A heavy equipment operator operates heavy equipment used in

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

and

construction Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form Physical object, objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Pr ...

projects.{{cite book, title=Construction Safety Handbook , author= V. J. Davies, Ken Tomasin, year=1996, publisher=Thomas Telford, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rpzFtFbGoq0C&dq=Excavator+driver&pg=RA1-PA59, isbn=0-7277-2519-X Typically only

skilled workers A skilled worker is any worker who has special skill, training, knowledge which they can then apply to their work. A skilled worker may have attended a college, university or technical school. Alternatively, a skilled worker may have learned their ...

may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment.

Operator training

Various organizations set standards for training for heavy equipment operators. Such organizations typically offer what in the US is called " effective safety training". Specific organizations include the following: * United States ** International Union of Operating Engineers ** Association of Equipment Manufacturers ** National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools * Canada ** International Union of Operating Engineers

Safety

Much publication about heavy equipment operators focuses on improving safety for such workers. The

occupational medicine Occupational medicine, until 1960 called industrial medicine, is the branch of medicine which is concerned with the maintenance of health in the workplace, including prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries, with secondary objectives ...

field researches and makes recommendations about safety for these and other workers in safety-sensitive positions.

Notable heavy equipment operators

* Mack Ray Edwards (1918–1971), child sex abuser/serial killer; buried victims at his construction sites; committed

suicide by hanging Suicide by hanging is the intentional killing of oneself (suicide) via suspension from an anchor-point such as an overhead beam or hook, by a rope or cord or by jumping from a height with a noose around the neck. Hanging is often considered ...

in his prison cell

References

Construction trades workers Operator

Operator training

Safety

Notable heavy equipment operators

See also

References