How to become a Mobile Plant Operator

Mobile plant operators drive backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, graders, scrapers, skid-steer loaders, rollers and forklift trucks to level, excavate, move and load earth, rock and other material.

Personal requirements for a Mobile Plant Operator

Enjoy practical and manual activities
Able to follow precise instructions
Able to work as part of a team
Able to cope with the physical demands of the job
Good eyesight (may be corrected)
Good hand-eye coordination
Able to work without supervision

Education & Training for a Mobile Plant Operator

You can work as a mobile plant operator without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job.You can also become a mobile plant operator through a traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

Additional information

Industry standards often require mobile plant operators to hold a licence to Perform High Risk Work issued by the WorkCover or WorkSafe body in each state and territory. To gain a licence, you will need to register with an approved Registered Training Organisation and work under the supervision of a licensed operator, and keep an approved logbook to record competencies achieved during training. Assessment by an independent assessor will then be required. You must be 18 years of age to obtain a licence. However, training may commence at a younger age.All those who work in the construction industry must undergo safety induction training and be issued with a Construction Induction Card (CIC).

Duties & Tasks of a Mobile Plant Operator

Mobile plant operators:

Prepare machines for operation
Load and unload equipment from low loaders and move it around worksites
Select, change and operate special attachments such as winches, scrub clearers, rippers, pile drivers and rock-breaking hammers
Work from drawings and markers under the direction of supervisors and engineers
Back-fill trenches
Break up paving, rock and similar material by operating hydraulic or pneumatic breakers
Excavate or scrape earth, rock or rubble to the correct level and alignment
Load trucks with excavated fill
Drive machines to and from worksites
Service equipment by cleaning, lubricating and refuelling it, and make minor adjustments and repairs when necessary
Maintain duty of care for other users and work to occupational health and safety requirements.

Tasks

Servicing, lubricating, cleaning and refuelling plant and performing minor adjustments and repairs
Working from drawings, markers and verbal instructions
Preparing and positioning plant for operation
Raising, lowering and manipulating attachments using manual and hydraulic controls
Selecting, fitting and removing attachments such as buckets, winches, loading scoops, shovel blades and rock breaking hammers
Operating controls to excavate, break, drill, level, compact, gouge out, move, load and spread earth, rock, rubble, soil and other materials
Monitoring operation of plant and adjusting controls to regulate pressure, speed and flow of operation, and ensuring safety of other workers

Working conditions for a Mobile Plant Operator

The work conditions for mobile plant operators can be hot, muddy, dusty and noisy, but most earthmoving machines have soundproofed and air conditioned cabs for the operator.

Employment Opportunities for a Mobile Plant Operator

Major employers include earthmoving and civil construction contractors, private developers, mining and minerals processing companies and government authorities. Work projects vary in size and location. Sites may be located in the city, suburbs or country and are sometimes in remote areas.Some plant operators may own and operate equipment on a contract hire basis, although the cost of equipment is high.

Specializations

Mobile Plant Operator

Average age
42
Future Growth
Positive
Gender Share
3% female
Average full-time
50 hours
Weekly Pay
$1,944
Skill level rating
Entry level
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
94%
Employment Size
54,300
Employment by state
ACT: 0.7%
NSW: 28.7%
NT: 1.1%
QLD: 25.8%
SA: 7.0%
TAS: 3.0%
VIC: 20.6%
WA: 13.1%
Age brackets
15-19: 1%
20-24: 4.9%
25-34: 20.1%
35-44: 22.5%
45-54: 27.1%
55-59: 11.5%
60-64: 8.1%
65 and Over: 4.7%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 2.8%
Bachelor degree: 0.9%
Below Year 10: 2.7%
Certificate III/IV: 33.6%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.2%
Year 10 and below: 41.4%
Year 11: 7.9%
Year 12: 13.3%
Years 11 & 10: 34.8%