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Bharj a great ambassador to youth – encouraging them to join the profession
August 29, 2022 By Don Horne
The future of the heavy lifting industry looks bright – and we are looking back and looking forward to share these stories.
Armed with a strong work ethic, initiative, curiosity, and a commitment to training and safety, we are asking our readers to nominate candidates for our Top 10 Under 40 celebration in the fall issue of Crane & Hoist Canada.
Whether they work in leadership, operations, maintenance, sales or support, these crane and hoist employees are highly regarded by their colleagues, clients and peers.
Want to recognize a future leader? Time is running out, as nominations for the 2022 contest wrap up on Sept. 30.
Here, we look back at last year’s Top 10 winners:
MANBIR BHARJ
Crane Operator, Hans Air Systems
Norval, ON
Manbir Bharj is no stranger to the hard work required to be certified as a crane operator. He earned his trucking license in 2008 when his dad bought a crane truck to install air conditioners.

Manbir Bharj
Next, it was school at Durham College and a journeyperson certification as a commercial tractor trailer driver. In 2011, he completed a course to operate mobile cranes. In 2017, he achieved his Hoisting Engineer 339A certification. Now, at 34 years old, he’s currently working on his 339B, which will allow him to become a full-fledged tower crane operator.
“Manbir is a kind, hardworking individual. He is not afraid to work and is always helpful,” says employer Kuldeep Singh.
Singh credits Bharj, who is Punjabi, for getting more youth in the South Asian community interested in becoming a crane operator, because he’s always game to share his knowledge.
“He is willing to help and gives 100 per cent, always. He is a good listener and always is willing to listen to what others have to say.”
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