Description
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
- • 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 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.
- • 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.
- • Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
- • Handle slides, mud, or pit cleanings or maintenance.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
