Of all the heavy equipment operator jobs, that of a grader operator is often the most demanding, especially when it comes to working to a plan and precision. If you look at a finished stretch of road, the line, the angles, and even the slight slope (or camber) is there because of the finishing work of a grader operator. Bulldozers will level out the ground, gouging out a stretch that will eventually become a road. A range of heavy equipment could be involved in either removing or adding material to that bare strip of road, but it’s the role of a grader operator to prepare the surface for finishing.

Grader operators of today have it a little easier than those of generations past. Laser leveling and GPS help to keep their equipment on track while the laser leveling also helps to keep the blades at the right angle. The grader operator’s role is highly important – once they have completed their task, the finishing equipment like asphalt layers and rollers get to work turning that prepared surface into a useable road.

While building roads is a major role for grader operators, it is not their only role. Leveling ground for construction and clearing snow are two areas that see operators in high demand at different times of the year. There are two components that go in to making a first class grader operator – experience and their initial training – and the two do go hand in hand. You can have years of experience, however, if your training was of poor quality, you may find that you have developed very poor skills in key areas.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools are committed to delivering quality training that future operators can depend on as a base to build on. When you enter the work place, you will have the skills required to undertake entry level work, and as you develop those skills through experience you will be developing good skills that will help you establish a long and successful career. When it comes to heavy equipment training for a career, never accept second best. If you do, you’re developing second best skills.

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.

One of the more dangerous pieces of equipment on a construction site is a crane. Not only is it a true monstrosity of a machine, but it is also usually carrying a large amount of weight in its basket that can also be hazard to workers. Because of these dangers, crane safety must be a constant, almost second nature, mentality on all work sites. When dealing with a crane and its load accidents can do more than harm workers; they can be deadly.

The first step to proper crane safety is an inspection of the machine prior to starting it. After the inspection, it is essential that the crane is on a level and solid surface prior to use. The crane operator must also ensure that the crane is not near power lines and that the load will not be moved over workers. The load chart must also be followed at all times to ensure crane safety. Lastly, before actually moving the load, the crane operator should lift it a few inches to ensure the crane is balanced. The load can then be lifted and moved to its final destination.

When using a mammoth piece of heavy equipment like a crane, safety must be job one for the operator. Crane safety must be all workers on the site’s first priority, and all workers must be aware of where the crane is at all times. By maintaining crane safety at all times, the work site can work efficiently and accident free.

With summer approaching, construction companies are starting to ramp up their employment numbers. There is already a lot work available restoring roads damaged through snow and ice – a regular task in many areas come spring. The trend is still strong for operators who are multi-skilled, especially across a range of heavy equipment, trucks or cranes. If you have any holes in your heavy equipment skills list, contact us to see if we can help you to fill those skill deficiencies.

Equipment Operator
Bostwick, FL
Do you have a passion for operating heavy equipment? As an Equipment Operator you will operate heavy equipment while adhering to safety policies and procedures. Have fun at work while being safe. This position will operate various heavy equipment, such as front-end loaders, knuckle booms, bulldozers, wheel loaders, and all-terrain forklifts, in a rugged 50+ acre outdoor, paved and unpaved environment.

Equipment Operator
Oregon
One seasonal full-time position from middle of June through September. This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates for this position and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

Mobile Equipment Operator 1 Heavy
Greensburg, LA
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Two years of experience or training in the operation of mobile equipment.

Heavy Equipment Operator -Finish
Fayetteville, AR
Do you want to work for a company that values your skills? Do you want to work for a company that values safety above all else? Are you looking for opportunities and benefits of a large corporation with a small company feel? Apply for the Equipment Operator today and jumpstart your career.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Hancock, MN
Excavating, Road Building, Demolition.

For more information on these jobs, or any new heavy equipment job listings, visit our jobs website.

Heavy equipment operators are constantly working in dangerous work areas. There are workers and heavy equipment frequently coming in close contact with each other. This means all workers and operators must be aware of their surroundings at all times. This is especially true when operating a bulldozer. Bulldozer safety must be priority one for the operator maneuvering this machine on a work site.

