Job description Dock Hand in the Lower Mainland–Southwest Region

Find out what work is like for a dock hand in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Longshore workers (NOC 75100).

Longshore workers

Description

Longshore workers transfer cargo throughout dock area and onto and from ships and other vessels. They are employed by marine cargo handling companies, shipping agencies and shipping lines.

Work week duration

Longshore workers usually work more than 40 hours per week.
More than 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Longshore workers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Operate industrial trucks, tractors and other mobile equipment to transfer cargo, such as containers, crated items, automobiles and pallet-mounted machinery, around dock to within range of cranes and hoists
  • Operate winches or other hoisting devices to load and unload cargo onto and from ships and other vessels
  • Operate mechanical towers to load vessels with materials such as coal and ore
  • Operate equipment to transfer bulk materials, such as grain, to hold of vessels
  • Connect hoses and operate equipment to transfer liquid materials into storage tanks on vessels
  • Perform other activities such as lashing and shoring cargo aboard ships, opening and closing hatches, cleaning holds of ships and rigging cargo.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Making repetitive motions
  • Handling material manually
  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Climbing
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Longshore workers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Shipping agencies
  • Shipping lines
  • Marine cargo handling companies

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Standard safety equipment
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Sound and noise
  • High places
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 75100), and a list of similar occupations:

  • dockworker
  • longshore worker
  • longshoreman/woman
  • ship loader operator
  • stevedore
  • tanker loader

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Longshore workers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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