Construction work is a much-needed career. It is important to understand and be familiar with the different types of construction equipment. Excavators are an essential piece of equipment for most construction projects. Excavators are used for many different types of jobs. In this article, we will discuss excavators, types of excavators, and hydraulic excavators.

What is an Excavator

Excavators are made up of several different parts. These include boom, dipper, and bucket. All these components of the cab sit on a rotating house. To increase visibility, most excavator cabs rotate 360 degrees. Depending on the manufacturer and nature of the project, excavators have tracks or wheels. Excavators come in a variety of sizes and classes. They can weigh up to 180,000 pounds. An excavator can be diversified by other attachments to take the place of a digging bucket. For example, you can swap out the bucket for an auger, drill, ripper, or rake. Excavators can be used for many jobs.

Types of Excavators

There are six types of excavators available. These include crawler excavators, dragline excavators, suction excavators, long-reach excavators, mini excavators, and wheeled excavators.

Crawler excavator

The crawler excavator is most commonly used for projects such as mining, trench digging, and landscape grading. Crawler excavators have tracks that can travel on a job site. They are better for rough, uneven terrain. Crawler excavators are incredibly powerful machines and have hydraulic power.

Dragline excavator

Dragline excavators are a larger type of excavator that uses a hoist rope and dragline system. They are often used to clear dirt and soil for underwater projects, pile driving, or road excavations. Dragline excavators are generally transported in separate pieces to a job site because of their awkward size. They are assembled at the site and are generally used for larger job sites and projects.

Suction excavator

Suction excavators are used to clear dirt, soil, and debris using water jets and a high-pressure vacuum. They are wheeled-operated excavators. Suction excavators are often used for underground applications, debris cleanup, and other delicate excavation projects.

Long reach excavator

A long-reach excavator has arms that extend up to one hundred feet with attachments. Because they reach further than most other excavators, they are used for heavy-duty digging and industrial demo projects.

Mini excavator

Mini excavators are a compact, smaller version of the crawler excavator. They are useful for narrow job sites or job sites with obstacles. Mini excavators are also used for jobs with delicate terrain such as landscaping. They are ideal for small jobs because they have zero tail-wing compatibility. Mini excavators are often used for DIY landscape projects.

Wheeled excavator

A wheeled excavator is the same as a regular excavator. The only difference is that rather than being on tracks, it is on wheels. Wheeled excavators are more popular in Europe and are typically used for working in urban areas since their wheels are kinder to finished roads and pavement than the traditional metal track. However, wheeled excavators are becoming more popular in city projects.

Hydraulic Excavator

A hydraulic excavator or digger, is a large vehicle that is designed for excavation and demolition purposes. Hydraulic excavators consist of a chassis, boom, and bucket, and move via tracks or wheels. They range in size and function. Hydraulic excavators weigh between 3,000 and 2 million pounds and their range is between 19 HP and 4,500 HP. Hydraulic excavators rely on hydraulic systems.

Hydraulic excavators are used for a wide variety of projects. They are used for demolition purposes. However, even the smaller models can also demolish buildings. Hydraulic excavators also move large amounts of material such as minerals from one place to another. They are used alongside bulldozers and loaders in a construction zone.

There are several advantages to hydraulic excavators. They are small enough to work on specific tasks within a project area and can usually be transported from one project to another by either being towed or carried on a large truck. Also, many different attachments can be used on hydraulic excavators. These attachments include a mallet for demolition purposes, a blade for scraping, or a grapple for picking up objects.

There are also disadvantages to hydraulic excavators as well. They are heavy vehicles and cannot simply be driven across large distances or on non-reinforced roads. Hydraulic excavators use a large amount of fuel which can make them very expensive to operate. Also, hydraulic excavators can be difficult to repair due to their large size and many moving parts.

Construction Excavation

Construction excavation is essential to the construction process. It is the process of removing soil and rock from a specific area before pouring a foundation. Excavation in construction also involves leveling the ground and preparing it for the construction of a building or structure. Construction excavation is also used to dig trenches to install underground utilities, such as water and sewage pipes, electrical cables, and gas lines. This helps to ensure that the utilities are properly installed and functioning and that they do not interfere with the construction process. Excavation is used to uncover artifacts or other objects of historical or archaeological interest. This can provide valuable insights into the history and culture of the area and can help to shed light on the lives of the people who lived there.

