National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.3

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7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

These occupations include trades supervisors and contractors, construction and mechanical tradespersons, operators of transportation and heavy equipment and trades helpers. These occupations are found in a wide range of industrial sectors, with many in the construction and transportation industries.

This category includes most of the apprenticeable trades, including all those related to the construction industry. Other occupations in this category usually require completion of college or vocational education programs combined with on-the-job training. Helpers obtain training on the job site. Progression to supervisory positions or self-employed contractor status is possible with experience. There is limited mobility or transferability of skills among occupations in this category due to specific apprenticeship, training and licensing requirements for most occupations.

73 - Maintenance and equipment operation trades

This major group comprises occupations in maintenance and equipment operation trades, which usually require more than two years of apprenticeship or on-the-job training in the trade. It includes contractors and supervisors, maintenance trades and heavy equipment and transport operators; machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles); automotive service technicians; other mechanics and related repairers; train crew operations occupations; crane operators, drillers and blasters; and printing press operators and other trades and related occupations, not elsewhere classified.

737 - Crane operators, drillers and blasters

This minor group includes crane operators; surface mining, quarrying and construction drillers and blasters; and water well drillers. They are employed by construction, industrial, cargo handling, railway, mining and quarrying companies; drilling and blasting and water well drilling contractors; and governments; or they may be self-employed.

7371 - Crane operators

Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations. They are employed by construction, industrial, mining, cargo handling and railway companies.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • boom truck crane operator
    • bridge crane operator
    • climbing crane operator
    • construction crane operator
    • crane operator
    • dragline crane operator
    • gantry crane operator
    • hoist operator (except underground mining)
    • mobile crane operator
    • tower crane operator
    • tractor crane operator

    All examples

  • Inclusion(s)

    • rigger (except shipbuilding and aircraft assembly)
  • Exclusion(s)

    • Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (See 7521 Heavy equipment operators (except crane))
    • Hoist operators - underground mining (See 8231 Underground production and development miners)
    • Supervisors of crane operators (See 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Operate mobile and tower cranes to lift, move, position or place equipment and materials
    • Perform pre-operational inspection, and calculate crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
    • Operate pile driving cranes to drive pilings into earth to provide support for buildings and other structures
    • Operate cranes equipped with dredging attachments to dredge waterways and other areas
    • Operate gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side
    • Operate locomotive cranes to move objects and materials at railway yards
    • Operate bridge or overhead cranes to lift, move and place plant machinery and materials
    • Operate offshore oil rig cranes to unload and reload supply vessels
    • Operate cranes mounted on boats or barges to lift, move and place equipment and materials
    • Operate dragline cranes to expose coal seams and ore deposits at open pit mines
    • May assemble tower cranes on site
    • Perform routine maintenance work such as cleaning and lubricating cranes.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program
      or
      Industry courses in crane operating are usually required.
    • Mobile crane operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Northwest Territories.
    • Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in Prince Edward Island.
    • Hoist operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
    • Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads.
    • Internal company certification as a crane operator may be required by some employers.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified mobile crane and tower crane operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Additional information

    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
7372 - Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction

Drillers and blasters in surface mining, quarrying and construction operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites. Blasters in this unit group fill blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore and rock or to demolish structures. They are employed by mining, quarrying and construction companies and by drilling and blasting contractors.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • blaster - quarrying
    • blaster - surface mining
    • construction driller
    • driller - surface mine
    • open-pit blaster
    • rotary drilling machine operator

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Oil and gas well drillers (See 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers)
    • Supervisors of construction drillers and blasters (See 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
    • Supervisors of surface mining drillers and blasters (See 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying)
    • Underground mine drillers and blasters (See 8231 Underground production and development miners)
    • Water well drillers (See 7373 Water well drillers)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Drillers

    • Drive and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling, air-track or other drilling machines to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
    • Operate drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
    • Operate tracked or truck-mounted drill equipped with auger or other attachment to drill holes for building foundations or pilings
    • May measure location and stake out pattern of holes to be drilled, load blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore or rock.

    Blasters

    • Read instructions or diagrams, lay out drill pattern and determine depth and diameter of blast holes and conduct field tests to determine type and quantity of explosives required
    • Assemble or direct other workers to assemble primer charges using selected detonators, fuses, detonating cords and other materials
    • Load explosives in blast holes by hand or direct movement of bulk explosives trucks to load holes
    • Connect electrical wires, detonating cords or fuses into series and connect series to blasting machines; press handle or button to detonate charges
    • Handle, store and transport explosives and accessories in accordance with regulations and ensure that safety procedures are observed
    • May operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes or may direct drilling of blast holes.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • On-the-job training is provided.
    • Experience as a heavy equipment operator may be required for drillers.
    • Experience as a blaster helper in surface mining and quarrying or construction may be required for blasters.
    • Provincial blasting licence is usually required for blasters.
    • Trade certification for blasters is compulsory in Nova Scotia.
  • Additional information

    • Drillers and blasters often perform both drilling and blasting activities.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
7373 - Water well drillers

Water well drillers operate a variety of mobile water well drilling rigs and equipment to drill and monitor residential, commercial and industrial water wells. They are employed by water well drilling contractors and governments, or they may be self-employed.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • cable tool driller - water well drilling
    • churn drill operator - water well drilling
    • water well driller
    • water well driller apprentice

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Drillers - underground mining (See 8231 Underground production and development miners)
    • Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers (See 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers)
    • Surface mining, quarrying and construction drillers (See 7372 Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction)
    • Water well drilling contractors and supervisors of water well drillers (See 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Review client requirements and proposed locations for water wells
    • Operate water well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore and dig for residential, commercial and industrial water wells or environmental assessment, and install well screens, casings and other well fixtures
    • Document geological formations encountered
    • Clean and disinfect wells in preparation for use
    • Perform routine mechanical maintenance work on water well drilling rigs and equipment
    • Install, test, maintain and repair water well pumps, piping systems and equipment and perform pumping tests to assess well performance
    • May provide other drilling services, such as repair or dismantling of existing water well structure, elevator shaft drilling and hydro pole drilling.

    Water well drillers may specialize in a specific method of drilling, such as cable, rotary, auger, hammer or reverse circulation drilling.

  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Completion of a two- to three-year water well drilling apprenticeship program
      or
      Two to three years of work experience in the trade combined with college or industry courses in water well drilling is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
    • Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Additional information

    • Mobility is possible among the various well drilling operators in this unit group.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
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