A heavy equipment operator operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects. Typically only skilled workers may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment.
Operator training Various organizations set standards for training for heavy equipment operators. Such organizations typically offer what in the US is called "effective safety training". Specific organizations include the following: United States International Union of Operating Engineers Association of Equipment Manufacturers National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools Canada International Union of Operating Engineers
Safety Much publication about heavy equipment operators focuses on improving safety for such workers. The occupational medicine field researches and makes recommendations about safety for these and other workers in safety-sensitive positions. Hand signals are also important for machinery operators as it facilitates visual aid for safe work in spite of factors such as noise and a crowded environment.
Notable heavy equipment operators Mack Ray Edwards (1918–1971), child sex abuser/serial killer; buried victims at his construction sites; committed suicide by hanging in his prison cell
Types These subdivisions, in this order, are the standard heavy equipment categorization.
Tractor Bulldozer (dozer, track dozer) Combine harvester Snowcat Snowplow Skidder Tractor (wheel tractor) Tracked tractor Locomotive Artillery tractor Crawler-transporter Military engineering vehicles
Grader Grader
Excavator Amphibious excavator Compact excavator Dragline excavator Dredger Bucket-wheel excavator Excavator (digger) Long reach excavator Power shovel Reclaimer Suction excavator Walking excavator Trencher Yarder
Backhoe Backhoe Backhoe loader
Timber Feller buncher Harvester Forwarder Skidder Power saw Stump grinder Track harvester Wheel forwarder Wheel skidder Logging truck
Pipelayer Pipelayer (sideboom)
Scraper Fresno scraper Scraper Wheel tractor-scraper (belly scraper) Mining Construction and mining tractor Construction and mining truck Dumper Dump truck Haul truck Mining equipment Raise borer
Articulated Articulated hauler
Compactor Wheel dozer (soil compactor) Soil stabilizer
Loader Loader (payloader, front loader, wheel loader, integrated tool carrier) Skip loader (skippy)
Track loader Track loader
Skid-steer loader Skid-steer loader
Material handler Aerial work platform, Lift table Crane Block-setting crane Bulk-handling crane Crane vessel Aerial crane Container crane Gantry crane Overhead crane Electric overhead traveling crane Ring crane Level luffing crane Mobile crane Travel lift Forklift Garbage truck Grapple truck, Knuckleboom loader (trailer mount) Straddle carrier Sidelifter Reach stacker Telescopic handlers Tow truck
Paving Asphalt paver Asphalt plant Cold planer Cure rig Paver Pavement milling Pneumatic tire compactor Roller (road roller, roller compactor) Slipform paver Vibratory compactor, Compactor
Underground Roadheader Tunnel boring machine Underground mining equipment
Hydromatic tool Ballast tamper Attachments Drilling rig Horizontal directional drilling Earth auger Pile driver Post pounder Rotary tiller (rototiller, rotovator)
Hydraulic machinery
Highway Tractor unit Ballast tractor Pushback tractor Railcar mover Highway 10 yard rear dump Highway bottom dump (stiff), pup (belly train), triple Highway end dump and side dump Highway transfer, Transfer train Concrete mixer Concrete mix truck Concrete mix dozer Lowboy (trailer) Street sweeper Street sweep truck Street sweep dozer
See also Apprenticeship Benjamin Holt Construction Equipment (magazine) Construction worker Hydraulic machinery International Union of Operating Engineers List of civil engineering journals List of construction occupations List of construction trades Lists of occupations
References
External links
Vally Plant Training. 360 excavator training in Gloucester