banksman

English

Etymology

From bank +‎ -s- +‎ -man.

Noun

banksman (plural banksmen)

1. (UK, civil engineering) The person who directs the operation of a crane or larger vehicle from the point near where loads are attached and detached.
   • 2020 January 2, “Safety procedures addressed after Essex level crossing near-miss”, in Rail, page 15:

     It was signalled forward by a banksman and as it passed him at low speed, the amber lights on the level crossing illuminated, [...] The banksman was facing away from the crossing when signalling the lorry driver and did not notice the crossing's activation for about five seconds, [...] After being alerted by another member of staff, the banksman ordered the lorry to reverse as the barriers started to lower.

Synonyms

• dogman (Australia, New Zealand)
• spotter (US)
• signalman (US, Asia)
• observer
• lookout

Translations

crane director — see spotter

References

• “banksman”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.