Accidents happen in every job and being an heavy equipment operator is a big responsibility because the machines are big. The size and weight of all the metal, along with moving parts, changing ground conditions on the site, and people not paying attention all add up to a potential for accidents you don’t find at a desk job. But without the skill of heavy equipment operators, very little would get done in a lot of industries. Here’s a short list of possibilities:

1. People moving through the work area. 
2. Unstable ground conditions causing tipping.
3. Overhead obstructions, like tree limbs or power lines.
4. Operator doesn’t have a sense of where the machine’s parts are, so blades or corners collide with things or people.
5. Poor maintenance causing equipment failure or hazardous conditions like a greasy step.

This list isn’t the only reason accidents happen, it’s just some of the most common reasons that accidents happen around heavy equipment. The operator can reduce the chance for an accident simply by paying attention to the safety procedures that were a part of the training in an accredited school. It’s one thing to have been trained to do the job safely, but if you aren’t going to actually do the job safely, you are asking for trouble.

Employers look for accreditation in the training of heavy equipment operators because it gives them an idea of the quality of the training. Associated Training Services (ATS) is proud to be an Accredited Sponsor through the National Center for Construction Education & Research. We even helped them develop training programs and textbooks. ATS is also licensed by the boards of education in six states and certified for funding assistance programs like the Workforce Investment Act and military benefits.

If you are interested in showing an employer credentials from one of the top heavy equipment training schools in the country, our online application is a good place to start.

“Slow down to go fast” is a wise statement used in a lot of different settings. Pretty much, it means that trying to go fast usually messes things up. In a field like heavy equipment, “slow down to go fast” is a good thing to keep saying over and over again.

During training, slowing down to do every day’s classwork and not worry about the next is a good idea because it breaks a huge pile of information into bite-size pieces, kind of like eating an elephant one bite at a time. It isn’t your job to worry about knowing the whole thing when you are in training. It’s your job to chew on the day’s lessons and digest them. That’s why ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School offers housing assistance, so you don’t have to worry about anything but classes. Experts have figured out that we learn best when we get a little bit of a break in between stuffing our heads with knowledge. Somehow, the break puts the facts into our heads better.

When you are actually on the machine, slowing down is good, too. Accidents happen when people get impatient and skip safety steps or push equipment past where it is ready to go. Jerky bursts of angry speed are out of control emotionally and can quickly become out of control on the work site because the momentum of heavy equipment keeps a motion going until something physically stops it. Bad stuff can happen quickly if an operator in a hurry misses an important detail in the conditions on site. By the end of the day, a steady, slower pace actually gets more work done. The work is better, too.

Slowing down to go fast is one of the things you learn in heavy equipment operator training. It’s a good thing to remember all through life.

This has been a weird winter so far. Many parts of the country are dealing with more snow than they are prepared for, and the fact is that everyone relies on heavy equipment operators to get things moving again. Hazardous conditions challenge operator skills because you have to add an extra level of attention to a job you are already familiar with.

Check your machinery frequently. Drastic changes in temperature, like hot liquid gushing through freezing cold pipes and lines, cause stress from sudden expansion. It’s not unusual for breakdowns to occur. Maintenance is vital this time of year. If your equipment is out all the time, this is especially important.

Pay attention to your mirrors and windows — you need to see your surroundings in order to react fast. Slippery conditions mean longer stop times. If you are lucky enough to be in a climate-controlled cab, it’s easy to forget the way the weather has affected your job. A lot of operators get hurt after they stop the engine and start to get out…that first step can be icy, and if you aren’t holding on, your feet can go out from underneath you quick.

The biggest difference between a heavy equipment operator and a professional, expert heavy equipment operator is their attitude about training. The best in the business respect their training, remember their training, and apply what they know to their job every day. Good training has included safety procedures, including those for hazardous winter conditions.

Winter can challenge operator skills, but being well-trained prepares you for it. ATS Heavy Equipment Operation Programs will get you there.

Operating a backhoe is one of the most rewarding of heavy equipment jobs. Backhoe operators enjoy the machinery they’ve been trained to operate and are a very important part of any job site. They are often paid well and enjoy job security. But the first step to becoming a backhoe operator is to get trained as one.

Getting trained as a backhoe operator is as easy as enrolling in a suitable training course. It can be an online course or it can be a course that requires a physical presence.

There are different types of training and different training environments. The best backhoe training is one that offers a certain level of classroom training time before allowing novice operators an opportunity to get in the operator’s seat, but if your training consists entirely of classroom training, then you won’t get any practical experience before hitting the job site. That is unsafe.

For that reason, Associated Training Services recommends a backhoe training environment that offers practical in-the-seat experience with a qualified instructor.

ATS instructors are backhoe operators with years of experience. In many cases, they were safety or quality managers on the job site before coming to work as instructors. They are certified as heavy equipment operators and qualified as backhoe operators. Their first concern is to ensure you learn the skills in a safe environment.

After getting your backhoe training from ATS, you’ll be well-qualified to work on any job site in the country.

The job of a signalperson is an old and ancient custom. Before electronic communications, signal people or a signalperson, used flags and lights for communication. Some still do depend on the circumstances. In fact, the military still uses lights and flags, especially in combat situations.

You’ve likely seen people on construction sites who stand around with flags and direct traffic. They don’t just direct cars and trucks on the road. They also direct heavy equipment such as cranes.

