of the views have been outstanding.

[@ToadMan9000]

What do you make a year? Considering crane school.

[@user-ul5wq3kv4p]

@@ToadMan9000 (Google search ) I think the starting salary is average 50k. And people with years of experience make an average of 70- 80K USD.

[@sailorgeer]

Looks like my home town Vancouver BC, I’d recognize those north shore mountains anywhere :). As a structural engineer, the design of tower cranes has always fascinated me. Highly optimized 3D space trusses in action.

[@DownieLive]

Very cool!

[@treytracytravel]

You have no fear dude! I’d pass out if I had to climb that thing. Was holding tight in my seat just watching. Crazy to think its only in six feet of concrete.

[@DownieLive]

True! I didn’t even think of that...

[@kimberly329]

My stomach dropped just watching this. I could NEVER. Much respect to anyone in a job at high heights and tight spaces.

[@6fycyc]

Nice to see a video like this...love Mike and Mike this is just what we do and it's boring now...nice to see someone who's enthusiastic.

[@samdiego1965]

I had no idea the operator actually has to physically climb the crane. I always thought they had some kind of elevator or something. What happens if the operator has a bathroom emergency?

[@lukelyle3019]

They have two by cups one of my relatives worked as a crane operator and he was usually intoxicated cause of the height and the cracks in the glass

[@Archangel657]

I suppose you shit and piss in bucket 🪣

[@waly_white]

well if its tall enough you can take the skip elevator up in the building and then there will be a bridge connecting the crane to the building higher up. if all that is not available you have to climb the whole thing from the bottom

[@alexisromero278]

They go #1 and 2 up there lol I go up to our operators crane once every month and he always has piss bottles and a can

[@brucem4105]

A bucket and a plastic bag. Piss off the edge. Then rope it down at the end of shift

[@19manu06]

How does he pass drug test being that high everyday ?

[@Veersa]

Lol

[@thewhomphlew]

Ive actually worked for a tower crane restoration company in seattle, no one there could pass a drug test. The safety guy had 8 d.u.i's. They hire good mechanics not sober ones lol. Also, I quit that job 'cause I was bored of working on cranes,.. work on Yachts now.

[@dakotaandnolanandjacobbest4312]

Umm ok

[@yaboy1689]

Lop

[@MrMiddleWick]

@J Ygb double entendre

[@genapaisa2610]

Right now I'm operating JASO trolley jib tower crane in England 🇬🇧 and it's 150 feet high , i have been operating trolley and luffing jib tower cranes for the past 15 years, and also im a qualified slinger/signaller 15 years experience and also im a qualified crane supervisor/lifting operations 8 years experience . Thanks for your clip, really nice one . Greetings from United Kingdom 🇬🇧😀😊

[@bradschneider82]

In terms of risk it's highly lethal but rare. And in that case working on these things looks awesome

[@AlexZander688]

True respect and admiration for crews that work at heights. The most I've done is 20-30 feet on a Genie Lift. These days, being 10 feet up on a step ladder is difficult.

[@williamford9564]

DEATHLY afraid of heights. I live on North Carolina and they are building a high rise apartment complex across the street. The crane there has started working full force the last few weeks and I had no idea of what was involved in that until I saw this and another video on construction cranes. Thanks!

[@TooBigTVHeavyEquipmentOperator]

Thanks for giving us a tour on how a tower crane looks like from up above. I'm watching hoping would get some tips and techniques for my incoming assessment.

[@thomasnelson2463]

I am an NCCCO certified operator, I don't mind heights, as long as I'm looking UP at them. Those guys are crazy! (I did give a Thumbs Up)

[@davidgray8089]

It isn't as bad as you think. The crane i learned on was a climbing tower, so we actually only started 90 feet above the ground and when the building caught up we would then climb the tower to the next height. By the end of the job the tower crane was about the 300 foot mark but by then you were used to the height.

[@keyjam9]

My first was at 120 ft. Bit of a rush first time up but after a couple of days it was like sitting in your living room. Inspecting the jib every day does keep you one your toes though.

[@nobodynose9768]

thank you for displaying our occupation brother..i myself work at a 520feet tall here in cyprus in the trilogy project..they are estimating the crane to go up to 650feet and i cant wait to enter such height in my CV!!

[@mrdune5479]

I'm pretty jealous of his foot peddle radios!! I used to have a foot peddle break years back and I miss that tbh.

[@sammygoris]

That's the certificate..... I could make that in MS paint.

[@arshdeep3119]

But you can’t produce the skills

[@TJP773]

You don’t have the gonads sammy to do the job. Go play with your printer little boy.

