Operating Engineers And Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Description

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Tasks

Learn and follow safety regulations.
Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.
Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
Keep records of material or equipment usage or problems encountered.
Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.
Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors.
Operate equipment to demolish or remove debris or to remove snow from streets, roads, or parking lots.
Operate loaders to pull out stumps, rip asphalt or concrete, rough-grade properties, bury refuse, or perform general cleanup.
Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors, using hitches.
Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.
Test atmosphere for adequate oxygen or explosive conditions when working in confined spaces.
Drive tractor-trailer trucks to move equipment from site to site.
Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, or diagrams to establish work requirements.
Operate compactors, scrapers, or rollers to level, compact, or cover refuse at disposal grounds.
Operate road watering, oiling, or rolling equipment, or street sealing equipment, such as chip spreaders.
Turn valves to control air or water output of compressors or pumps.
Compile cost estimates for jobs.
Perform specialized work, using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete pumpers.
Operate conveyors to remove grit and debris from digesters.

Knowledge

Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Skills

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Abilities

Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.

Work Activities

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Work Context

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets: How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls: How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable: How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
In an Open Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)?
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration: How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)?
Exposed to Contaminants: How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment: How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Style

Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Innovation: Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Work Values

Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Pile-Driver Operators

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

Mine Shuttle Car Operators

Lay Titles

Angle Dozer Operator

Back Hoe Operator

Backhoe Operator

Blade Grader Operator

Blade Operator

Bulldozer Engineer

Bulldozer Operator

Bush Hog Operator

Cable Engineer

Car Runner

Carrier Operator

Catshovel Driver

Clamshell Engineer

Crane Engineer

Crane Operator

Derrick Engineer

Digging Machine Operator

Ditcher Operator

Ditching Machine Engineer

Ditching Machine Operator

Dragline Engineer

Dump Attendant

Elevating Grader Operator

Equipment Driver

Equipment Operating Engineer

Equipment Operator

Excavating Machine Operator

Excavator Operator

Form Grader Operator

Gang Mower Operator

Gradall Operator

Grader

Grader Operator

Grader Patrol

Grading Machine Operator

Heater Planer Operator

Heavy Equipment Operating Engineer

Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Machinery Operator

Heavy Road Construction Equipment Operator

Hoe Runner

Hoisting Engineer

Hydraulic Hammer Operator

Land Leveler

Landfill Grader

Lift Slab Operator

Loader Operator

Loading Machine Operator

Locomotive Crane Engineer

Machine Operator

Maintainer Operator

Maintenance Operator

Motor Grader Operator

Muck Operator

Mucker Operator

Mucking Machine Operator

Operating Engineer

Operating Engineer Apprentice

Paver Operator

Pipe Fitter

Power Grader Operator

Power Shovel Engineer

Road Equipment Operator

Road Grader

Road Grader Operator

Road Hogger Operator

Road Machine Operator

Road Machine Runner

Road Roller Engineer

Rooter Operator

Rotary Soil Stabilizer

Sander

Sanitary Landfill Operator

Scarifier Operator

Scrap Drop Engineer

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $20.13 hourly, $41,870 annual.

Employment (2008):: 335,160 employees