Pile Driver Operators
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
Sample of reported job titles:
Pile Driver, Pile Driver Operator, Pile Driving Operator
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
- Move levers and turn valves to activate power hammers, or to raise and lower drophammers that drive piles to required depths.
- Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software:GRL Engineers Wave Equation Analysis Program GRLWEAP,Pile Dynamics Case Pile Wave Analysis Program CAPWAP,Pile Dynamics Pile Driving Analyzer PDA
- Electronic mail software:Email software
- Mobile location based services software:Global positioning system GPS software
- Spreadsheet software:Microsoft Excel
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes:Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials:Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Handling and Moving Objects:Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment:Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Detailed Work Activities
- Clean equipment or facilities.
- Inspect equipment or tools to be used in construction or excavation.
- Maintain construction tools or equipment.
- Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
- Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Work Context
- Outdoors, Exposed to Weather:98% responded"Every day"
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets:98% responded"Every day"
- Face-to-Face Discussions:81% responded"Every day"
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable:79% responded"Every day"
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety:78% responded"Very high responsibility"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Operation and Control:Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operations Monitoring:Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Equipment Maintenance:Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Monitoring:Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Troubleshooting:Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Knowledge
- Building and Construction:Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- Mechanical:Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Mathematics:Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Transportation:Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Engineering and Technology:Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 53%High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
- 21%Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
- 19%Less than a High School Diploma
- 8%Some College Courses
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Control Precision:The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Depth Perception:The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
- Multilimb Coordination:The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Reaction Time:The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
- Manual Dexterity:The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Interests
- Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional:Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Investigative:Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Work Values
- Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Relationships:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Working Conditions:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Work Styles
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Concern for Others:Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Self-Control:Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Stress Tolerance:Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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