[@sammygoris]

TJ of SC what the shit bro? I’m not saying I could do it, I’m just saying it’s funny how after all the training and regulation that it’s such a simple certificate?? Jeepers... cool your jets buddy

[@TJP773]

Sammy Goris , hey “bro” first of all I’m NOT your bro. second, you still don’t have the nuts 👶🏻

[@sammygoris]

TJ of SC OK bro if that makes you feel better :)

[@Whalermansteve84]

I don’t do heights , unless I’m zip lining on a coarse , when you pointed the camera down I could feel myself falling and gripped the edge of my bed. Literally felt like I was up there. There’s a video about a guy who climbs the worlds tallest light and it takes him an hour to get up there to change the bulb 😱

[@alammutiara8888]

I used to walk on that front jib without safety harness. Me and colleagues were fearless back in the days☺️

[@astronaut_69]

Big ass smile on your face when you're up there tryna jump off of that crane thinking you're super man is priceless 😍

[@muffen17007]

BRUH MY ANXIETY WENT UP EVEN JUST WATCHING THIS VIDEO

[@mmcrypto2291]

Elevate your investments with Lauren Simmons, also millions in BTC

[@mmcrypto2291]

Her whatsapp [phone] Also do well to tell her I referred you

[@nbHawkeye]

Yup, this feels pretty terrifying.

[@mambowman]

a job I could never do.I tip my hat to guys like Mike!

[@royking4076]

That's awesome that they allow you to show us the behind scenes of what builds our country...

[@digitalassetnews5341]

I've been having huge weekly returns just by trading with Lauren Simmons, she also made millions for me in bitcoin too

[@digitalassetnews5341]

+4..4..7..4..5..1..2..1..2..4..7..9 You can write her on whatsapp.. Also tell her I referred you

[@WPhommahaxay]

Thus kids, is how T&T and the condos was built. Hopefully you get to do more behind the scenes construction videos Mike! Enjoying the content!

[@cheeseandonions9558]

That fall protection certificate will be soooo useful when you're actually falling :)

[@treystewart544]

That crane is more like a drilling rig in the oilfield so awesome 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@fredflintstoner596]

CRANES ARE GREAT ! I LIKE IT WHEN THE REALLY BIG ONES COLLAPSE

[@totallyfrozen]

No thanks. When I was younger, I had no fear of heights. Today, just watching this made my palms and my feet sweat. 😳

[@edenilsonamaya9330]

Secondary mike is sooo calm. I want to do this one day

[@KristyLeandra]

I watch a ton of crane tower content and this is the only one that made me so nervous 🤣

[@CourtneyyyJanee]

one of these just collapsed in Kelowna literally today and oh my God, the amount that fell off the top 😳 we still don't know all the details, praying for everyone involved. edit to say: was not this crane. this video just came up when I searched for more news on the story in my city.

[@fredflintstoner596]

CRANES ARE SO MUCH FUN !

[@BonziBuddy.]

My working-at-heights certification took literally less than 4 minutes. I was getting my forklift certification and the trainer asked me if I wanted to get certified for scissor lifts while we were at it for no extra cost (the city paid for my training anyway cause I'm poor lol). All I had to do was prove I can put on a harness and operate the lift. So now I'm certified on Class I, II, III, and V forklifts as well as scissor lift and working-at-heights certified. All it took was 20 hours total of training over the course of 2 days. Would have taken much longer but I was the only student on my scheduled training days, so I got direct one-on-one training from their best trainer.

[@raccoons392]

Used to do wildlife control, I remember trying to snare raccoons on these things, a bit scary!

[@totallyfrozen]

OMG! I can only imagine! Getting mauled by a terrified raccoon or falling 200 feet to my death. Nice to have options, I guess. 😳😩

[@kennethg.727]

What happens in the event that the crane starts to fall? Does the operator have a quick deploy parachute to evacuate or anything?

[@PeaceLoveJoyWorld]

You’re both so BRAVE !!

[@lukebond1040]

That flex feeling is amazing when running cranes

[@heydanking]

Dude ... this is awesome! Great adventure!!

[@videoettaceo8900]

I'm here for the adrenaline rush I get just watching! Stay safe, y'all!

[@mobettaspice]

Damn that was terrifying 😟 glad I kept it in 360p.

[@cloroxxbryant8500]

I do longshoremen work ill stick with being a stack operator that looks very dangerous I thought my job was dangerous hats off to you buddy..

[@trichotillomaniac1959]

I'm sitting on my couch and my palms are sweating just watching this

[@daveberswick5372]

I swamped for years with an overhead crane operator as much as the foreman goes on about running the job ,nothing much gets done until the swamper and the operator get things moving. .A two channel one private channel for operator and swamper is a most.

[@jeffyarborough3097]

Damn. Your instructor is great, wears a harness and doesn't even tie off. Lets you tie off to the ladder rung 😂

[@robertlopezlopez3728]

This retired union ironworker has done lots of tower crane and enjoyed it 😀

[@creativecreations1377]

We honor our professional crane operators.

[@TrueNorthKoala]

Great video DownieLive! Love that view, reminds me of my old gum tree I grew up in.

[@nicolekopera2826]

Ah the gum tree. A common name for smooth-barked trees and shrubs in three closely related genera of Eucalypt.

