Your guide to working as a Plant Operator

This job belongs in the main to the building & construction industry sector. What is the work like? Plant operators drive and operate the heavy machinery found on construction sites, road works, railways, quarries, in forestry and in mechanical workshops. They can also operate smaller equipment such as forklift trucks in warehouses and factories and mobile elevated work platforms. Their job involves preparing sites by excavating, moving, placing and shaping soil or other materials, like rock. Plant operators working in workshops and factories may move heavy machinery or ladles of molten metal. Most operators specialise in one type of plant, such as: Compactors, such as rollers or whacker plates, to flatten work areas Earth scrapers, bulldozers and dumper trucks Forklift trucks and telescopic handlers to unload and move materials around Motorised diggers and 180- and 360-degree excavators (JCBs) Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs or cherry pickers) Overhead, mobile or static tower cranes to move materials & goods Rough terrain forklifts Some larger types of plant may only be found on major building projects such as tunnels, bridges or new motorways. Operators control the loading and unloading mechanism of the plant by means of levers and switches, usually working in partnership with an assistant (signaler or banksman/woman) on the ground. He or she would check the positioning and depths of excavations at ground level, directing the operator by hand signals, or radio communication when visibility is restricted. In addition to driving and operating machinery, operators change buckets, clamps and other attachments, maintain equipment and carry out daily safety checks, reporting any major faults to specialist maintenance staff. Hours and environment Plant operators usually work Monday to Friday. Overtime, on Saturdays and evenings, may be available. There's normally a greater volume of work during spring and summer months. Plant operators usually start work early each morning. Short-term contracts and part-time opportunities are available, with fewer jobs available in winter. Work is often outdoors, in all weather conditions. Operators are usually based in a driver's cab. It can be very noisy and dirty. Some operators work at heights. For safety reasons, good eyesight and hearing is essential. Plant operators work alone, but keep contact with other workers through hand and radio signals. Operators wear personal protective equipment, including safety helmets, footwear, clothing and ear protectors. Plant operators may be based at one site for many months, depending on the size of the contract. But the work can also involve travelling to different sites, sometimes locally, but potentially throughout the UK. They may spend periods of time away from home. A full driving licence is essential. Salary and other benefits These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live. Apprentices under the age of 19 can earn between £8,639 and £15,270 a year, depending on their stage of training. Newly qualified plant operators with an NVQ Level 2 earn around £18,000 a year. Experienced plant operators earn on average around £30,000 a year. Some earn much more with specialist skills. The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) establishes minimum wage rates annually. Those using certain skills and operating specific plant on a regular basis receive additional hourly allowances, also negotiated by BATJIC. Overtime payments are common. Lodging allowances are provided if working away from home.

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