The More Mundane Aspects Of Heavy Equipment Operations

A career as a heavy equipment operator can be interesting. After all, you are often in control of a real beast, a piece of machinery that can move a lot of dirt in a single action, perhaps even topple smaller buildings. Like all careers, heavy equipment operators do have more mundane aspects of their job. Some of these include:

• inspecting their equipment for potential problems
• undertaking minor repairs and maintenance tasks
• maintaining a record of repairs and maintenance tasks
• checking to see if there is sufficient fuel on site to complete a day’s work
• locating underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work
• maintaining records of materials or equipment used
• pushing other equipment (or vehicles) when extra traction or assistance is required
• reading plans or diagrams to establish work requirements
• liaising with clients on work progress
• preparing or helping to prepare cost estimates for jobs
• liaising with other members of a work team to coordinate activities

Everyone of those tasks are important to the successful completion of a job. In most cases, these tasks take minimal time; for example, heavy equipment operators can perform visual inspections of their equipment rather quickly once they get into a routine. Heavy equipment operators also learn to feel the health of their equipment through their hands and feet in much the same way a car driver can ‘feel’ if there is something amiss with their vehicle.

Whilst many consider the actual work on the ground to be the most important, getting one of those tasks listed above wrong could undo all the good work done on the ground. Imagine digging up a major gas pipe, for example – not good news for anyone, least of all the heavy equipment operator. Simple tasks like liaising with fellow team members can help to ensure a job is completed on time with no mishap. Heavy equipment training does touch on many of these tasks, however, most of them are easy to pick up, especially on the job.