There are several steps that should be taken prior to even starting the engine when using proper bulldozer safety . The horn must be tested to ensure it is in working order. The reverse signal must also be tested, and it must be loud enough to hear throughout the work site. When repairs are necessary, the piece of equipment must be locked out to ensure an unknowing operator does not use the equipment. Bulldozer safety protocols also state that when the operator starts the engine he must be seated and belted in the seat. Once the engine is started and the machine will be operated, signalers should be used to guide the operator safely through the work site, and this is especially true when the work site is near a road. Also, extreme caution must be used when operating near large trenches or near power lines. A signaler should assist the operator, whenever there are hazardous obstacles that need to be avoided.

Bulldozer safety is the most important aspect of operating these mammoth machines. Knowing one’s surroundings at all times and following proper protocols will ultimately help in operating all heavy equipment safely and effectively. Getting the job done properly can only happen when accidents are avoided.

The ever changing world of heavy equipment operators can be an exciting ride. The industry is constantly changing with innovative technologies and better equipment that requires new training. Many engineering and construction companies will need their employees to be trained on these new machines and technologies. This specialized training can be performed by a quality heavy equipment training school.

This specialized training can be set up to teach employees exactly what the firm desires. If the company will be changing focus from building houses to building roads, the specialized training curriculum can concentrate on the heavy equipment used by road crews. This training will teach the employees how to properly and safely use the equipment that may be new to them. Specialized training can also be used to train employees on a new piece of equipment that has been purchased. For example, if a company buys an articulating crane and none of the crew has ever used one. Specialized training can be set up to get the crew trained and back on the work site quickly.

Specialized training is a great way to train a crew or a part of a crew quickly, so they are not away from the work site for a long period of time. It also enables the company with the ability to focus the training on their specific needs. Lastly, it allows the construction company or engineering company time to build and not have to focus on creating the training program from scratch. The heavy equipment training school has performed this training in the past and can perform the specialized training quickly and much more cost effectively.

In a difficult job market, many people are realizing that changing careers may give them a better chance at finding a job. People are trading in their white collar office jobs for new careers, which they never thought they would have in the great outdoors. The construction and building industries continue to grow and offer good pay and steady employment. For these reasons, many women are beginning to move into the heavy equipment industry. This opens a whole new industry that in the past women were really not accepted, but they now can thrive in.

The heavy equipment industry at one time was a male only industry with little or no opportunity for women. Fortunately, this has changed, and women can find a lot more positions in the heavy equipment field. Heavy equipment training schools are teaching women at a much higher rate than in the past. In a growing industry, this is a great opportunity for women to join the ranks of the construction industry. Good pay and steady work are great reasons for women to begin a career in heavy equipment.

This is a great time for heavy equipment operators as buildings are being built, homes are being built and roads continue to be built. This means jobs are out there for men and women willing to put in the time at a good heavy equipment training school. In a matter of about three weeks of training, men and women can be out there earning a good salary on a work crew.

We have a mixed bag of job vacancies this weekend, some of them very interesting and with very lucrative paychecks. If you require more information on any of these jobs, just visit our job site. Employers list jobs regularly so it will pay check on a daily basis. This weeks jobs include:

Secondary Backhoe Operator – Heavy Equipment Operation
Omaha, NE
Heavy equipment operators for various powered equipment needed to complete pipe and/or concrete installation.

CDL/Heavy Equipment Operator
Charter Township of Clinton, MI
For commercial landscaping, maintenance and snow and ice removal. Seeking a dump truck driver with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a heavy equipment operator to drive front-end loaders and skid steers for snow removal.

Heavy Equipment Operator -Finish
Fayetteville, AR
Do you want to work for a company that values your skills? Do you want to work for a company that values safety above all else? Are you looking for opportunities and benefits of a large corporation with a small company feel?

NCCCO Crane operator
Overseas – Oman
$97,000yr tax free.

Crane Operators, Combo Welders, Pipe Fitters
Baton Rouge, LA
Now seeking qualified applicants for the following crafts in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas:

• CRANE OPERATORS (NCCER or NCCCO Certified)
• COMBINATION WELDERS
• PIPEFITTERS
• MILLWRIGHTS

Competitive Wages, Overtime, Per Diem and Benefits

Backhoe Operator
Milwaukee, WI
Reporting to the project Foreman, the Equipment Operator is responsible for working in a safe manner, assisting entire crew to ensure projects are completed in a timely and cost effective manner. This individual is responsible for operating heavy and light construction equipment, including backhoes, front-end loaders, and more.

