Earth Drillers, Except Oil And Gas

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Description

Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Tasks

Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
Record drilling progress and geological data.
Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
Document geological formations encountered during work.
Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures in order to develop wells.
Design well pumping systems.
Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
Observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the water used to flush debris from holes.
Signal crane operators to move equipment.
Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
Fabricate well casings.
Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.

Knowledge

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.

Skills

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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.
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.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Work Activities

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.
Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Work Context

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Freedom to Make Decisions: How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
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?
Structured versus Unstructured Work: To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
Frequency of Decision Making: How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions: How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Consequence of Error: How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration: How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)?
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.)

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.
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.
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.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Style

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.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Leadership: Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

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.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
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.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
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.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

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Lay Titles

Auger Operator

Blast Hole Driller

Blaster

Blasting Production Technician

Boring Machine Operator

Churn Drill Operator

Churn Driller

Coal Mine Bore Hole Drill Operator

Construction Driller

Core Drill Operator

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Deep Well Contractor

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Drill Hand

Drill Operator

Drill Runner

Driller

Drilling Machine Operator

Drilling Machine Runner

Earth Auger Operator

Earth Boring Machine Operator

Electric Drill Operator

Explosive Bore Hole Driller

Foundation Drill Operator

Hard Rock Drill Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator

Highwall Drill Operator

Hole Digger Operator

Horizontal Drill Operator

Horizontal Earth Boring Machine Operator

Jumper

Machine Driller

Mine Equipment Operator

Overburden Drill Operator

Post Hole Digger

Post Hole Digging Machine Operator

Raise Driller

Rock Drill Operator

Shot Core Drill Operator

Stoper

Test Borer

Test Driller

Tunneling Machine Operator

Wagon Drill Operator

Wagon Driller

Wagoner

Wash Driller

Water Well Driller

Well Digger

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Well Driller

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $19.61 hourly, $40,790 annual.

Employment (2008):: 17,680 employees