Construction equipment operators use advanced machinery to move earth, construction materials, and other heavy materials at mines and construction sites. These operators operate equipments, which grades and clears land to prepare it for construction of buildings, roads, and bridges.
Nature of Work
Construction equipment operators use machines to repair sewer, dig trenches, repair pipelines, and hoist heavy construction materials. Sometimes, they have to work offshore constructing oil rigs. The equipment operators use machinery that spreads concrete and asphalt on roads and other structures.
Construction equipment operators set up and evaluate the equipment, execute some maintenance, perform minor repairs, and make adjustments. These operators control equipment by moving foot pedals, levers, joysticks, and operating switches. Construction equipment operator profession includes surfacing and paving categories. Surfacing and Paving equipment operators use levers and other controls to operate machines, which spread, level asphalt or smooth and spread concrete for buildings, roadways, and other structures.
Asphalt paving machine operators move valves to regulate the flow and temperatures of asphalt onto the roadbed. These operators ought to take care that machine allocates the paving materials consistently without voids and ensure that there is continuous flow of asphalt going onto the hopper. Concrete paving machine operators manage levers and move hand wheels to turn attachments that vibrate, spread, and level wet concrete in forms. Concrete paving machine operators observe the facade of concrete to identify low spots to fill up with concrete.
Tampering equipment operators use tamping machines that compress earth and other fill materials for roadbeds and other construction works. These workers operate machines with identical hammers to break or cut up old pavement and move guardrail posts on the earth.
Piledriver operators operate large machines, barges, mounted on skids, and cranes to hammer loads/piles into the ground. Piles are heavy and long beams of steel or wood moved into the ground to maintain bulkheads, retaining walls, building foundations, piers, and bridges. Some pile driver operators have to work on offshore oil rigs. These operators turn foot and hand levers and move valves to position, activate, and control the pile driving equipments.
Operating engineers and construction equipment operators operate one or many types of power construction equipment. They use loading excavation machines equipped with shovels, scoops, gravel, buckets that dig sand, earth, and similar materials and load it onto convoy and trucks. Additionally, these operators use road graders, trench excavators, and other similar equipment. At times, they have to control and drive industrial tractors and trucks equipped with booms or forklifts for pulling trailers and lifting materials.
Construction equipment operators use and maintain pumps, compressors, and other power equipment at work site. A construction equipment operator is capable of operating various types of construction equipment.
Work Environment
Generally, construction equipment operators work outdoors. They have to work in every type of weather and climatic conditions. In some areas in the US, some construction operations ought to be suspended in winter. Scarpers, bulldozers, and pile drivers are noisy and jolt the operator.
Operating heavy construction equipment may be hazardous. However, operators may avoid the accidents by employing proper operating procedures along with safety practices. Construction equipment operators often get greasy, dirty, dusty, and muddy. Some operators have to work in remote areas on large construction site such as dams and highways or in mining or factory operations. A construction equipment operator has to carry out following responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Knowledge
Skills Set