Heavy Equipment Operator

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) (7421) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) (H611) 
• 2011 NOC: Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (7521) 
• 2016 NOC: Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (7521) 

Heavy equipment operators control heavy equipment. They do this by moving levers (such as a joystick) or foot pedals. They also turn switches and dials. Their job titles often reflect the types of machines they operate. A bulldozer operator works with a bulldozer. A grader operator works with a grader. However, one operator may work with several types of equipment. Some operators are required to check the equipment before use to be sure it’s in safe and efficient working order. This includes performing minor maintenance and changing attachments as needed.

Bulldozer operators operate crawler-tractors. These are fitted with large blades across the front. The blade is for moving obstacles. There may also be rippers on the back. These are for tearing up terrain. Bulldozers clear and level land. They are used on construction sites. They are also found on mining and forestry sites. They may push other equipment to provide traction and assistance. They may smooth land grades to finish up work on a job site.

Backhoe operators use a variety of tools on their backhoes. They can:

• dig trenches
• load heavy materials
• vibrate and break rock or concrete
• backfill excavations
• scoop and dump materials.

There are two types of backhoes: rubber tired and track. Track backhoes are also called excavators.

Front-end loader operators operate machines with buckets on the front. These are for picking up heavy loads and dumping them somewhere else. The loads might go into piles. They might go into excavations. Other times the loads go into trucks. Common loads include earth, rock, sand, gravel and snow.

Grader operators spread and level surfaces by controlling grader blades. They control the height and angle of the blades. This way, they can move and level earth, sand, gravel and rock. They also plow snow in the winter. It takes skill to level surfaces at a specified grade. They grade over the working area again and again. They improve the level each time by looking at stakes in the earth that show the goal. They also use level gauges in the machine. Hand signals from co-workers also help.

Paver operators operate asphalt paving machines. These lay down asphalt for roads, driveways and parking lots. The operators use stakes and level gauges to perfect their work.

Power shovel operators use a boom or crane that supports a handle with a large dipper. The dipper is used to scoop up dirt, rock and coal. It then drops it into trucks or piles.

Scraper operators scrape, load and haul earth. They do this on mining or construction sites. In addition to leveling work sites, they:

• haul soil for roads and rights-of-way
• haul coal and ore at mining sites
• build berms
• create lakes
• build large stockpiles.

Other types of operators include:

• tree harvesters
• skidders
• trench excavators.

Their work uses different heavy equipment. The tools may be suited to forestry or pipeline construction, for example.

Other types of heavy equipment operators are described in the occupational profiles Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator and Surface Mining Equipment Operator.

Heavy equipment operators work outdoors in almost any kind of weather. The cabs of their machines may be air conditioned and dust-controlled. For most, work is seasonal. They may have to work a lot of overtime during peak times. In slower months, they can expect layoffs.

At oil sands mining sites, shift work often is required. Many jobs have 12-hour shifts. Local governments normally require shifts and on-call work. Work may be on a project basis. Operators may have to travel. They may often be away from home.

The work location is often noisy. It is dusty and dirty. Sometimes equipment operators work in dangerous areas. They may have to work in confined spaces. Operators of excavating and grading equipment sit for long periods of time. Their equipment vibrates and bounces. They must be careful to avoid accidents and injury. It is important to follow signals from the ground crew.

Heavy equipment operators may have to routinely lift items weighing up to 30 kilograms.

Heavy equipment operators need to possess:

• excellent physical fitness
• good vision and spatial awareness (for example, depth perception)
• excellent eye, hand and foot co-ordination
• fast reflexes
• mechanical ability
• an ability to work well in a team or on their own
• good English skills (both speaking and writing)

They should enjoy:

• using machines
• taking a step-by-step approach to their work
• troubleshooting problems.

Heavy equipment operators may work for:

• general contractors who build highways, dams and airports, or install sewers or other utilities
• residential and commercial infrastructure projects
• local governments (in charge of streets, sidewalks and cemeteries, for example)
• bridge projects
• asphalt paving companies
• pipeline companies
• logging companies
• oil and mining companies
• landscaping companies
• demolition companies
• waste or recycling management companies
• golf and recreation companies.

Most positions are seasonal (spring to fall). Some employers require pre-employment fit-for-work testing, which may include substance use testing, hearing testing and role-specific fitness assessments. Employers may also require post-incident, reasonable cause, pre-access and periodic substance testing.

Experienced operators may move into related positions such as safety officer or trainer. They may also advance to supervisory positions.

Heavy equipment operators are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7521: Heavy equipment operators (except crane) occupational group. In Alberta, 82% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction [pdf]
• Construction [pdf]
• Manufacturing [pdf].

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• trends and events that affect overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities that come up when people leave existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities that come up when new positions are created)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the H611: Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.4% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 78 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.