Paving, Surfacing, & Tamping Equipment Operators
Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
- Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- Coordinate truck dumping.
- Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
- Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
- Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.
- Set up and tear down equipment.
- Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
- Control traffic.
- Place strips of material, such as cork, asphalt, or steel into joints, or place rolls of expansion-joint material on machines that automatically insert material.
- Shovel blacktop.
- Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.
- Drive and operate curbing machines to extrude concrete or asphalt curbing.
- Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows.
- Operate machines that clean or cut expansion joints in concrete or asphalt and that rout out cracks in pavement.
- Cut or break up pavement and drive guardrail posts, using machines equipped with interchangeable hammers.
- Install dies, cutters, and extensions to screeds onto machines, using hand tools.
- Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
83%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
83%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
82%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
82%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
81%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
81%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
81%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
81%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
81%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
80%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
79%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
75%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
74%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
74%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
72%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
70%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
70%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
68%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
67%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
67%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
66%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
66%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
65%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
65%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
64%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
63%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
62%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
62%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
61%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
59%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
57%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
56%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
55%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
52%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
52%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
52%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
51%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
49%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
48%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
47%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
46%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
45%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
43%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
40%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
39%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
38%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
36%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
35%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
35%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
35%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
34%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
32%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
31%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
29%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
25%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
23%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
16%
Education
Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary certificate
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Work Styles
Work Values
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