Before beginning a project, it is important to carefully plan and design the project. Excavation can be labor-intensive depending on the size of the project. Be sure to take into account the type of soil or rock being removed, the location of the excavation site, and the potential impact on the surrounding environment. Overall, excavation is an important process that enables us to uncover an area’s hidden history and build the foundations for new construction projects. It is a challenging and demanding field of work, but it can also be incredibly rewarding, providing valuable insights into the past and helping to shape the future. Proper planning and execution are essential to ensure the safety of workers and the integrity of the site.

Finally, choosing the right excavator for your construction project depends on various factors. Consider the size of the construction project you are doing. Whether you are renting or buying construction equipment, plan carefully and use the correct equipment. This will help ensure the success of your construction project.

Excavating done with a suction excavator is referred to as vacuum excavation. Suction excavators produce powerful suction through a wide pipe as big as one foot in diameter. The suction inlet airspeed might be as fast as 220 miles per hour. There may be two handles on the suction nozzle for the operator to hold. Those handles might be a rotatable collar that uncovers suction-release opening that has grilles over them. These are uncovered to release the suction and make the suction nozzle drop anything too big to go inside the tube that it has picked up.

Vacuum excavation uses compressed air to disturb the soil, which is then vacuumed up into a debris tank. Air excavation is used to safely expose underground utilities and then allows you to backfill with dry material. Vacuum excavation is used for various utility projects, such as for underground electric wires and broadband cables as well as sewer and septic lines. Vacuum excavation is a very beneficial approach used in construction today.

Operating A Suction Excavator

To safely and professionally operate a suction excavator, you will need to undergo extensive training. There are training programs where you can learn these skills. These training programs include classroom training as well as hands-on experience. ATS offers specialized training programs for various machinery and equipment as well.

While programs are available for individuals needing training, there are also programs available for employers to train their employee’s new skills. Employer training grants are available. We offer a field training module for utilities, which gives participants the chance to apply the knowledge that they have obtained during the training.

Salary Expectations for Vacuum Excavation

The average salary for someone who operates a vacuum excavator or who works in hydro excavation is about $74,175 per year. There is a need for additional workers in this career field, so it is a great job to consider when making career decisions. To learn more about vacuum excavation operator training and other specialized training programs available, call ATS at (800) 383-7364 today. ATS has been offering customized training programs since 1959. Become an alumnus of this established training school.

Take a look at any construction site in the country and chances are that you will see at least one excavator. Easily recognizable, the excavator is identified by its tracked body and long, jointed boom, and large bucket at the front, but the reason that it is found everywhere is that it can be used in so many ways. Of course, as the name suggests, the main use of an excavator on any site is to remove material, and digging trenches, holes, and foundations. The flexible boom means they usually load the material directly onto trucks for disposal, but such is the flexibility of the design, they are frequently used for so many more tasks as well.

Use of an Excavator and its industries

For instance, you will often find excavators being used in forestry works as well, where they can be used for moving felled trees and other tasks, and they are also a common site on mining sites, where they are used as general equipment to dig, lift and move material around. The flexibility of the design really does come into its own away from the construction site and allows the excavator to take on so many different tasks.

It’s not just building things either, you can often find excavators on demolition sites, where they are used to pull down buildings and other construction. They are often used to perform the duties of a small crane, lifting and moving heavy objects around the site. You can find excavators almost anywhere construction is being done, and on very small construction sites, you find mini-excavators! It really has become the go-to heavy machine for so many different tasks, you even find excavators being used for dredging rivers and marinas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_js2TBYWg

This is one of the reasons that so many people love being excavator operators, the flexibility of the machine itself means that you can find yourself in almost any situation as an operator, it’s a heavy machinery job that will never get boring. Wherever you go, there will always be a need for excavators and the skilled operators who drive them, and whether you are working on a new highway or demolishing an old factory, every day is different when you operate an excavator.

For many, this combination of in-demand skills and varied work makes being an excavator operator the perfect career, and with year-round opportunities and good rates, it is easy to see why. There are many career opportunities in heavy machinery, but very few that can match the excavator for variety and job satisfaction wherever you are in the country.

There are a lot of ways an excavator operator can get into trouble and make mistakes. Some of them are dangerous, like undercutting your machine when digging a trench, or working on a slope the wrong way. Others are really kind of funny, like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. In this classic children’s book, the challenge to do the work in a day leads to forgetting they’d need a ramp to get out of the construction pit they just dug.