The signalperson must understand how every piece of equipment maneuvers and have a thorough understanding of their limitations. That includes how the boom swings, how buckets raise and lower, clearances, and a whole bunch of safety factors. These safety factors are the reason signal people must be OSHA certified.

Other things signal people must understand well are weather and terrain circumstances that can affect equipment maneuverability.

For instance, if it has rained within the last day or so, will the ground be too soft for tracked vehicles? What about wheeled vehicles? How will clay beneath the surface affect turning on the job site? Will vehicles move faster or slower as a result of weather and ground conditions?

These are all important considerations and the signalperson must be able to account for them as they direct heavy equipment on the work site. It is imperative for the safety of the entire work crew and any civilians in the area. That’s why it is important to get the best signalperson training you can get prior to taking a job in this specialty.

National credential benefits the heavy equipment industry in a number of ways. First, it’s a great way to ensure safe practices in the workforce. If there is one industry standard for best safety practices, then it’s easier to ensure that every job site employs the safest equipment operators and operates efficiently according to industry guidelines.

Another way national certification benefits the industry is it cuts back on regulation.

If the heavy equipment industry is policing its own ranks, then the government (federal or state) won’t have to. That means there will be fewer regulations and fewer regulators climbing all over our backs.

Organizations like National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and National Center for Construction Education & Research do a lot to ensure that the heavy equipment industry employs safe workers and uses the best safe practices on the job site. One way that is done is through training. If you get trained by an organization on good terms with these two industry certification authorities, then you start your career off on the right foot.

Many employers won’t hire you if you aren’t certified. Many of them won’t even talk to you.

On a personal note, national certification is a benefit to you because you can go anywhere in the country and get a job. You don’t have to transfer your certification from one state to another, and you don’t have to worry about getting re-certified if you relocate. Your certification is good in every state.

Heavy equipment certification benefits everyone, including you as an employee.

In an era in which technology is taking over everywhere, there is still no compromise when it comes to training to become a heavy equipment operator. Sure, you can learn theory through a book, or online over the Internet, or perhaps even through a CD or DVD. However, nothing beats in-the-seat real time operator experience. I know there have been attempts to train operators using simulators, similar to those used by airline pilots, however, they still don’t deliver that same real life experience – even pilots need time in a real airplane to experience the real thing.

There is a lot that modern technology can simulate, and it does do a good job in general. When it comes to employing new heavy equipment operators, most employers want operators who have had experience in a ‘real’ machine, not just through a simulator. Where simulators do have a roll is in early training – it provides a safe environment where accidents cause harm to no one and to no equipment.

Of course, a good heavy equipment operator training school will ensure that students are trained in a safe environment that includes close supervision – and you learn a lot through your mistakes. Simulators can often be too forgiving when it comes to mistakes, not ideal when you’re trying to learn to become a good operator.

Simulators have one further failing that needs to be considered – simulators generally train operators to use the latest heavy equipment. The reality is that most workplaces use heavy equipment that is ten or more years old – certainly not the latest. Training schools that use real heavy equipment will have machinery that ranges in age, some new and some old, and that is the best equipment to train on since you gain a more diverse range of skills. What’s your preference, training in real heavy equipment, or training in a simulator?

Excavators – you would be surprised at how small they can be, and equally surprised at how large they can be. Small excavators can be loaded onto a small trailer and towed by a family car. Large excavators are the biggest machinery in use – they crawl along at a top speed of 5mph, have buckets the size of a house, and can excavate several tons of earth with one scoop of that large bucket.

No matter the size, operators still start with the same basic excavator training. That means hands on training to get a real feel for the equipment, safety training (for obvious reasons), and training in areas such as soil knowledge and understanding site plans. Operators, including those that operate the monsters of mining, also need to learn basic maintenance skills, particularly those involving problem identification – it’s better to identify a problem whilst it’s small, before it becomes a major problem that disables their equipment for any lengthy period of time.

You can find excavators working in a wide range of work places. Digging trenches is just one, however, they can also be involved with demolition work, whilst much larger excavators slave away in mines. Excavator operators are amongst the highest paid heavy equipment operators, and there is always demand for operators.

If you’re looking for a career in heavy equipment, you should give the excavator plenty of consideration. If you like variety, if you like the challenge, then excavators provide those and more. You can commence a career as an excavator operator after as little as three weeks training – that training will have the basics covered, and you’ll be prepared for entry level work.

Bulldozers are widely known in the heavy equipment industry and by people in general. They are huge machines that can move an amazing amount of material in no time at all. It is important that they are operated safely and correctly as to avoid injury or worse.

Anyone that desires to operate a bulldozer MUST be qualified and fully trained. Associated Training Services offers a training program for operation. In these courses, students learn the importance of safe operation and how to do it.

Bulldozers, just like any vehicle, have seatbelts that must be worn. Putting the belt on before starting the engine is smart. That way the operator is completely seated when starting up the machine. Operation training will prepare students for minor maintenance of heavy equipment which is very important as an operator.

Another thing to remember about bulldozers is that they are HUGE! When being operated, it is important to keep them away from hanging power lines. There must be precautions taken when driving them on the roads at all. Traffic should be stopped and nowhere near the machine. It is vital that all warning signs on the machine are working such as the horn, back up signal and more.

Bulldozers are amazing machines that can do unimaginable work. If you are interested in operation of heavy equipment, Associated Training Services is the answer for your future. You can enroll today and get started on your training in no time. Contact ATS for more information and get your future started!

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.