Heavy Equipment Operator

Sunshine Time for Heavy Equipment Operator

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-2011, construction is a leading industry, given its 1.8 million self-employed and unpaid family workers and 7. 20 million salary and wage jobs (during 2008). The majority of wage and salary jobs were in specialty trade contractors sectors, followed by residential and other buildings construction. Besides, as the world recovers from the 2008-2009 financial slowdown, spurt in infrastructure and construction projects is registered. These statistics clearly point towards an increase in demand for heavy equipment operators in the coming times.

Heavy machinery operators can find employment in sectors, such as construction, manufacturing, mining, public administration and forestry. People with certificates from accredited schools are usually preferred. As governments and municipalities are also restarting their halted infrastructural and construction projects, the demand for operators are at an all time high. Add to this, the several new and renewed civil engineering and residential projects of the current times.

Heavy Equipment Operator: Training and Work

A operator is responsible for moving goods, heavy material and equipment using machines, such as backhoe, excavator, loader, bulldozer and surface mining equipment. These machines also help in clearing lands, and aiding construction, renovation and maintenance of roads, buildings and other structures.

The demanding and challenging work profile of heavy equipment operators require them to work for long, odd hours, as per project urgency. Operators are, thus, required to be sturdy, with good coordination capabilities. They are also responsible for the maintenance and functioning of the machines, which are operated with levers, joysticks and pedals. The small, precise movements of these controls are responsible for the large movements of the machines. Thus, ensuring the machine's smooth operations is a vital part of the job.

The size and technical complexity of these machines necessitate the hiring of skilled and trained operators. Although operators can learn the technical know-how during the job, a safer way is to learn at a training school. This is because schools teach the deeper aspects of heavy equipment handling and operations in a few weeks, unlike on the job learning that may take a few years. For instance, topics dealt in the curriculum include safety, pipe laying, mining, land clearing, landscaping, quarry operations, map reading, demolition of old construction, blueprint reading, controls dashboard, inspection and electrical systems.