Minerals Institute of Western Australia

Excavator Operator

Excavator operators drive excavators to dig, move and load earth, rock or other materials. Excavator drivers in the minerals industry may perform the following tasks:

• load and unload plant from low loaders and manoeuvre it around a mine site and communicate with truck drivers etc to coordinate operations;
• operate equipment to excavate to correct levels and alignment, working from drawings and markers;
• back-fill trenches;
• select and change excavator attachments service equipment.

Related Jobs:

REQUIRING TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

Backhoe Operator
Bulldozer Operator
Grader Operator
Scraper Operator

Education and Training:

QLD
Certificate Courses
TAFE - Southern Qld and Wide Bay Institutes
Queensland Housing and Construction Group Training Scheme Inc

SA
Certificate Courses
Building Employment and Training Australia ITC

Additional Information
An excavator operator must be duly accredited if the excavator is used for load shifting purposes.

VIC 
No specific educational qualifications are required for entry to this occupation.

Training for excavator operators is usually provided on the job by the employer, where a person commences as a labourer with a construction company and then moves on to gain experience in operating the equipment. About 2 years of experience is needed to become competent. A number of TAFE Institutes offer suitable courses.

Contact the Health and Safety Organisation, Victoria for information on the regulations covering this occupation.

WA
Short Courses
Earthmoving Industry Training Services, Mundaring
West Australian Construction Training Inc

Certificate Courses
Building Employment and Training Australia ITC

Additional Information
These training courses are offered on a refresher basis or for new operators. Unemployed people who are assessed as eligible for the Jobtrain scheme may be able to undertake these courses.