What is an Operating Engineer?
Operating engineers use construction equipment and heavy machinery such as bulldozers and excavators to help in the construction of buildings, towns, dams and highways.
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Type of Industry
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Operating engineers work in a variety of industries including shipyards, refineries, dredges, oil pipeline, cement and asphalt. Operating engineers often apprentice in the mechanical field to capably manasge heavy-duty equipment mechanics.
Work Conditions
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Most of the work done by operating engineers is outdoors; their work is usually dependent on the weather. Harsh weather conditions can shut down a project.
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Operating Hours
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Most operating engineers work on average 800 to 2000 hours a year. The number of hours put in is dependent on their job title, skill and experience.
Apprenticeship
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Apprenticeship lasts from 3 to 5 years requiring 3000 hours of on the job experience. Apprentices have to have a flexible work schedule as they may be asked to travel to different job posts; on-site requirements vary, so an apprentice must be adaptable.
Primary Job Responsibility
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Operating engineers run the heavy machinery on job sites. They operate the cranes, bulldozers, pile drivers and other large machines used to excavate and transport material on various construction projects.
Secondary Job Responsibility
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Operating engineers have to be aware of the mechanics of the machinery and equipment they are handling as it is their responsibility to maintain and repair the equipment as well. When the machinery breaks down, it is the operating engineers that have to ensure the machinery starts working as soon as possible.
Career Growth
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The growth rate for the career of a construction engineer is expected to be between 3 to 9 percent as predicted by Federal Occupational Handbook.
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