Glossary
Hoist Operator Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential hoist operator terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key hoist operator vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in hoist operator training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Brake test
- Checks stopping.
- Drum
- Spool for cable.
- Hand signals
- Standard gestures.
- Hoist
- Lifting device.
- Limit switch
- Stops travel.
- Load
- Material being moved.
- Load chart
- Lift limits.
- Lockout/tagout
- Energy isolation before servicing.
- Personnel hoist
- Lifts people.
- Pinch point
- Place where body parts can be caught.
- PPE
- Personal protective equipment.
- Rated capacity
- Maximum load.
- Signal person
- Gives directions to operators.
- Winch
- Pulling device.
- Wire rope
- Steel cable.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Hoist Operator practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Hoist Operator training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.