Pile driving hammer operator

Description

Pile driving hammer operators work with a piece of heavy equipment that positions piles and hammers them into the ground using a rigging mechanism.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to pile driving hammer operator:

piledriver
pile hammer operator
pile driving hammer operative
pile drivin’ hammer operator
piling equipment operative
pile-driver operator
pile-driver operative
piling operative
pile driving hamer operator
piling equipment operator

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a pile driving hammer operator.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Pile driving hammer operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Pile driving hammer operator career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to pile driving hammer operator.

tower crane operator
mobile crane operator
rigger
bulldozer operator
grader operator

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of pile driving hammer operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of pile driving hammer operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

crane crew supervisor
bridge construction supervisor
sewer construction supervisor
demolition supervisor
bridge inspector

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of pile driving hammer operator.

  • Mechanical tools: Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Mechanical systems: Mechanical systems, including gears, engines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Their functions and likely defects.
  • Crane load charts: Understand crane load charts which detail the features of the crane and how its lift capacity varies depending on distance and angle.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of pile driving hammer operator.

  • Keep heavy construction equipment in good condition: Inspect heavy equipment for construction projects before each use. Maintain the machine in good working order, taking care of small repairs and alerting the responsible person in case of serious defects.
  • Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
  • Inspect construction sites: Ensure health and safety during the construction project by inspecting the construction site regularly. Identify risks of putting people in danger or of damaging construction equipment.
  • Prevent damage to utility infrastructure: Consult utility companies or plans on the location of any utility infrastructure that may interfere with a project or be damaged by it. Take the necessary steps to avoid damage.
  • Drive steel piles: Use any of various types of pile drivers to drive piles made of steel into the ground for structure stabilisation purposes. Take care to position the pile and pile driver correctly and apply the correct amount of force to drive the pile while preventing damage and physical stresses.
  • Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
  • Operate pile driver hammer: Operate a pile driver that drives piles into the ground using a hammering motion. Work with diesel pile driver hammers and hydraulic pile drivers, which are quieter and more appropriate to areas sensitive to loud noise or vibrations.
  • React to events in time-critical environments: Monitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.
  • Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
  • Secure heavy construction equipment: Secure heavy equipment such as tower cranes or concrete pumps before, during, and after use to prevent damage to the machines, workforce or construction site. Take precautionary steps such as retracting the robotic arm of concrete pumps or bringing the hook block back to the jib.
  • Drive concrete piles: Use any of various types of pile drivers to drive piles made of concrete into the ground for structure stabilisation purposes. Take care to position the pile and pile driver correctly and apply the correct amount of force to drive the pile while preventing damage and physical stresses.
  • Set up pile helmets or sleeves: Attach a helmet or sleeve to a pile, in order to protect the head of the pile from stresses and impact damage and to efficiently transfer the impact energy of the pile driver to the pile. Take care to not attach the helmet or sleeve too tightly, as this may cause damage. In case the helmet contains a replaceable plastic cushion, select and place the right cushion for the job.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of pile driving hammer operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Attach protective attachments to timber piles: Attach various protective elements, such as boots or points, to the head and toe of timber piles in order to prevent damage to the pile from the stresses of pile driving. Take care to attach a timber pile point correctly to make sure the pile is driven straight down.
  • Operate heavy construction machinery without supervision: Work with heavy construction machinery independently without the intervention of a supervisor. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions.
  • Transport construction supplies: Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers’ safety and protection from deterioration.
  • Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
  • Use remote control equipment: Use a remote control to operate equipment. Watch the equipment closely while operating, and use any sensors or cameras to guide your actions.
  • Operate press-in pile driver: Operate a press-in pile driver, which presses piles into the ground in a smooth, continuous movement to provide stability for structures while producing minimal noise and vibrations.
  • Operate vibratory pile hammer: Operate a vibratory pile driver, which uses a pair of rotating weights inside an exciter unit to create strong vertical vibrations. Attach sheet pile to the exciter unit or place the unit over any other type of piles. Set the pile driver to either drive the pile into the ground, or extract it.
  • Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
  • Drive mobile heavy construction equipment: Drive movable heavy equipment used in construction. Load the equipment onto low loaders, or unload it. Judiciously drive equipment on public roads when required.
  • Drive metal sheet piles: Operate a vibratory pile driver or press-in pile driver to drive sheets of metal into the ground to form a wall for retaining either water or soil. Position the pile driver and sheets to obtain a good fit between the sheet piles. Take care not to damage the sheet piles while driving them.
  • Perform minor repairs to equipment: Conduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
  • Guide operation of heavy construction equipment: Guide a colleague in operating a piece of heavy construction equipment. Follow the operation closely and understand when feedback is called for. Use communication techniques like voice, two-way radio, agreed-upon gestures and whistles to signal the appropriate information to the operator.
  • Drive timber piles: Use any of various types of pile drivers to drive piles made of timber into the ground for structure stabilisation purposes. Take care to position the pile and pile driver correctly and apply the correct amount of force to drive the pile while preventing damage and physical stresses.
  • Set up temporary construction site infrastructure: Set up a variety of temporary infrastructure used on building sites. Put up fences and signs. Set up any construction trailers and make sure that these are connected to electricity lines and water supply. Establish supplies stores and garbage disposal in a sensible manner.
  • Test soil load bearing capacity: Test the capacity of the ground to support the load applied to it before installing heavy structures, such as tower cranes, or before driving on it with heavy vehicles.

ISCO group and title

8342 – Earthmoving and related plant operators


References
  1. Pile driving hammer operator – ESCO
Last updated on August 24, 2022

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