Road sign installer

Road sign installers take road signs to the specified location and erect it. The installers may drill a hole into the ground, or remove existing paving to access the soil. They may anchor heavy signs in concrete.

The duties of a road sign installer include, but are not limited to:

• Drive heavy equipment and vehicles with adjustable attachments to sweep debris from paved surfaces, mow grass and weeds, remove snow and ice, and spread salt and sand.
• Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
• Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
• Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
• Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
• Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
• Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.
• Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
• Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.
• Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
• Perform roadside landscaping work, such as clearing weeds and brush, and planting and trimming trees.
• Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
• Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation.
• Measure and mark locations for installation of markers, using tape, string, or chalk.
• Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
• Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
• Apply poisons along roadsides and in animal burrows to eliminate unwanted roadside vegetation and rodents.
• Place and remove snow fences used to prevent the accumulation of drifting snow on highways.

Road sign installers typically work outdoors, installing and repairing signs. They use a variety of tools, including ladders, scaffolding, power tools, and hand tools.

Road sign installers must be able to lift heavy objects and work in awkward positions. They may work long hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet deadlines. Some sign installers are exposed to hazardous materials, such as lead-based paint, and must take precautions to avoid exposure.

The following job titles also refer to road sign installer:

road sign team worker
road sign worker
traffic sign installer
highway sign installer
traffic sign erector
road sign erector
highway sign erector

No formal educational credential is required to work as road sign installer. However, most employers prefer candidates with at least a high school diploma.

A valid driving license is necessary to work as a road sign installer.

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.

Road sign installer is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to road sign installer.

road marker
road maintenance worker
civil engineering worker
rail layer
bicycle courier

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

rigger
mobile crane operator
sprinkler fitter
construction scaffolder
carpet fitter

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of road sign installer.

• Road signage standards: National and European regulations on the placement and properties of road signage, including size, height, reflectance and other important characteristics.
• Road traffic laws: Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.

These skills are necessary for the role of road sign installer.

• 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.
• Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
• Place temporary road signage: Place temporary traffic signs, lights and barriers to alert road users of activities on the road.
• 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 GPS systems: Use GPS Systems.
• Interpret 3D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.
• Interpret traffic signals: Observe lights on the road, road conditions, nearby traffic, and prescribed speed limits to ensure safety. Interpret traffic signals and act accordingly.
• 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.
• Interpret 2D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.
• Operate hand drill: Use a hand drill to make holes in various types of material such as stone, brick and wood. Take care to use the appropriate equipment, settings, drill bit and pressure for the task.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of road sign installer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Remove road surface: Remove an existing road surface. Use the appropriate machinery or coordinate with machine operators to assist in the excavation of asphalt or concrete road coverings.
• Pour concrete: Pour concrete into a form from a mixer truck chute, hopper or hose. Pour the correct amount to balance efficiency with the risk of the concrete not setting completely.
• 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.
• Mix concrete: Use compact concrete mixers or various ad-hoc containers such as wheelbarrows to mix concrete. Prepare the correct quantities of cement, water, aggregate and optional added ingredients, and mix the ingredients until an homogeneous concrete is formed.
• Handle fragile items: Use different specialised handling for products that are delicate and tend to be broken or damaged easily.
• 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.
• Operate mobile crane: Operate a mobile crane safely. Take into account the condition of the terrain, weather conditions, load mass, and expected manoeuvres.
• Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
• Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Inspect road signs: Inspect road signs for signs of corrosion, outdated information, nicks and dents, legilibility and reflectance. Decide on the course of action when problems are found.

9312 – Civil engineering labourers

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References

1. ESCO
2. Road Sign Installer Career Information and College Majors – MyMajors
3. Featured image: By Oregon Department of Transportation – Speed sign near LaPine, CC BY 2.0