Occupation: Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

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.

47-2073.00 | 26 tasks | 10 job titles
Reported Job Titles (10)
  • Back Hoe Operator
  • Engineering Equipment Operator
  • Equipment Operator (EO)
  • Forklift Operator
  • Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO)
  • Hot Mix Asphalt Operator
  • Machine Operator
  • Motor Grader Operator
  • Operating Engineer
  • Track Hoe Operator
Core Tasks (18)
  • Learn and follow safety regulations.
  • Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
  • Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
  • Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
  • Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
  • Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
  • Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
  • Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
  • Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
  • Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
  • Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.
  • Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
  • Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors.
  • Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors, using hitches.
  • Operate loaders to pull out stumps, rip asphalt or concrete, rough-grade properties, bury refuse, or perform general cleanup.
  • Operate equipment to demolish or remove debris or to remove snow from streets, roads, or parking lots.
  • Keep records of material or equipment usage or problems encountered.
  • Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
Supplemental Tasks (8)
  • Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.
  • Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, or diagrams to establish work requirements.
  • Drive tractor-trailer trucks to move equipment from site to site.
  • Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.
  • Operate road watering, oiling, or rolling equipment, or street sealing equipment, such as chip spreaders.
  • Operate compactors, scrapers, or rollers to level, compact, or cover refuse at disposal grounds.
  • Test atmosphere for adequate oxygen or explosive conditions when working in confined spaces.
  • Turn valves to control air or water output of compressors or pumps.