Category Archives: Heavy Equipment Operator

Working With the Forklift- Learning the Basics of the Operation

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Are you involved in the construction industry? Then loading and unloading, transportation and piling and stacking of heavy loads must be an inseparable part of your profession. And if that is so, then the forklift definitely makes it to your list of heavy equipment.

What Does A Forklift Do In The Construction Arena?

The forklift has been considered to be quite an important part of the construction industry or any of those fields that require carrying of loads from one place to another. let us take a look at the basic functions that a forklift performs.

  • Consider a heavy item that needs to be stacked in your warehouse. But you aren’t able to lift it for obvious reasons. The forklift comes in handy in such situations, helping to lift up things and placing them where required.
  • Forklifts also come in handy when you need to transport a heavy item from one place to another. Combining the functions of a vehicle and lifting tool, this utility of the forklift seems to be pronounced in the construction industry.
  • Apart from the aforementioned utilities of the forklift, it can also be put to use for loading and unloading goods.

All of the utility features of the forklift make it a great draw in various fields that involve working with heavy equipment.

Operate a Forklift- Getting Started

Employing a professional hand in the operation of a forklift is one aspect of the entire deal that construction supervisors need to keep in mind. However, getting to know the basics of the entire deal is always a good thing to do.

  • Donning the safety gear before operating the forklift is the first aspect of the entire deal that has to be kept in mind.
  • Being familiar with the various controls and meter readings of the forklift is another aspect that operators need to bear in mind.
  • Checking the entire heavy equipment for faulty parts or any potential signs of damage is another important aspect of the entire deal.
  • Make sure that the load that you pile on the forklift is stable and secure. It would also do well if you do not overload the shanks of the forklift.
  • It is important for the forklift operators to ensure that they keep the loads as close to the ground as possible. This minimizes the chances of mishaps. It is also best to drive at moderate speed and not go too fast with the loads.
  • When bringing the forklift to a halt, it is important to slow down the equipment gradually and not suddenly. Neutralizing the controls of the equipment is another area that should be kept in mind.

Before actually operating the forklift in the construction arena or the like, it would do well for the drivers to hone their skills in a separate area- some place where people won’t get hurt. Operators who have just foot in the arena would do well to operate the entire thing under the supervision of an expert until they gain a certain amount of experience.

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How can one become heavy equipment operator

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Not everyone can run a business successfully and therefore many people have to seek to do a job and live their livelihood. The important question is what sort of job can make a person with average education qualification rich and permit him/her to lead a descent lifestyle. If one ponder on this question, he/she may come up with several options right from working from home or selling stuffs in the mall or becoming a sales person but in order to achieve success in this segment, one needs to possess certain specific skill set and in absence of those skill set, it may be very difficult for him/her to sustain in the environment for long. Similarly, a person who knows a little about heavy equipment can’t find a place for himself/herself in the sales or marketing for that matter in the finance stream. They have to settle themselves in doing something that they can do best that is to be in the heavy equipment segment.

For people who like to be in the heavy equipment stream, the avenues they have is to study about machines and become a mechanical engineer or if he/she feels that he/she has a knack for sales too, then he/she can try his luck in the marketing segment of heavy equipment. However, if he/she feels that he/she would like to enjoy driving the machine to his/her tunes, he/she also has a place to suit himself. For such people, becoming a heavy equipment operator is the best option. The question now is how one can become an operator and what skill sets he needs to have to become an operator.

Knowledge about the machine:-

When we talk about working as a heavy equipment operator, it doesn’t mean that the person should only know to drive the machine and get the work done. A construction company or for that matter any company that uses heavy equipment and require services of operators want more than just driving the machine. They want the operator to know more about the machine. For instance, to know a bit about the engine of the machine, the oil/grease it uses to lubricate, have a brief knowledge about the hydraulic brakes and things thereon. The operator should know about these little things because it may come to his/her use at any given point of time. There may be instances when there will be no mechanic around and the machine has stopped working due to some technical difficulties. In such cases, if the operator knows how to get the problem fixed, he/she will not wait for help to come and will start working to resolve the problem.

Join a reputed institute:-

It is imperative that one joins a good institute which is competent in imparting knowledge pertaining to heavy equipment. Before one joins any institute, a research of the institute is a must. The reputation of the institute plays a very important role in the making of operators. Simultaneously, if you know someone who works as an operator, you can certainly take some guidance from such people.

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Be Safe While Operating a Crane- Take Certain Precautions

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If you are a part of the construction industry, you must be well aware of the potential hazards that the use of heavy equipment poses. Wondering what is it that you can do in this direction? Well, starting off by incorporating certain precautions with respect to the handling of heavy construction equipment would be good.

Cranes- An Indispensible Part of the Construction Industry

It is a widely known and accepted fact that heavy equipment is an indispensible part of the construction industry, without which the industry would cease to exist. And cranes are one of the most important equipment in the arena of construction. Used as a means of carrying load from one place to another, cranes prove to be a great alternative, getting the entire job done faster and more efficiently as compared to manual means. Not only does it save a lot of time, but also reduces physical labor by a considerable extent.

What Can You Do To Remain Safe While Operating Cranes?

As in the case of any other heavy construction equipment, cranes too are susceptible to be the cause of potential hazards when not handled carefully. However, certain precautions can always help in the reduction of the rate of mishaps if not altogether eliminate it.

  • You could begin by checking the different parts of the crane before it is put to use. Make sure that all the parts are in order now and then in order to avoid potential mishaps from the use of cranes with faulty parts.
  • Ensure that the load placed on the crane is proportional to its capacity. Not only is this important for the optimum performance of the crane but is also a way of steering clear of the danger zone by forcing the crane to bear more load than it can.
  • It is also prudent if crane operators work along with another co-operator so as to have a helping hand when in need. This way one of the partners can work as the signal system when in need. But ensure that the second person selected by you is well up to the job.
  • Those responsible for the smooth operation at construction sites must make sure that they hire operators who are sufficiently skilled and have proper training in the field. It would also be best if they are also well aware of all the safety precautions.
  • Double checking the loads before starting your day with the crane is another precaution that you could consider.
  • And last but not the least- be absolutely alert when operating with the crane. Ensure that any kind of damage or glitch is reported immediately and sorted out. This is one simple measure that could save a lot of damage with respect to cranes at construction sites.

As it has always been said that “prevention is better than cure”- the same holds true for the operation of cranes. It is best if you are alert and practice certain precautionary measures instead of waking up to damage control after the mishap.

Getting good training can help you become an able heavy equipment operator

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The economists are finding the US economy coming out of the stagnant mode and are hoping that the situation which was for so long grim will soon to change. There will be employment in various sectors and one of the sector that will act as cream on the cake will be the construction sector. When the economy goes up, more and more industry comes in, which means there will be ample requirement to build industries, offices, residences etc. In a nutshell, what many major construction companies can foresee is that it is now their time. In other words, they also would need good number of manpower and not just any manpower but fully competent and able manpower. This demand gives way to ample of opportunities for people who want to make a career in construction industry, be it sales and marketing of heavy equipment, or just becoming a heavy equipment operator.

When we talk about an able heavy equipment operator, there are few things that one needs to understand before they see a career in it. We would be discussing in length about those points.

Knowing a bit about heavy equipment:-

When we talk about becoming a heavy equipment operator, it is definitely not a cake walk that anybody can easily become one. People who have absolutely no interest in heavy equipment or do not have any knowledge may find it difficult to become an operator. A heavy equipment operator’s duties are not only limited to keep the machine function during working hours but they also have to ensure that they know a little about the intricacies of the machine which may come handy if the machine breaks out in the middle of nowhere. A person with no interest may not do anything extra to know about the equipment and will wait for the mechanic to come and fix the problem. This will only result in loss of work till the time the machine does not get fixed.

Getting admitted in a reputed institution:-

Passing out from a reputed institution will help the individual to hone his skill and acquire a job in a big construction company. The applicant will have the opportunity to learn from teachers/professors who have seen the in and out of the heavy equipment industry and know which machine is required for what purpose. Getting training under such proficient teachers will in turn make them more competent operators. Moreover, such institutions have the facility to conduct job interviews in their campuses. Interviewers from construction or mining companies come to such institutions to pick the right candidate. It is thus the candidates will get early exposure in this profession which will help them a long way in establishing a promising career.

Coming in touch with veteran heavy equipment operators:-

A person gets to learn a lot from veteran heavy equipment operators. They are quite experienced when it comes to operating machines and it will be always better for a newbie to get trained under an experienced hand.

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How to operate a backhoe loader

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Backhoes are one of the most widely used heavy construction equipments that are utilized at many construction sites. When one take the responsibility to operate a backhoe, the operator has to be very careful and well learned about the mechanism of how the backhoe is operated.

Steps to follow to operate a backhoe:

  • Check the location:

The first thing that the operator needs to know is the location of the backhoe. The position of the steering wheel, the control lever, gas pedal, brake pedals, emergency flashers, lights, horn, emergency brake, gauges and the ignition switches are the main parts that the operator needs to know.

  • Read the manual:

No matter how experienced and well taught an operator you are; you must read the manual of the backhoe, before you start to operate it. This will help the operator to understand the difference of the particular backhoe with the other backhoes.

  • Start the machine:

The next thing that the operator needs to do is to start the engine. After knowing the positions of the parts of the backhoe, and reading the manual, the operator is all set to put the engine on. While starting the machine, the operator must have a feel of the back boom and the bucket is stabilized. Without stabilizing the engine if you start it, then it will start vibrating violently.

  • Drive the heavy construction equipment:

After you have started the engine, you can move forward slowly by shifting the transmission forward and by releasing the parking brake. Keeping the balance of the machine is very important and since there is very little chance for the operators to drive the machine on smooth surface, the operator must use the second gear to maintain a stable and low speed.

  • Raise the backhoe boom and bucket:

This is the main part of operating heavy construction equipment such as a backhoe. The backhoes are used to lift materials at a construction site and therefore, the operator has to be very careful in lifting these materials. This is because a little inattentiveness might damage the entire process and also destruct the equipment. The control lever that operates the loader bucket or the backhoe boom is the main part that needs to be controlled while raising the backhoe loader.

This operating lever is situated on the left hand side of the machine in the operator’s cab, while sitting with the face put forward in the cab. Once the operator pulls the lever towards the rear, it raises the backhoe loader bucket, and if the operator pushes it forward, it lowers the bucket. The operator has to pull the lever towards the centre to scoop the materials from the construction site and then push it outwards to dump it. Steering the equipment the operator can control the direction of the backhoe loader.

Operating a backhoe loader is a very tricky job and needs experience. But once you learn the process, you can operate it easily.

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One can aspire to become heavy equipment operator

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Usually many people have this notion that working as a heavy equipment operator is best suited to people who are not much qualified and hence can’t seek a reputable job anywhere to support their family. However, this is completely incorrect and there are many construction companies who have employed youths coming out from good educational institutions. The fact of the matter is in today’s time, when jobs are not easily available and many people remain unemployed, this particular job is helping many in smoothly running their family expenses. This does not mean that a person having studied finance or sales and marketing can find their place in becoming a heavy equipment operator. The person who is applying for this kind of job predominantly need to have some basic knowledge about machines and the way it works.

We would be talking about the facts that one need to consider before they decide to become a heavy equipment operator.

Keen interest in machines:-

A person need not be good driver. It certainly doesn’t qualify him/her to become a heavy equipment operator. All he/she needs to have some level of interest in heavy equipment. Some may find the entire concept of heavy equipment to be very boring and they should realize that it is not their cup of tea. They should be looking for something else to shape up their career. For people who love to deal with machines, they may find their place in this industry. It has been seen that children who love to sit in the driver’s cabin while their uncle or father takes them on a ride on the heavy equipment end up loving this profession. Nevertheless, this is not mandatory as there are instances where people have ended up becoming a heavy equipment operator without having any of his family members or relatives in this profession.

Get enrolled with a good institution:-

For people who seriously want to be a part of this industry, it is very important for them to hunt for a reputed institution that gives training to its students on various subjects pertaining to heavy equipments. Such institutions also have a section where they train individuals to become able heavy equipment operator. Please note that there are many institutions across US who promises to get the student enrolled with big construction companies. This may not always be true and a proper verification regarding their authenticity would be required. Please don’t get carried away with classy advertisements. They may be a trap to invite applicants from joining the institute and the applicants may end up learning par below their competitors.

Specialization:-

After selecting the correct institute, you may want to select the kind of heavy equipment to work on. You may become the operator of an excavator, bulldozer or a backhoe loader, forklift etc. Now one you have decided the machine in which you want to specialize, you then have to learn the features of all the models available. This will only help you to become an able operator and will shape your profile in the most positive way.

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Know the Educational Requirements to become a Proficient Heavy Equipment Operator

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A heavy equipment operator needs to operate complex Heavy Equipment for various construction and mining projects in the building site. They need to undertake comprehensive and in-depth formal training in order to be skilful and dexterous in this field. Read this article carefully to learn if you are a heavy equipment operator.

Apprentice programs

Generally the heavy equipment operators start their career as apprentice or trainee. The apprenticeship training is given at various technical colleges and trade unions. Also post secondary institutions as well as professional associations are available. The technical and community colleges offer programs that are accredited by National Joint Apprentice and Training Committee and approved by state labour departments. The eligibility of the students enrolling for this course has to be 18 years of age and must have a driving license. The driving licence is required since sometimes the heavy equipment needs to be operated on roads. The duration of the courses span up to 4 years. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics the students undertaking the apprenticeship programs have better chances of landing jobs, as they are well equipped and have comprehensive knowledge about varieties of heavy equipments than the college goers.

Classroom Job Training

In the classroom job training students wanting to become heavy equipment operators are given education on safety processes and policies. The safety procedures include operation of safety equipments as well as pre functioning process. The courses thoroughly comply with guidelines laid by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. The courses also give emphasis on eliminating hazardous wastes.

Among other popular courses heavy equipment protection and repairing them. Operators are given training on greasing machine parts or joining machine parts by soldering or welding.

Practical Training

Like other professional courses practical training is very important for the heavy equipment operators to hold them in good stead and prepare them for a bright career ahead. Here they are given training on the application of the heavy equipment such as landscaping and grading a site using tractors or bulldozers.

 

 

Extra Requirements:

Operator’s need to have a  commercial driver’s  licence(CDL) since they sometimes will have to transport the equipments from one place to another in the construction sites.

Career Prospects:

Graduates can find lucrative careers as operators in pipeline operations, CPR and waste operations. They can also peruse their career as trouble-shooters or equipment repairer.

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics has divulged that the average salary per annum for operating engineers is high and lucrative. Some years ago the highest -paying business organisations asked these heavy equipment workers to perform support activities for road shipping, scientific investigation services, health and surgical infirmaries, and generation of electricity. Each of these workers or operators was remunerated a per annum average salary of $58,500 or in excess of that.

The BLS predicts that employment prospects for construction heavy equipment operators will be enhanced by 19% between the year of 2012 and 2022. Operators accessible to work in urban areas with technical know-how are expected to be the most benefitted ones with bright employment prospects. The operator who knows to operate more than one heavy equipment is also believed to have optimistic career.

So if you are planning to become a heavy equipment operator undergo some practical training. It will prepare you for a bright and lucrative career ahead. With increase in construction projects it has already become a popular career option among many and in future it is likely to grow as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Simple steps to operate a bulldozer

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Bulldozers are huge and very powerful construction equipment. It has a strong hold to the ground because of its tracks. These tracks enable the machine to keep moving on a very course terrain. Generally, it never gets stuck in muddy or sandy ground. This is because the large track of the bulldozer distributes the weight of the machine uniformly over a wide area. Blade and ripper are the primary tools of a bulldozer. It is mostly used for levelling the ground surfaces. Though it is a heavy machine, but you can drive it quite easily. If you want to learn the steps for operating a bulldozer, then just follow the simple steps which are mentioned below.

Tips to drive a bulldozer

  • Buy a bulldozer: – First of all, you have to buy a bulldozer. It is because, you cannot afford to practice on a bulldozer which is possessed by other people. If some damage happens then you have to pay to the person for its repairing. So, it’s better to get your own bulldozer. You can either buy a new bulldozer or go for a used one. It will help you to get a bulldozer and that too at an affordable cost. You should practice to operate a bulldozer in large open area to avoid any kind of accidents.
  • Board on your bulldozer: – Now, board on your bulldozer and have a sit on the seat of the driver. Just chill. Try to overcome your nervousness while you are focussing on driving. Do not start until you are relaxed.
  • Kick on the machine: – In order to start the engine of the bulldozer, turn the key which is there in the ignition. Place your foot on the brake, so that you can easily stop it in times of emergency.
  • Steer your bulldozer: – Grab the joystick and slowly thrust it to the direction you want to go. It will help you to have a control on the bulldozer’s movement.
  • Push the paddle of decelerator: – To reduce the speed of the bulldozer, you should push the paddle of the decelerator with your foot. In such an equipment, the paddle of the decelerator is always situated just beside the brake.
  • Manage the blade: – After pushing the paddle of the decelerator, now you have to get a control over the bulldozer’s blade. You can easily gain a control over that using the joystick. This joystick is placed at your right hand side. It is a heavy metal plate which shoves the mud and the sand to make the surface plain.
  • Level the surface of the ground: – The final step is to levelling the ground surface. For this, you have to slightly lower the blades so as to leave a very small gap between the ground and the blade. Now, control the pedal and the joystick to move the bulldozer to the forward slowly. The blade goes on shaving the ground as you continue to drive it to the forward direction.

 

You can also seek the help of an expert to sharpen your skill in this sphere. But don’t forget to try the steps in a plain land and not on a slope until you become expert in it.

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Heavy Equipment School – good platform to become well trained operator

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Well, the infrastructure industry is the most fast growing industry in the world. It has made a strong position in the field and thereby, the demands for heavy equipment operators are also increasing every day. Construction companies are completely relying on such heavy equipment like forklift, bulldozer and excavator. To maintain their work properly they have to purchase good and efficient equipment. Now, everybody cannot handle such machineries. It needs someone who has good training in this field and can operate such equipment easily. To meet the requirement of people, many heavy equipment training schools have come into the field, giving you a chance to get good training and improve your skills. In fact, now a day, every construction company seeks a license before appointing anyone in this job. If you are interested in this field then you should definitely take an admission to such a school. They provide national certificate of NCCER. Such certificate will help you a lot to get a good job in this field.

Heavy equipment training schools learn to handle the machines

The objectives that you are going to learn from such heavy equipment training schools are the basic. The prime objective of these schools is to well train the students and makes them aware of this industry. They offer a complete programme to the students that includes know the condition of the market, understand the trend of such heavy equipment and learn the risk of handling such heavy equipment. You can learn a lot of things from this school. There are various kinds of machines available in the market such as dozer, forklift, tractor, scraper, wheel loader, water truck, skid steer and backhoes. Every machine comes with different setting so you have to learn the different procedure of handling such machines. When you are going to work with heavy equipment, you have to learn its basic maintenance tips and safety processes. Without knowing such important things you cannot handle equipment. Moreover, training schools will help you to boost up your confidence level.

 

Job opportunities for the students of such heavy equipment schools

Well, schools are the best platform that can give you proper information and training on this field. It helps to increase your job opportunity in this field. You can learn a number of courses from these schools. Thereby, your scope of getting jobs will be increased. You can apply for various types of jobs regarding this field. They also make you able to work practically as they provide many practical classes to their students.  All these important classes will help you to be ready to face the challenges and work really well in this field. Students get multiple chances to shine in this field and earn good amount of money.

These are the main reasons that a person should get proper training in this field. There are many schools who give training on this field. You can search on internet to get their details.

Check these steps to operate the useful heavy equipment- excavator

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Construction business has become very popular from last few years. Due to its amazing facilities and profit, it has made a very strong position in the market. Excavator is one of the most useful equipment of construction site that help the workers to perform many works. Without a proper excavator you cannot work on the construction sites. It actually makes your work smooth and easy. However, before using excavator in your site, you have to know how to operate this machine. It is very important to know every single detail of this machine and then use it in your worksite. Here are some tips on operating an excavator. Check this out-

  • At first you have to select a machine for your work. If you are going to work in a small place or you have to dig a ditch for irrigation projects then you can rely on the small or mini excavator. However, when you are required to dig a large landscape project, then it is good to purchase an excavator like Bobcat 335. It will make your work easier. You will get excavator in different sizes. You should buy the machine according to your work priorities.
  • It is very important to look on the manual and get familiar with the different description of the controls. You have to know how to control the machine. As it comes in different shapes and sizes, thereby, you should always know the different ways of controlling it.
  • You have to sit on the driver’s seat in order to familiar with the Gauges, controls and the restraint system of operator. On the right side of the machine you will find the ignition key. During the time of operation you should look on the oil pressure, fuel level and of course the engine temperature. There will be a seat belt for you and you can use it.
  • You have to know the detail of controlling the joysticks. It is important to know how to move or handle the joystick. Joystick helps to handle the bucket or boom assembly and the machine’s other function. When you will release the machine, it will come back to the neutral position. For operating the machine it is really important to get familiar with joystick.
  • There will be two long steel rods along with handles. These are the steer controls of drivers. Each one helps to control the rotation of the machine and help it to move forward. If you can push a stick forward then it will help the machine to turn in the opposite direction. If you can manage to push the controls more then the machine will start to move faster.
  • There is a small pedal or a button on the left side of the machine. It helps to control the high speed, and helps to move the machine from one location to another with high speed.

These are the basic steps of operating an excavator. If you can manage to learn these steps ten you will be able to operate this equipment properly.

 

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