It Starts With A Plan

Part of the reason Mike Mulligan is a sympathetic character is because we all forget to plan sometimes. In Mike’s case, he was in a hurry to get the job done so he missed a step because he was looking at the goal. Who hasn’t done this? It’s very easy to be so focused on digging the trench or the pit that you realize you are stuck only when it happens.

An experienced excavator will look over the job and visualize all the potential hangups before beginning to dig. Mike was experienced, but he was in a hurry so he ignored his experience. In real life, Mike probably would have been able to figure out how to get his steam shovel Mary Anne out of the predicament he’d put her in. Real life experience learns how to deal with mistakes.

Training Prevents Mistakes

Before planning a particular job it’s a good idea to get the best heavy equipment operator training so you learn from your instructors’ mistakes. Carefully collecting the training and certifications you need to be a professional excavator prepares you for any job. It may not be as amusing as Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne in their predicament, but it will be a lot more rewarding to avoid as many mistakes as possible.

Heavy equipment operators work in a wide range of activities, the hardest being the clean up after storms. As we head into the summer months, there are many operators preparing themselves for the associated storms. A lot of attention is paid to those who lose homes and businesses because of storms, however, little attention is paid to those who do the cleaning up, and it can be a heart-wrenching job. People’s homes, often still full of personal items that have been destroyed, need to be cleaned away – sure, insurance can pay for a new home, but to see those memories being trashed is never easy.

Bulldozer operators are particularly busy although loader operators and dump truck drivers run a close second. Excavator operators and backhoe operators are also kept busy during these periods. It’s not just homes and businesses either. The environment receives a fair hit as well with sand washed away from beaches and replaced by debris that wind and the waves throw up. Rivers often flood, and they leave behind a big mess as well – mud and debris, sometimes cars and parts of houses.

It requires a lot of experience to work in these areas, experience that is built up over several years following an operator’s initial training. That initial training has become very important in today’s workplace – employers don’t have the time (or money) to train operators from scratch, so they rely on new operators being at least competent enough to do many of the basic tasks that heavy equipment operators do every day. If heavy equipment operators have those entry level skills, they can build upon them in the workplace, taking on harder and more complicated tasks as they develop those skills.

At Associated Training Services, we pride ourselves on the skill levels that heavy equipment operators have when they graduate from our training programs. Our programs are designed to meet the needs of industry – we don’t just train students in the basics and leave them to fend for themselves. If you want a career as a heavy equipment operator, then be sure you receive the best training available. That will set you up for a long and successful career, and that includes working to clean up after storms have ravaged the landscape.

When we discuss heavy equipment operator careers, the primary focus is on construction. Mining is another industry that relies heavily on equipment operators. Rural communities are also reliant on heavy equipment operators, however, their needs are more for operators who are multi-skilled. This includes being able to operate bulldozers, loaders, excavators and backhoes. It also helps to have a commercial drivers license.

Rural communities are farming communities, and whilst farms frequently have a need for heavy equipment, it is the townships themselves that are most reliant. Heavy equipment operators are generally required to deal with snow and ice in winter, road repairs all year round, general construction, and in many areas, reclaiming land and restoring it to its former natural state.

Working in a rural community has a lot of benefits. You’re certainly not going to be bored since every day tends to bring a different job with a different type of equipment. Rural communities are generally smaller and closer knit compared to large town and cities where most people don’t know each other at all. The down side to a close knit community is that you may find people asking for ‘favors’ – the odd job after hours or on weekends.

If you’re looking for a heavy equipment career that is a little different, is as much a lifestyle as it is a career, then consider becoming a heavy equipment operator in a rural community. You’ll need heavy equipment training on a range of vehicles, and a commercial drivers license. You’ll also need commitment, and a friendly and sociable outlook on life. Bring those traits together and those rural communities will welcome you with open arms.

There are two basic types of heavy equipment operator – those who specialize in one type of equipment and those who multi-skill and operate a range of equipment. There is still room in the industry for both, however, employers are showing a preference for multi-skilled operators. The rationale is simple; employers can place multi-skilled operators where the need is most. This is much more preferable to having an operator idle because there is no work for them at that time.

