Excavator Operator

Position summary:

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. Exclude "Crane and Tower Operator" and equipment operators who work in extraction or other non-construction industries.

Tasks:

• Learn and follow safety regulations.

• Take actions to avoid potential hazards and obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, and falling objects.

• Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, and materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.

• Start engines, move throttles, switches, and levers, and depress pedals to operate machines such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, and backhoes.

• Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, and rocks, and to distribute and level earth or terrain.

• Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.

Skills:

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

• Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

• 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.

Attributes:

• 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.

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• 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.

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.