National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
- 7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- 73 - General trades
- 734 - Operators, drillers and blasters
- 7340 - Operators, drillers and blasters
73400 - Heavy equipment operators
Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work. They are employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Illustrative example(s)
- backhoe operator
- bulldozer operator
- excavator operator
- gradall operator
- grader operator
- heavy equipment operator
- heavy equipment operator apprentice
- loader operator - construction
- side boom tractor operator
- surface mining equipment operator
Inclusion(s)
- marine railway operator
Exclusion(s)
- Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews (See 72021 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
- Crane operators (See 72500 Crane operators)
- Forklift operator (See 75101 Material handlers)
- Industrial truck operator (See 75101 Material handlers)
- Logging machinery operators (See 83110 Logging machinery operators)
- Underground production and development miners (See 83100 Underground production and development miners)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate heavy equipment such as backhoes, bulldozers, loaders and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities
- Operate bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites
- Operate heavy equipment with pile driver head to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures
- Operate heavy dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill
- Operate heavy paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction
- Operate power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pits
- Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is required.
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program
or
Some high school, college or industry courses in heavy equipment operating combined with on-the-job training are required. - Trade certification for heavy equipment operator (dozer, excavator, tractor-loader-backhoe) is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario.
- Internal company certification may be required by some employers.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified heavy equipment operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Additional information
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
- Date modified: