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What do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators do?
Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.
What are the Main Tasks of Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators?
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and with efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Create and maintain inclines and ramps, and handle slides, mud, and pit cleanings and maintenance.
- Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Measure and verify levels of rock or gravel, bases, or other excavated material.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths.
- Drive machines to work sites.
- Perform manual labor to prepare or finish sites, such as shoveling materials by hand.
- Direct ground workers engaged in activities such as moving stakes or markers, or changing positions of towers.
- Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.