[@ortleywebb2643]

My legs started shaking watching this

[@dezbigguns1072]

Love how the guy lowering his stuff down didn’t have a harness on or a hardhat 🤣🤣

[@cjnichols3878]

I know this is older but FYI you are not in Burnaby you are on Kingsway @ Slocan in Vancouver over what usedto be a small Canadian Tire store. I used to have my office next door.

[@roostercogburn809]

I climbed a many oil derricks in early 80's, never took any classes on safety.

[@playtrapper]

mad lad

[@loyalbeast1600]

Is not the weight bro don’t lie haha that shitt never get old

[@hecpro5405]

Darn those guys yace huge steal balls.

[@maxanstey3769]

Lol at night when you're not working I climb them

[@davidgray8089]

Just please remember that these things have 600 volts powering them so stay away from the electrical, it can kill you instantly.

[@dennisvarwig7672]

Wow that’s pretty awesome keep up the good work Mike. I enjoy your channel

[@MattLedz186]

My anxiety didn't need this today. Why did I click the video? I knew what I was getting myself into, and did nothing to prevent it.

[@AlecPrice]

I guess its time for my weekly reminder that my life is boring

[@DownieLive]

+Alec Price No, surely that's not true. I sensationalize it a bit for entertainment value. And don't forget that I only post once a week. The rest of my week is normal if not boring and full of emails getting these videos ready for you.

[@1polyron1]

@@DownieLive love that you responded and to be so humble; you're surely an amazing guy

[@DownieLive]

Oh wow. Thanks so much. Well, clearly you are too 👍🏼😄

[@1polyron1]

@@DownieLive Coming from you that means a lot.

[@saqibsami1484]

@@1polyron1 tf

[@Liam40]

Reminds me a bit of being a teenager and climbing radio towers. Only difference is, this guy has fall restraints and permission.

[@omi0777]

Great video

[@n10cities]

Talking about getting tired when climbing, those safety harnesses weigh a TON! I had to wear one awhile back in order to enter the operator platform on a scissor lift.

[@videoettaceo8900]

No way could I EVER do this. Good job!

[@Fletch_18]

Braver than me up there, I'd be terrified. Makes me feel dizzy just watching.

[@psoon04286]

Wow Mike I know you’ve made many behind the scenes videos but this one gives me the willies🫣 We see so many of these amazing machines around worksites and I have loads of questions about their operation, about how they are built on-site. I’ve noted that they can ‘grow’ taller as the need arises. They are a wonder of modern mechanical engineering. My hat’s off to the guys that operate these cranes

[@yotsiyoss14tistit42]

This is the job for me

[@mmcrypto2291]

Elevate your investments with Lauren Simmons, also millions in BTC

[@mmcrypto2291]

Her whatsapp [phone] Also do well to tell her I referred you

[@elrea-lynnpeach6640]

Holy FUCK, I'm sitting on my couch & freaking out! Brave Man!!!!

[@stevelangland3924]

Never, never ever would you get me up there and if you did, getting down would paralyze me in massive panic attack.

[@drunkenaussiewombat726]

Too bad you weren't allowed a few brewskis up the top there.

[@pratikshaacharya5796]

So much respect for you guys 🙏🙏🙏

[@gatecrasher1970]

had to spoil it with that annoying high pitched tune

[@DavidVanmeterDutch]

Not enough NOPE in the world for me! Amazing how people can be fearless of heights. Impressive.

[@Torre1312]

Building tower cranes all day every day and I fucking love that. Wolff kran

[@pleasedontfeedthe6235]

What do you think about women executing this type of job? Is it physically possible? I know that there is more to the job than sitting in the operating booth, like maintenance and repairs from what I've researched thus far. I've been looking into getting certified, but I am a smaller woman, 5'4" 130lbs. I am in good physical shape (powerlifting and body building), I am comfortable with heights, I am mechanically inclined and strategically minded.. but I wonder if there are restrictions or requirements physically that would prevent me from being able to do this kind of work. I am still researching what all is entailed or would be typically asked of someone doing this job, so pardon my naivity. I know this is an older video, but if you see my comment or any other crane operators in the comment section, I'd love your input!

[@cal920c]

I love working at heights! The views are insane.

[@ghassanzidan7771]

Mike?.. Mike. Mike... This is mike. I’m mike.

[@DanielleMuntain]

I would love to do this!!

[@ryanwoods5687]

Hello, I am from all the way from prince Rupert and I am horrified at news and your video randomly played after watching all the Kelowna news coverage of horrific incident with STEMMER cranes 🏗, your video is a relief of all that sad news on tv and radio. Ps, I’m already a follower, since you hopped in my old cab here at port Ed via rail nightmare you experience. I JUIUUST quit that job because peoples got weirdly aggressive once they got their Covid money’s .

[@toasttoasted3492]

Absolute beast

[@TranslinkLover_YT]

Greeting from East Vancouver I’m a brand new fan