Operating a Kauffman Center Tower Crane is Lofty Work

Date: July 15, 2008

Author: Kauffman Center

Benny Thompson’s current workplace has special meaning for him.  Each day he goes to work 260 feet directly above the place he, his wife and daughter used to spread out a blanket to enjoy July 4th fireworks. 

Benny works for J.E. Dunn Construction Company and enjoys his personal connection with his current workplace where he is the operator of the north tower crane at 16th and Central.  “Plus, I’ve always admired Ewing Kauffman,” Benny shares. “Working on a project that Mr. Kauffman’s family is behind means a lot to me.”

Visitors on Kauffman Center Hard Hat Tours always ask about the crane operators.  They’re fascinated to learn that operators stay aloft all day (it’s a long hike up and down) and they’re curious about the “amenities” available at the top. Plus they have a lot of questions about safety.

The Kauffman Center site currently has two tower cranes (the two tallest ones, which are fixed to the ground) and one crawler crane which is moveable.  All are owned by JE Dunn Construction.  The one Benny uses cost about $900,000 and is made in Spain by Linden-Comansa.  This particular crane is about eight years old and was used to construct the Shook Hardy Bacon Building at 2555 Grand and the Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. 

During the summer Benny starts to climb at 6:30 a.m. in order to be ready to start work a half hour later. Benny says he doesn’t know (nor does he want to know) how many stairs he takes each way.  He sort of “zones out” at the bottom and comes back to full awareness at the top, about 8-10 minutes later.  “It’s a full-body workout,” he admits. 

The operator's cabin sits at the “T” of the crane (where the vertical “boom” joins the horizontal “jib”).  Space in this crane has been expanded to include a small plywood room behind the cab.  A shelf holds a microwave, a vacuum to clean the windows beneath the operator’s feet and a chair for his teammate, called the “oiler,” when she visits. 

The oiler examines and greases the two tower cranes regularly and reports on any problems.  Her role includes following a specific safety regimen and checklist to assure efficient and safe operation. The term “oiler” is a hold-over from the days when cranes were steam-powered.

Safety is also ensured each time time a crane is assembled by putting components through a magniflux process.   A fine fogging is applied to the crane parts and an electrical current is run through them, revealing any cracks or flaws.  “I’ve worked in the yard that does magnifluxing, so I know how thorough it is,” Benny says.  The crane operator assists in the crane assembly process, adding a further level of confidence.  (See our photo gallery of Benny's crane being assembled on the Kauffman Center site.)

Cranes are designed to sway with loads, a sensation that can be a little unsettling at first.  “When I first took over a tower crane on my own,” Benny admits, “My first thought was: ‘this is not natural.’” Cranes can deflect a total of 10 feet (five feet each direction), and can often bend even more when they let go of something heavy. 

Weather can also be an issue in crane safety.  Benny says that the crane operator is the one who decides whether to climb or not.  “We watch the weather and don’t go up or work in winds of 35 miles or above.”  However, this type of crane has been known to withstand winds of 87 mph at 300 feet, even taller than the two tower cranes on the Kauffman Center site.

Three different wireless radios connect Benny to the crew foremen who coordinate the crane’s workload.  “A schedule is developed for each crane in the morning.  There’s sort of an ‘auction’ in the office where the foremen haggle for crane time,” Benny explains.  Right now his main job is to fly forms, concrete pours and reinforcing steel.  Occasionally a crane operator also flies ice, drinking water and tools, when crews have to work at heights that make carrying them difficult.

Benny’s interest in construction goes back to childhood.  He not only played with Tonka toys as a kid, but he’s a collector now.  He started in demolition and admits, “It’s really fun to tear things down.”   After seeing a colleague work a crane he wrangled some lessons to do the same.  He’s now a certified crane operator but says that formal training only goes so far admitting, “There’s a lot of on-the-job-training required.”

Benny’s former projects as a tower crane operator include the new Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, H & R Block Headquarters and Children’s Mercy Hospital.  “It’s great to look back and see the work I’ve been part of,” Benny admits.   And he’s looking forward to taking his now-13 year-old daughter to see some performances at the Kauffman Center. “I’m going to be proud to be part of that, too,” he says.