Posts Tagged ‘operator’

Educational Qualifications For A Heavy Equipment Operator

If you intend pursuing a career in heavy equipment operation, you will be successful if you have a knack for using different kinds of machinery. A heavy equipment operator is required to handle big sized and heavy machinery used in various industries like mining, construction, and agriculture. Machines used in these industries comprise mostly of hydro-mechanical equipment, which requires specialized knowledge, skills, and training for proper maintenance, repair and operation.

Usually these machines are employed for grading, landscaping, excavation, and transportation on equipment, personnel, and materials. If one compiles all machines, categorized as heavy equipment into a list, it would be a very long list indeed. However, everyone is familiar with the more common machines that operate on construction sites, mines, and landfill sites, etc., such as excavators, bull dozers, loaders, shovels, heavy duty tippers, forklift trucks, graders, drilling machines, cranes, motor graders, asphalt pavers, vibratory road rollers, compactors, skid steer loaders, pipe layers, compactors, pile drivers etc.

Pursuing any career that requires possessing specialized skills needs specific technical education. A career in the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment requires an operator to undergo technical education, which includes modules that cover methods of operation and preventive maintenance and basic safety of heavy equipment mentioned above including backhoes, tractors etc. In course of his duties, the heavy equipment operator not only operates but also makes adjustments and minor repairs to mammoth machines, which despite their huge size are extremely delicate in many respects. These machines are very costly and are fitted with sophisticated, sensitive high tech systems and components, which damage easily if not handled with proper care.

Rapid advancement in technology finds these machines getting more sophisticated and complex with each passing day. A simple bulldozer with all attachments can easily cost over half a million dollars. Heavy equipment and machinery cost so much, therefore employers are increasingly becoming aware of the need of properly qualified personnel to operate and maintain these machines; they usually refuse to employ unqualified personnel.

This situation has made qualified heavy equipment operators much in demand. This demand will continue to rise day by day as more heavy machines are in operation; government and private industries funnel billions of dollars into new projects. Any number of fresh new hydro-electric plants, flood control projects, dams, and transmission facilities are coming up everywhere in the country with a proportionate number of heavy machines put to use.

As the need for qualified heavy equipment operators increases, the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS) makes educational and training facilities available to create a greater pool of highly qualified heavy equipment operators. This Association, formed by the combined efforts of top-notch heavy equipment training schools, promotes high technical standards and offers special operators training on new generation of high tech machines. The NAHETS schools curriculum includes theoretical as well as practical and hands on training on the latest machines used today. Other than NAHETS, The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) provides heavy equipment operator certification.

How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy equipment(HE) include machinery such as bulldozers, cranes, excavators, forklifts, etc., that are used for heavy-duty work. As these machines are of a large size and strength, the people who operate them must be well trained and highly skilled. The people who handle these equipments are called heavy equipment operators.

Heavy equipment operators operate, maintain, repair, and adjust the different types of expensive and heavy equipment usually used in construction. Generally, these operators specialize in equipments such as bulldozers, backhoes, graders, cranes, etc. It is a necessary requirement for HE operators to learn to control various types of gear, including pedals, levers, switches, hydraulic controls, turn dials, and various other devices present in this category.

A heavy equipment operator job includes the handling of mining equipment, excavation equipment, and material handling equipment, or road construction equipment to excavate, grade and landscape the earth, or to transport workers, materials and equipment. A career as a HE operator is not dull. It is a highly marketable trade, and a decent living can be made in this career.

Like in any other career, it requires a certain level of education and training provided in special schools.

A commercial driver license is a must for a HE operator. Usually, a high school diploma, or its equivalent, is also a requirement. Some amount of experience in truck driving, and familiarity with small construction machinery is also a necessity. Along with that, they also should have knowledge of the hazards, safety rules, and the required precautions for traffic laws. HE operators should also be able to work with a variety of people, be flexible in terms of additional training and responsibility, and be able to judge distances.

In America, some states require additional licenses for different pieces of equipment. For instance, a certified landfill operator license is required by Wisconsin, which has to be obtained within 6 months of being hired.

Most of the state community colleges and vocational schools offer certificates or degrees for heavy equipment operators. The training that is provided in these certification courses makes operators more competitive. Apprenticeships, which include training for periods of up to 3 years, which involve handling many more types of machines, also open up good job opportunities for operators.

The heavy equipment industry offers loads of job opportunities. They are:

a) Operators of crane-works

b) Heavy Construction Equipment Supervisors/Operators

c) Logging Machine Operators

d) Mining and Quarrying Supervisors

e) Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators

f) Material Handlers

g) Backhoe Operators

h) Bulldozer Operators

i) Excavator Operators

j) Grader Operators

The certification in heavy equipment operation is awarded by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). The 2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook states that the demand for construction equipment operators is expected to remain high right through to the year 2014. The handbook also specifies that candidates should gain practical experience, in addition to enrolling in training programs. It also reveals that the average salary of construction equipment operators is $17.00 per hour, but that highly skilled and experienced operators can earn over $29.34 per hour.

Finally, the people who opt for a career as HE operators and small earth moving contractors should have a sense of satisfaction. They are not only in a well-paid job with an excellent future, but they also are involved in supporting the country to solve the energy, environmental, and water problems.

New operator providing child care at Washington School

New operator providing child care at Washington School
Child Care Partners has now completed the transition process and is operating the Washington School child care facility formerly run by Swedish Medical Center.

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