Fortunately, there is a lot of common ground when it comes to different heavy equipment. Dirt is dirt and it doesn’t matter what sort of equipment you are using, dirt will act the same. The same can be said for any other material being used. Students can concentrate on learning the actual mechanical actions required to operate a range of equipment, then practice, practice and practice for as many hours as possible.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools, we deliver training on a range of heavy equipment including:

• Bulldozers,
• Graders,
• Backhoes,
• Loaders, and
• Excavators.

Those are the most common machines in use and the skills learned can be transferred to other types of heavy equipment. Safety training is common to all machinery types as are skills such as site plan reading and learning about the different types of dirt.

If you can graduate from a heavy equipment training program with skills in a range of equipment, you will find you are more attractive to many employers than those that have only the one skill. Being a one trick pony is fine and you will get by, however, being multi-skilled opens more doors, and give you options on the direction you want to take in the future.

It may surprise some potential heavy equipment operators to learn that up to half of their working life is spent driving their equipment. Now I know most would say, “of course they drive their equipment; how do they move around if they don’t drive?” However, the point I am making here is that driving skills and the awareness of driver is just as important as knowing how to operator your heavy equipment.

Heavy equipment, if not handled correctly, can roll fairly easily. You may feel that a bulldozer is big and heavy and that it wouldn’t be possible to roll – believe me, they can roll, and when they do it can be quite devastating. Excavators and front end loaders have a higher center of gravity and will roll quite easily given the right circumstances.

Operators also need to be aware when operating their heavy equipment in congested areas such as construction sites. Giving way to other equipment and trucks, being aware of pedestrian traffic, buildings, and overhead power lines are all part of a heavy equipment operator’s day. These are driving skills as much as operator skills, and generally run true for all heavy equipment.

Workplace safety is a big factor today. Operating equipment in a safe manner is the goal as businesses aim for zero down time because of accidents. Every time there is a serious accident, the workplace, the employer, and the employee come under close scrutiny from government agencies. If they feel there is a lack of safe work practices, they will come down hard with severe penalties. The best way to avoid an accident is by undertaking heavy equipment training through an accredited training organization. Once you have completed your training, remember that you are a driver.

As with all heavy equipment, an operator using an excavator must be aware of his surroundings at all times. He must also follow all safety precautions and protocols established for the site. This is essential for excavator safety and remaining accident free on the work site.

Prior to starting the excavator, a visual inspection should be performed as part of an excavator safety program. This inspection should include testing the horn and audible reverse alarm. It should also include an inspection for loose or broken parts that should be fixed prior to use.

Most accidents regarding excavator safety occur when an excavator comes in contact with a pedestrian worker. Workers can get hurt by being hit by an excavator when it is driving or lowering its bucket. The best way to avoid these types of accidents is to set up barriers to separate the excavator’s path and the path of workers on foot. These barriers should be a physical barrier (perhaps fencing) that will separate the excavator from the workers. When this is not possible a properly placed signaler must be used to ensure proper excavator safety is used when moving in these pedestrian areas.

Excavator safety is important to all people on the work site. As a result, all workers on the site should be trained regarding safety issues for that particular work site. Where are the uneven areas or high drop offs on the site? Are there power lines buried or over head, and if so, how are workers being alerted of them? It takes the support and awareness of the entire crew for a work site to attain truly effective excavator safety.

The traditional role of an excavator was to dig trenches. There have been times when all an operator did was dig mile after mile of trenches – sometimes deep, sometimes shallow. The laying of pipes around the nation has been important for our development. Whether it’s waste water, fresh drinking water, or services such as power, gas, or cable TV – without an excavator to dig the trenches we would still be struggling along using man power.

Today, while excavators can be found in diverse roles such as mining, forestry and dredging, their expertise still lies with digging trenches. The modern excavator is very different from those of 20-30 years ago. Today, they use lasers and GPS to help guide them; the operator sits in air-conditioned comfort, often with a cd player and two way radio for communication. Excavators can now dig trenches to within the finest of measurements, and in a quarter of the time of the older equipment.

While the work may have become easier, that shouldn’t undervalue the skills of the operators. Yes, you can be trained and work ready in as little as three weeks, but your training doesn’t end there. Like most heavy equipment, once you have completed your basic heavy equipment training, you are ready for a life time of on-the-job training with every situation holding some sort of lesson.

As our population ages, the real problem in the future may well be a shortage of skilled operators. If you have considered a career in the heavy equipment industry, who not look a little closer at excavators. Operators are amongst the best paid heavy equipment operators and there is rarely any shortage of work available.