Nuclear Openings
Turkey Point, FL
Currently seeking candidates to work on the Turkey Point Units Replacement Project. We are accepting resumes for the following craft positions:

• Journeyman Scaffold Builders
• Combination Welders
• Journeyman Millwrights
• Helpers
• Laborers
• NCCER Certified Electricians
• NCCER Certified Riggers

Equipment Operators
Midland, TX
A commercial/industrial construction company located in Gladewater, Texas is in immediate need of equipment operators capable of operating a Cherry Picker and/or Forklift for a project in Midland, Texas. NCCER Certification a huge plus.

NCCER Riggers
San Antonio, TX
Wages $25-$28/hr DOE + $35/a day per diem housing provided working 7/12’s. Journeymen will be working with chain hoists; rigging machinery; wire rope lashing to rig; performing weight calculations, center of gravity and how to apply rigging gear, e.g., shackles, chain hoists and wire ropes, to rig and move loads; splicing rope and wire rope revving and seizing; rigging loads from a crane hook to other rigging points.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Elkridge, MD
Heavy Equipment operators required for team project in Virginia.

NCCER Riggers
Afghanistan.

Some of these positions require operators with multiple skills, for example, CDL and heavy equipment training. If you have any skill gaps in these areas, contact us for more information on heavy equipment training, truck driver training and crane operator training.

For heavy equipment operators, safety on all work sites should be the first priority. After all, there is a lot happening at any given moment, and most of the action involves heavy, dangerous pieces of equipment. Heavy equipment alone is dangerous to the operator and others on the work site, but there are often unseen dangers on a construction site. Power lines are often found near construction sites, and sometimes even high voltage lines which can be a serious danger to a heavy equipment operator.

In some instances, these lines can be buried under the ground, yet in other areas they will be over head supported by poles. Both of these situations can be dangerous for a heavy equipment operator . The underground power lines can be easily hit by a backhoe or excavator. To prevent this, the power company should be contacted to mark the ground where the lines are buried. Even after the lines are marked, extreme caution must be used when digging in the area.

Overhead power lines can also be a danger to operators. They can be easily forgotten as they are out of sight. The main two pieces of heavy equipment that are susceptible to these overhead wires are the crane and, believe it or not, the dump truck. The dump truck operator can actually hit a power line when lifting the load up to dump it. To prevent accidents related to the overhead power lines, preferably, the power can be shut down to the area. If this is not possible, enough warning signage must be used to ensure operators are constantly aware of the lines and where they are located.

There are many dangers on a work site, power lines may be one of the most dangerous due to the voltage they may carry. The proper procedures and precautions must be taken at all times when working near them. Safety around these dangerous power lines must be every worker’s main priority on the work site at all times.

Every day many people drive by construction sites assuming they know what equipment they see building the road or house. In reality, not many of those driving by have any idea what they are looking at; for instance, many people have no idea what the difference is between a bulldozer and a front-end loader. In fact, most people unfamiliar with construction will simply call both of these pieces of heavy equipment a bulldozer. In reality, these construction beasts are built to perform completely different jobs on the work site.

The bulldozer’s main purpose is to push large amounts of dirt, rock, or other materials around a work site without lifting the materials. To perform this, the bulldozer is fitted with a blade that is lowered to the ground and used to basically scrape the material to be moved to its final resting spot. It usually also has a “ripper” or large hook at its rear end that can be pushed into the ground and dragged to loosen dirt. The front-end loader on the other hand can push materials around but is really built to lift these materials and move them to another location or into the back of a truck to be removed from the site. To pick up materials, the loader is fitted with a bucket that can be controlled to tip the materials into the back of a truck.

An additional difference between these two pieces of heavy equipment is how they move and are transported. A bulldozer will most likely be on tracks like a tank. This gives the dozer the traction required to push materials. As a result, the bulldozer will usually require a flatbed truck to transport it from site to site. The front-end loader on the other hand is on wheels and can drive short distances on the roads dependent upon road weight rules.

Many people feel like the machines found on a construction site are very similar, but in reality, each machine is built with a certain job in mind. When used for their designed purposes, these pieces of heavy equipment are very effective, and this is especially true regarding the bulldozer and the front-end loader.