SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 9
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS
SKILLED OCCUPATIONS IN DEMAND IN THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Construction starts with shovels in the ground, and that can’t happen without the highly skilled and dedicated people in our industry. The careers below are vital to the industry’s ability to meet the expectations of project owners, public sector and private sector alike.
GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORKER
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, sewer and water installations, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities. Responsibilities of this role include: • Operate heavy equipment such as: Backhoe loaders, excavators, crawler dozers, bulldozers, rubber-tired loaders, articulated rock trucks compaction equipment and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities • Bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites • Pile-drivers to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures • Dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill • Paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction • Power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pit • Articulated rock trucks to transport materials in off-road conditions • Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo • Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment • Be able to read and understand construction drawings and survey layout Salary range: $20.43 – $39.90 per hour Average annual 2,500 hours including overtime: $51,075 - $99,750
Skilled construction workers perform a wide variety of manual labour responsibilities, including: • Working closely with and supporting other specialized positions within the crew such as concrete finishers, pipelayers or equipment operators • Pre-check, operate and maintain small, powered equipment and hand tools • Rigging and hoisting activities • Load, unload and move construction materials around the worksite • Perform housekeeping duties and maintain materials and work areas • Ability to lift 30kg (66lbs) on a regular basis • Ensure a safe work environment in compliance with all safety policies and procedures using the appropriate tools and equipment for the task Salary range: $16.44 - $32 per hour Average annual 2,500 hours including overtime: $41,100 - $80,000 PIPELAYER A pipelayer is a skilled occupation that lays pipe, such as for storm sewers, sanitary sewers, drains, and water mains. Pipelayers assemble and connect pipe systems for water mains, sewers and drains. As part of the sewer and water installations, pipelayers are involved in understanding the alignment and grades of required pipe installations and assure all trenches are excavated to proper line and grade as well as assuring the proper backfill materials and processes are used: • Understand the existing utility locates in and around your work area prior to excavating • Installation of piping, fittings, valves, catch basins and manholes using an assortment of tools, including transit levels, grade rods and levels • Assure line and grade is set where pipes are to be installed; cut the pipes to match the area • Connect multiple pipes by butting method for PVC pipe and/or fusing method for HDPE pipe • Assure proper backfilling materials and processes once pipes are in place • Train and supervise new pipelayers to ensure they are able to work independently • Drill holes into a property’s pipeline to install auxiliary cables and other devices into the system • Operate pickup trucks and rollers to transport materials from the worksite Salary range: $17.97 - $35.62 per hour Average annual 2,500 hours including overtime: $44,925 - $89,050 CLASS 1 / LOW-BED OPERATORS Class 1 / Low-bed operators operate a truck with a box-trailer, lowboy or flat trailer to move heavy equipment and construction materials/supplies to/from construction job sites. Responsibilities include: • Operate and drive primarily tractor-trailer, long-combination vehicle and straight-body trucks weighing over 4500 kg to transport goods and materials • Transporting heavy equipment and materials safely and efficiently on public highways • Loading equipment on and off of the low bed truck and following site safety rules and regulations • Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspection of vehicle systems and equipment accessories • Maintaining logbooks and time sheets in an accurate and timely manner • Ensure cargo is properly secured in accordance with safety requirements and follow safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods • Follow D.O.T. Regulations • Must have a valid class 1 driver’s license with air endorsement Salary range: $26.90 - $33.48 per hour Average annual 2,000 hours including overtime: $53,800 - $66,960
CONCRETE FINISHER A concrete finisher is a skilled occupation that places, finishes and protects poured concrete, and repairs concrete in engineering and construction projects e.g. floors, sidewalks, roads. Concrete finishers set the concrete forms, ensuring the correct depth and pitch. Key responsibilities include: • Prepare the subgrade by levelling and packing prior to concrete work
• Levelling the surface of freshly poured concrete • Operating a power vibrator to compact concrete
• Applying hardening and sealing compounds to cure the surface • Waterproofing, damp-proofing, and restoring concrete surfaces • Installing anchor bolts, steel, plates and related fixtures in freshly poured concrete • Repair, resurface and replace worn or damaged sections of floors, walls, roads and other concrete structures Salary range: $29.48 – $35.52 per hour Average annual 1,500 hours including overtime: $44,200 - $53,330
DIRECTIONAL DRILL AND LOCATOR OPERATOR A directional drill operator sets up and completes drilling variable-sized, underground holes and pulls back required conduit. They may be required to operate machinery to drill wells at multiple angles rather than just horizontally. Key responsibilities include: • Accurately reads and interprets project plans, diagrams and locates • Safe set up of equipment including drill and water truck • Operating horizontal directional drills • Operators the locator to assist directional drill operator • Confirming with locator bore path to drill • Safe set up of equipment including drill and water truck • Maintaining records for accurate daily drilling activities Salary range: $25.00 – $36.00 Average annual 1,800 hours including overtime: $45,000 - $64,800
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