Paving, Surfacing, And Tamping Equipment Operators

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Description

Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or equipment used for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

Tasks

Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.
Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
Control traffic.
Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.
Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
Set up and tear down equipment.
Coordinate truck dumping.
Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
Shovel blacktop.
Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows.
Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete/water mixes.
Place strips of material such as cork, asphalt, or steel into joints, or place rolls of expansion-joint material on machines that automatically insert material.
Operate machines that clean or cut expansion joints in concrete or asphalt and that rout out cracks in pavement.
Cut or break up pavement and drive guardrail posts, using machines equipped with interchangeable hammers.
Install dies, cutters, and extensions to screeds onto machines, using hand tools.
Drive and operate curbing machines to extrude concrete or asphalt curbing.

Knowledge

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.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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.
Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

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.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Work Context

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
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?
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?
Exposed to Contaminants: How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
Very Hot or Cold Temperatures: How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment: How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
In an Open Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)?
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety: How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
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?
Time Pressure: How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

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.
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.
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.
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

Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Achievement/Effort: Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

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.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
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.
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

Pile-Driver Operators

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

Lay Titles

Asphalt Distributor Tender

Asphalt Paving Machine Operator

Asphalt Raker

Asphalt Roller Operator

Asphalt Spreader Operator

Asphalt Surface Heater Operator

Asphalt Tamping Machine Operator

Bituminous Paving Machine Operator

Black Top Machine Operator

Black Top Paver Operator

Black Top Roller

Black Top Spreader Machine Operator

Concrete Finisher

Concrete Finishing Machine Operator

Concrete Paving Machine Operator

Curb Machine Operator

Equipment Operator (EO)

Form Grader

Form Tamper

Form Tamper Operator

Heater-Planer Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator

Highway Maintenance Worker

Joint Cleaning and Grooving Machine Operator

Joint Machine Operator

Loader Operator

Mechanical Spreader Operator

Mud Jack Operator

Paver Operator

Paving Machine Operator

Reinforcing Steel Machine Operator

Road Mixer Operator

Road Oiling Truck Driver

Road Packer Operator

Road Roller Operator

Roadway Technician

Roller Machine Operator

Roller Operator

Screed Operator

Steam Roller Operator

Stone Spreader Operator

Strike Off Machine Operator

Tamping Machine Operator

Transportation Maintenance Worker

Traveling Plant Operator

Truck Driver

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $17.23 hourly, $35,840 annual.

Employment (2008):: 54,460 employees