Heavy Equipment Operator duties and responsibilities

A Heavy Equipment Operator’s primary responsibility is to complete assigned tasks safely and accurately using construction equipment. Typical Heavy Equipment Operator job duties include:

• Loading and unloading equipment from vehicles used to transport it
• Inspecting equipment before and after use to ensure it’s in good working order
• Driving or controlling heavy equipment to complete tasks at the construction site
• Monitoring performance and adjusting settings as required to perform tasks correctly
• Tracking scheduled maintenance of equipment and notifying their Supervisor if maintenance is past due
• Filling out performance records to report problems with equipment and track where and when it was used
• Cleaning equipment after use and disposing of any collected scraps or waste
• Completing minor repair work as needed

Depending on their licensing and training, a Heavy Equipment Operator may operate just one or different types of equipment used on a job.

• Cranes
• Excavators
• Forklifts
• Bulldozers
• Dump trucks
• Backhoes
• Graders
• Front-end loaders

What qualities make a good Heavy Equipment Operator?

A good Heavy Equipment Operator is able to concentrate and remain aware of their surroundings in the face of distractions. Being able to think quickly and work under pressure are important for avoiding accidents and meeting strict deadlines. In addition, a Heavy Equipment Operator should be flexible and adaptable, as conditions at the jobsite and even the tasks scheduled for the day can change with little or no notice.