MHCA acknowledges it is located on Treaty One land and the homeland of the Metis Nation

EXPLORE CAREERS IN HEAVY CONSTRUCTION

The work of the heavy construction industry starts with shovels in the ground, and that can’t happen without the highly skilled and dedicated people in our industry. The industry’s productivity, growth and competitiveness are intrinsically tied to the specialized occupations described below. All are vital to the industry’s ability to meet the expectations of project owners, public sector and private sector alike.

General Construction Worker • Heavy Equipment Operators • Class 1 / Low-Bed Operators • Pipelayer • Concrete Finisher • Directional Drill And Locator Operator

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORKER

Salary range: $16.44 – $32 per hour; average annual 2,500 hours including overtime: $41,100 – $80,000

Skilled construction workers perform a wide variety of manual labour responsibilities, including:

Involved in crew meeting to discuss tasks, goals and safety concerns for the upcoming shift
Working closely with and supporting other specialized positions within the crew such as concrete finishers, pipelayers or equipment operators
Pre-check, operate and maintain small, powered equipment and hand tools
Knowledgeable and trained in rigging and hoisting activities
Load, unload and move construction materials around the worksite
Digging, spreading, and levelling of dirt and gravel
Perform housekeeping duties and maintain materials and work areas
Perform a variety of tasks involving strenuous manual labour
Ability to lift 30kg (66lbs) on a regular basis
Be aware of surroundings at all times
Ensure a safe work environment in compliance with all safety policies and procedures using the appropriate tools and equipment for the task
Ensure safety of fellow employees
Perform other duties at construction sites, as directed

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education and Experience:

Ability to follow a firm work schedule as directed by supervisor
Ability to work as part of a team, in all weather conditions for extended periods of time
Must be reliable and punctual
Ability to efficiently communicate with co-workers and supervisors to complete tasks safely and in a timely manner
Ability to perform a variety of manual tasks, exercising independent judgment
Comply with all safety policies and procedures
Previous experience as a laborer or construction labour considered an asset

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

Salary range: $20.43 – $39.90 per hour; average annual 2,500 hours including overtime: $51,075 – $99,750

Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, sewer and water installations, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities. Key responsibilities of this role include:

Operate heavy equipment such as:
- Backhoe loaders, excavators, crawler dozers, bulldozers, rubber-tired loaders, articulated rock trucks compaction equipment and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities
- Bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites
- Pile-drivers to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures
- Dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill
- Paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction
- Power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pit
- Articulated rock trucks to transport materials in off-road conditions
Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo
Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment
Operate GPS enabled equipment when available
Be able to read and understand construction drawings and survey layout

Job titles include:

Heavy equipment operator
Heavy equipment operator apprentice
Excavator operator
Backhoe operator
Bulldozer operator
Grader operator
Loader operator
Articulated rock truck driver
Side boom tractor operator
Surface mining equipment operator

CLASS 1 / LOW-BED OPERATORS

Salary range: $26.90 – $33.48 per hour; average annual 2,000 hours including overtime: $53,800 – $66,960

Class 1 / Low-bed operators operate a truck with a box-trailer, lowboy or flat trailer to move heavy equipment and construction materials/supplies to/from construction job sites. Key responsibilities include:

Operate and drive primarily tractor-trailer, long-combination vehicle and straight-body trucks weighing over 4500 kg to transport goods and materials
Transporting heavy equipment and materials safely and efficiently on public highways
Loading equipment on and off of the low bed truck and following site safety rules and regulations
General maintenance and upkeep of the vehicle as required
Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspection of vehicle systems and equipment accessories
Maintaining logbooks and time sheets in an accurate and timely manner
Ensure cargo is properly secured in accordance with safety requirements and follow safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods
Haul freight to multiple job locations
Understand required permit for overweight or oversized loads
Follow D.O.T. Regulations
Must have a valid class 1 driver’s license with air endorsement

PIPELAYER

Salary range: $17.97 – $35.62 per hour; average annual 2,500 hours including overtime: $44,925 – $89,050

A pipelayer is a skilled occupation that lays pipe, such as for storm sewers, sanitary sewers, drains, and water mains. Pipelayers assemble and connect pipe systems for water mains, sewers and drains. As part of the sewer and water installations, pipelayers are involved in understanding the alignment and grades of required pipe installations and assure all trenches are excavated to proper line and grade as well as assuring the proper backfill materials and processes are used:

Understand the existing utility locates in and around your work area prior to excavating
Installation of piping, fittings, valves, catch basins and manholes using an assortment of tools, including transit levels, grade rods and levels
Assure line and grade is set where pipes are to be installed; cut the pipes to match the area
Connect multiple pipes by butting method for PVC pipe and/or fusing method for HDPE pipe
Assure proper backfilling materials and processes once pipes are in place
Train and supervise new pipelayers to ensure they are able to work independently
Drill holes into a property’s pipeline to install auxiliary cables and other devices into the system
Operate pickup trucks and rollers to transport materials from the worksite
Perform other duties, as directed

CONCRETE FINISHER

Salary range: $29.48 – $35.52 per hour; average annual 1,500 hours including overtime: $44,200 – $53,330

A concrete finisher is a skilled occupation that places, finishes and protects poured concrete, and repairs concrete in engineering and construction projects e.g. floors, sidewalks, roads. Concrete finishers set the concrete forms, ensuring the correct depth and pitch. Key responsibilities include:

Prepare the subgrade by levelling and packing prior to concrete work
Levelling the surface of freshly poured concrete
Operating a power vibrator to compact concrete
Applying hardening and sealing compounds to cure the surface
Waterproofing, damp-proofing, and restoring concrete surfaces
Installing anchor bolts, steel, plates and related fixtures in freshly poured concrete
Repair, resurface and replace worn or damaged sections of floors, walls, roads, and other concrete structures

DIRECTIONAL DRILL AND LOCATOR OPERATOR

Salary range: $25.00 – $36.00; average annual 1,800 hours including overtime $45,000 – $64,800

A directional drill operator sets up and completes drilling variable-sized, underground holes and pulls back required conduit. They may be required to operate machinery to drill wells at multiple angles rather than just horizontally. Key responsibilities include: