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Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) (7421)

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec
The English text is currently unavailable. Please refer to the French text below.
Qualification and skills most often required

Le diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) en conduite d’engins de chantier est généralement demandé. Le certificat de compétence-apprenti ou le certificat de compétence-compagnon délivrés par la Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) peuvent être exigés. Des connaissances en mécanique et une formation en santé et sécurité peuvent aussi être nécessaires. De l’expérience dans les travaux de génie civil, la débrouillardise et le jugement sont recherchés.

Reason for labor demand

Des investissements gouvernementaux et municipaux dans les infrastructures urbaines stimulent l’activité dans le domaine du génie civil et de la voirie, ce qui a pour effet d’accentuer la demande pour des opérateurs et opératrices d’équipement lourd. Le vieillissement de la main-d’œuvre dans cette profession entraîne des besoins de remplacement.

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Job titles
aerial tram operator
apprentice heavy equipment operator
asphalt batch plant operator
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Nature of work
Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work. They are employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies.

Fields of interest
Working in transportation and maintenance

Main duties
Heavy equipment operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Operate heavy equipment such as backhoes, bulldozers, loaders and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities
- Operate bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites
- Operate heavy equipment with pile driver head to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures
- Operate heavy dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill
- Operate heavy paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction
- Operate power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pits
- Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment.

Main characteristics of the occupation
* Interests
* Physical activities
* Aptitudes
* Environmental conditions
* Data, people, things
These headings are provided for the following occupation(s)
Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) (7421)

Employment requirements
* Some secondary school education is required.
* Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program
or
Some high school, college or industry courses in heavy equipment operating combined with on-the-job training are required.
* Trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
* Internal company certification may be required by some employers.

Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

Skill level
Intermediate

More information
* Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere
* Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews (7217)
* Crane Operators (7371)
* Forklift and industrial truck operators (in 7452 Material Handlers)
* Logging Machinery Operators (8241)
* Underground Production and Development Miners (8231)


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