Equipment Operator: What Is Their Role In Construction Jobs?

The equipment operator plays a significant role in the construction jobs . They drive the construction equipment, including forklifts, backhoes, bulldozers, dump trucks, and hydraulic truck cranes. They work in construction jobs to assist in constructing structures, including roads, bridges, and buildings. This article will give you a detailed analysis of the equipment operator job position.

Who Are Equipment Operators?

The equipment operators generally specialize in one of three areas. Construction equipment operators handle the loading and excavation devices.

They dig and lift gravel, sand, or earth by hand-pulling heavy concrete, wood, and steel beams into the ground. Paving and surface equipment operators use machines to lay concrete and asphalt during highway construction.

 Equipment Operator Roles & Duties

  • Deliver recommendations for improving and maintaining environmental performance.
  • Work with equipment as directed by the masonry classes and the company’s safety policies and procedures.
  • Provide material, equipment, and the work site are kept clean and stored safely.
  • Load and unload supplies from vehicles and trailers.
  • Complete necessary reporting, paperwork, and other documentation.
  • Monitor distribution of paving material to alter machine settings or material flow.

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is essential for most jobs. Additionally, vocational training and math courses are useful. A course in auto mechanics can be valuable because workers often execute maintenance on their equipment.

Knowing things from vocational schools may be beneficial in finding a job. Schools may specialize in the construction trade or equipment.

A concrete technician course incorporates sophisticated simulator construction training into their courses. This enables beginners to familiarize themselves with the tools in a virtual environment before working with real machines.

Training

Many workers discover their jobs by working on light equipment under the supervision of an experienced operator. They can further employ heavier equipment, such as bulldozers. Some construction equipment with automated controls require greater skills to function.

Operators of such equipment may require more training and some knowledge of electronics.

Other workers comprehend their trade through a 2-3 year apprenticeship.

The apprentices must retain at least 145 hours of technical education and 2,000 hours of paid construction training . The apprentices know to operate machinery, maintain equipment, and use technologies.

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Licenses & Certifications

The equipment Operators typically need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to move their machinery to various job sites. But some states have specific licenses for loaders, backhoes, and bulldozers . The pile-driver operators require to have a crane license because similar working considerations apply to both pile-drivers and cranes.

Equipment Operator Skills

You will need formal training and a license to succeed in this occupation.

  • Hand and foot coordination : Good hand and foot coordination is necessary to guide huge machinery in tight places
  • Operation Monitoring : You will also need to be able to read dials, gauges, and other indicators, and make adjustments as necessary.
  • Interpersonal skills and teamwork: You must be capable of coordinating your actions with different workers on active construction sites.
  • Troubleshooting: Anyone using equipment should be able to detect and fix working problems.
  • Critical thinking : You need to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of solutions to problems. Due to this, you have to choose the right construction classes near me to be successful.

Work Schedule & Environment

The primary employers of equipment operators are the Heavy and civil engineering construction firms, specialty trade contractors, and local governments.

These construction workers have to function in all types of weather. They must have the capacity to provide safe work and be willing to work in adverse conditions. It not only includes extreme weather but confined spaces and heights up to 85 feet as well. The equipment operators are at a high chance of injuries due to falls or slips.

The equipment operator jobs are full-time. Construction projects operate every hour of the day or night. These workers contain schedules that might have night shifts.

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Equipment Operator Job Prospects

The overall employment rate for equipment operators is predicted to grow 10 percent from 2020 to 2028. Employment growth is foreseen to vary across the construction equipment operator occupations.

The equipment operators have an annual salary of $60,680 as of 2020.

  • Median Annual Salary: $60,990 ($30.59/hour)
  • Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $85,190 ($42.99/hour)
  • Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $34,660 ($18.74/hour)

Conclusion

Spending on infrastructure is expected to grow. This will result in the hype of the construction industry. It further leads to many masonry schools opening over the next ten years. All across the nation, there are many roads, bridges, and water systems in need of repair.

In fact, the population growth will demand new infrastructure projects, which are further predicted to generate jobs for construction professionals. So considering a career as an equipment operator is a great choice in the construction industry.

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