Even way back in 2012, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) together with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), encouraged high school students to consider a career in technical vocational fields due to problems in job matching. DOLE claims that there ARE many jobs in the Philippines, but the jobs are in the technical vocational fields leading to job mismatch. Meaning there are jobs but not enough qualified candidates for such jobs. One of these highly-lucrative jobs is the operation of heavy equipment. A career on this field is rewarding career-wise and financial-wise, here and abroad. It is a job that is constantly in-demand, and with proper knowledge and training, one can make the most of being a heavy equipment operator.
Heavy Equipment Operators are typically skilled workers who assist in erecting structures at engineering or construction sites. Be it an excavator, backhoe, scraper, motor grader, bulldozer or a front end loader, operators of any of these heavy equipment are responsible in operating the equipment assigned to them in a safe, efficient and effective manner. Their usual and basic duties aside from operating the equipment itself include cleaning and maintenance checks according to safety standards and policies and appropriate use with minimal assistance and supervision. They are also tasked in monitoring and reviewing information such as problems and errors detected while on operation. Heavy equipment operators face hazards like any other construction worker, risking their lives on a daily basis just to get the job done. Yet knowing the risks and hazards and a more than adequate safety training will do wonders for someone interested on a career in this field, and here's how you can basically get the job done. - Be trained by TESDA-accredited training and or assessment centers. The TESDA Certification is a Pre-Construction Requirement as per DO 13-01. Also, a Driver License with Restriction Code "1238" is another requirement.
- Make sure that reading materials are available such as operating manuals and troubleshooting guides, for these documents will help you on the proper use, care and maintenance of the equipment. In case of loss of documents, try searching for downloadable materials from the Internet simply by searching the equipment's brand and model. Usually, websites of brands have free downloadable manuals of all their equipment.
- Operate the equipment only for its 'intended use'. Do not use the equipment for activities or jobs other than those for which it was built for. For example, do not use the bucket of a payloader or a backhoe to lift people or things. Or don’t use a fork lift for practice driving purposes nor take on a passenger when using the forklift. - Ensure that the equipment's safety features work. ROPS or Rollover Protective Structure is a safety feature that work with seatbelts. However, in cases that no ROPS is present, not fastening the seatbelt is advised to be able to jump clear in case of a rollover. Review and familiarize yourself with the safety and shutdown procedures, so that you are prepared in case the equipment is out of control or rolling over. - Designate spotters or signal persons to alert people working in the blind spots of the equipment, such as those in trenches, manholes or simply in the way of the equipment. Signal Lights, Horns or Back-Up Alarms are important safety features for the operators' safety and those in the working area. - Perform daily maintenance checks before and after the workday. One way to prevent breakdown and eventually, accidents, is to regularly check the equipment for hydraulic oil leaks.
- Last but not the least, be safety-trained beforehand. Know the risks and hazards of the equipment itself, the environment and the job in general. Construction safety training and practices will help lower the risk of accidents and injury in the work zone.
I would like to end with a note on the job opportunities for Heavy Equipment Operators. They are mostly found in construction sites, mining/logging/quarry companies, steel manufacturers and a lot others. There may be complaints that a career on this field does not pay well, but this is true only for those who are ‘self-taught”. For the job to really pay well, the operator must arm themselves with credentials such a TESDA NC-II certification and a good track record in the use of and maintaining the machines that are in their care. For one must admit that these equipment are quite costly to purchase. Employers who see that the operator uses and maintains them judiciously can show appreciation with higher than usual pay. In addition, those who have experience working abroad are given relatively higher pay than others.
As in any other job, danger comes with the territory, and the best way to overcome danger is knowledge on Safety, for a safety-trained worker will know how not to put his life and others' lives at risk, and at the end of the day, will always get the job done and come back to their families as whole and as healthy as when they left for work.
