Manlift Operator / MEWP Operator (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms)

Position Summary

The Manlift Operator is responsible for the safe, precise, and efficient operation of specialized aerial work platforms—including telescopic boom lifts, articulating boom lifts, and scissor lifts. This role is critical for elevating engineering crews, artisans, and inspectors to execute high-clearance maintenance on quay cranes, terminal lighting masts, vessel hulls, and high-bay workshop infrastructure.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

• Safely maneuver and position articulating and telescopic boom lifts around active machinery yards, tight structural areas, and varying ground gradients.
• Elevate technical personnel, tools, and maintenance materials to extreme heights, maintaining absolute platform stability and adherence to wind-speed thresholds.
• Conduct daily pre-start inspections of the equipment, including hydraulic lines, emergency lowering systems, limit switches, brakes, and tires, logging all findings in the machine logbook.
• Inspect work areas for overhead hazards (high-voltage power lines, crane paths), ground stability, slope angles, and underground voids before deploying outriggers.
• Ensure 100% compliance with personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), verifying that all occupants on the platform are correctly harnessed and tethered to approved anchor points.
• Master the use of ground-level emergency auxiliary controls to safely lower personnel in the event of an upper-console malfunction or power failure.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or technical equivalent.
• Valid NTSA Smart Driving License (Class B, C, E, with an accident-free profile) with appropriate industrial/special equipment authorizations.
• Valid, accredited MEWP / Manlift Operator Certification from a recognized safety training authority (e.g., IPAF, OSHA-compliant local institutional training, or NITA-approved programs).
• Minimum of 3 years of active experience operating high-reach boom lifts (above 45 feet / 14 meters) in a busy container terminal, heavy engineering site, or port facility. Direct experience operating aerial lifts within Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) installations is a distinct advantage.
• Exceptional depth perception, physical balance, and absolute comfort working at extreme heights; must pass a mandatory vertigo and physical fitness check.
• Skills include basic IT literacy.

How to Apply: Send your CV and cover letter only to careers@oildrop.co.ke Applications reviewed on a rolling basis, early applications encouraged.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Oildrop Africa Limited is an equal opportunity employer. All positions require deep commitment to a zero-harm safety culture.
Important Notice: Oildrop Africa Limited (OAL) never charges candidates any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to make a payment for a job opportunity claiming to be from OAL, it is a scam.

*Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted*