How to become An Equipment Operator

Whether maneuvering a crane seated in a cabin up high, with a bird’s eye view of the worksite, or churning a concrete mixer down below or running production machinery on the shopfloor, skill, stamina, strength and attention to safety are the most crucial tools in any Equipment Operator’s kit. With the wide variety and complexity of equipment used in industry and construction, Equipment Operators must learn how to operate, maintain and repair it, keeping in mind time, cost and efficiency. 

• Construction Equipment Operator
• Construction Equipment Mechanic
• Facility Maintenance Mechanic
• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic 
• Industrial Mechanic 
• Industrial Machinery Mechanic
• Plant Operator
• Operating Engineer 

What do Equipment Operators do?

An Equipment Operator would typically need to:

• Drive, operate, and maintain light and heavy machinery and large construction or earth-moving equipment on construction sites, at road works, in quarries, engineering workshops or on shop floors in production plants
• Talk to clients and study information and instructions provided by them to gauge work requirements
• Understand how to operate equipment and controls by reading technical manuals and making sense of drawings and schematics; calibrate and adjust equipment
• Comply with health & safety regulations; monitor operations to prevent potential hazards or obstructions, including workers, other equipment, or falling objects
• Trace the location of underground cables and pipes before starting work
• Run trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes by starting engines, turning on switches, moving throttles or levers, or depressing pedals
• Operate tractors or bulldozers to clear land; mix sludge, trim backfills or construct roads and parking lots  
• Use specialised equipment, such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete mixers and pumpers
• Drive and manipulate industrial trucks and tractors; hitch and control attachments to them, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, swing booms, belts, mechanical linkages, hydraulic hoses, or power takeoff shafts 
• Push other equipment to achieve additional traction
• Remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or distribute and level the ground by driving over them repeatedly with blade-equipped machinery
• Use power cranes, trucks, crawler tractors, shovels, graders, or other appropriate equipment to load and move equipment, materials, rocks or dirt
• Operate equipment that removes debris or snow from public spaces and roads
• Operate loaders to extract stumps, rip off asphalt or concrete, shape (rough-grade) construction sites or clean up areas
• Operate equipment to water, oil, roll or seal roads and streets
• Operate compactors, scrapers, or rollers at disposal sites to compact, level, or cover refuse
• Operate industrial machinery in manufacturing plants and factories, including conveying systems, production machinery on production lines, and packaging equipment
• Coordinate equipment actions with hand gestures or audio signals received from the crew; align equipment and machines with reference stakes and guidelines
• Turn valves on compressors and pumps to regulate the output of air or water 
• Test the atmosphere in confined workspaces for adequate oxygen or explosive conditions 
• Confirm availability of fuel supplies at sites
• Conduct preventive maintenance and tests to ensure the smooth performance of equipment
• Make emergency adjustments; help with significant repairs or replacement of faulty parts, disassembling the equipment when required
• Record and report any problems that arise; track and record the usage of materials

Equipment Workers may work outdoors on construction sites in all kinds of weather conditions, getting themselves and their clothes dirty and greasy. Some jobs, such as those on highways and dams, factories and mines, may be in remote locations.

You may also work in power plants and factories. Whatever the worksite, safety and precautions are of paramount importance to avoid injuries, small and big. To prevent cuts, bruises, and stains, you must follow all safety guidelines and wear protective equipment that includes hardhats, safety glasses, steel-tipped shoes, and hearing protectors. 

When working alone in a driver’s cab, often situated at heights, Equipment Operators typically contact colleagues through hand and radio signals. They must be fit to navigate ladders up and down. Working conditions may be loud and oppressive or hot, dusty and muddy.

You may need to travel to different construction sites and stay away from home as needed. Part-time work may be possible.

While Equipment Operators typically work 40 hours or more per week in full-time jobs, the work and timings may be seasonal and the workday shorter in areas with a severe winter. Layoffs may occur depending on the weather. Work schedules at construction sites may be irregular, with work beginning early and continuing into the night or around the clock. Therefore, operators may need to remain on call or work during assigned night and weekend shifts.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Equipment Operators can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Equipment Operators are generally employed by:

• Crane-Hire Companies
• Equipment Suppliers
• Construction or Civil Engineering Firms
• Building Contractors
• Excavating Contractors
• Roadways
• Steel Manufacturing Plants
• Vehicle Assembly Firms
• Docks & Harbours
• Local Authorities
• Water, Gas & Electricity Companies
• Vocational & Technical Schools

Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Equipment Operators interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• The risk of injury from workplace or transportation hazards that include falls, slips or collisions; the likelihood of musculoskeletal injuries
• Receiving a host placement with another employer (until recovery from injury) when the original employer is unable to provide a suitable post-injury placement 
• Working outdoors in all kinds of weather and conditions
• Physically strenuous work that involves climbing and lifting weights
• Traveling to worksites and occasional overnight absence from home
• Working while placed in awkward positions, such as atop ladders or in cramped conditions 

Any academic or vocational program that a potential Equipment Operator takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship.

You may build initial hands-on experience working on gasoline-powered car engines and systems while working in automobile repair shops or on diesel engines and equipment during courses at trade schools. Vocational schools may also train you in electrical and plumbing skills or you may learn from family members. Another way to acquire experience in operating equipment is to enrol as trainees in construction companies as general labourers or operatives.

A formal apprenticeship program is a helpful way to learn the trade. Construction workers’ unions may offer such programs, which typically require you to be over 18 years of age, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, pass any mandatory tests, and receive approval from joint labour-management committees. 

You would typically receive classroom instruction and training in the repair, maintenance and operation of general equipment, including hoists, shovels, cranes, grading and paving equipment, and more specialised equipment, such as mixing and crushing machines.

Apprenticeship also teaches you safety practices, first aid, reading grading plans, and using technology, including Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. Apprentices are considered journey workers on completion of their program and may perform specific tasks with greater autonomy. 

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts in equipment operation to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

While no specific academic qualifications are needed, aspiring Equipment Operators typically acquire a high school diploma or equivalent. Take courses in English, mathematics and technology.

It is helpful to take vocational training and courses in mathematics and automotive mechanics to be able to maintain equipment. Enrolment in vocational schools also helps you in your job search. Your school may allow you to specialise in a specific brand or class of equipment. Some schools offer simulator training to familiarise students with operating machinery virtually before tackling actual equipment in the workplace. A diploma in construction and the built environment may also help aspiring Equipment Operators.

Certification in crane or other heavy equipment operation demonstrates an Equipment Operator’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can fulfil mandatory requirements, help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

You may choose from the voluntary certification options offered by accredited bodies, such as those for operators of mobile cranes, tower cranes or overhead cranes. Keep in mind that you will need to recertify yourself periodically.
 

Individual government entities conduct the licensing process that helps Equipment Operators earn their license to operate or transport equipment. It typically requires the passage of a skills test to demonstrate the ability to control crane operations and an examination that tests their knowledge of safety rules and protocols. In addition, you may need to fulfil eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Depending on location, pile drivers may need a crane license due to the similarity of their operations with crane operators, while operators of backhoes, loaders, and bulldozers may require a special license.

Check for local requirements to earn a commercial or full driver’s license, which you will need to haul your tools and equipment to job sites.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

Equipment Operators may advance to higher-paid positions in construction or plant management. Some may specialise in a specific operation, such as training, estimating or lift planning. Buying and hiring plant machinery are other avenues you may try, where you would choose the equipment each new project needs and assess new machines.

Candidates with the necessary skills, experience, education and specialisation have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Equipment Operator build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Equipment Operators typically start by learning on the job how to control light equipment, such as trench rollers under the supervision of experienced operators. They may then progress to operating heavier equipment, including bulldozers. Equipment with computerised controls may require you to develop specialised knowledge of electronics through training.

If you receive structured training as part of a standard or advanced apprenticeship program under your employer, you would be paid depending on your age and area of residence, the sector in which you work, and the stage of your apprenticeship.

Over time, Equipment Operators may specialise in equipment and parts specific to a machine. 

Types of Construction Equipment Operators

Paving and Surfacing Equipment Operators work with machines that spread, level and smooth asphalt or concrete for roads or other structures. 

Tamping Equipment Operators are specialists in machines that compact earth and other fill materials used for construction sites or roadbeds. They also rip up old pavement and drive guardrail posts into the ground using appropriate equipment.

Pile-Driver Operators hammer piles into the ground using massive equipment placed on skids, barges, or cranes. Long, heavy beams of concrete, wood, or steel are called piles, and they support the foundations of buildings, retaining walls, bridges and piers. Offshore oil rigs also use the services of pile-driver operators.

Role of Equipment & Machine Operators in Quality Control

Equipment Operators working on production lines are the first line of defence to watch out for potential flaws in established product parameters, such as its appearance, colour, weight or temperature, and compare them with quality markers. They raise any observed matters of concern to the supervisor or the quality assurance department.

Quality checks also require forms to be filled out. Equipment Operators are, therefore, also assigned paperwork in addition to running machines. They may also be in charge of filling out daily production logs.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Equipment Operators have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk. They would also need to travel from site to site and transport any tools they use.

On the other hand, a full-time Equipment Operator has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety. 

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Cranes are used to build other cranes! Sometimes, when a crane’s operational panel is functional, it is used to place additional pieces upon itself to complete its construction.

It may be hard for a layperson to envisage the skill, strength and caution that go into operating machinery and equipment used in constructing buildings and roadways and in manufacturing a range of products used in daily life. However, Equipment Operators must not only enjoy what they do and do it carefully but also see the far-reaching value and outcomes of their work. Their experience often allows them to suggest improvements to both the equipment itself and the processes it performs.

In addition to routine and legally required inspections, make sure to conduct meticulous daily checks on the equipment and machinery you operate. You must have a pre-operation custom safety check protocol in place to follow without fail. Just because the equipment ran smoothly a day earlier is no guarantee that there are no glitches today. Depending on the equipment or components, create daily, weekly and monthly inspection schedules to ensure safe operations and minimise downtime that can impact company sales and profitability. Air filters, for instance, typically require monthly cleaning.