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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.

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This source lists 16 tasks, including 10 marked Core and 6 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 07/2013.

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16 tasks shown

Core · Task 12777 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.

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Core · Task 12778 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.

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Core · Task 12780 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.

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Core · Task 12779 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.

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Core · Task 12781 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.

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Core · Task 12786 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.

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Core · Task 12784 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.

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Core · Task 20458 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Create or maintain inclines or ramps.

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Core · Task 12783 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.

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Core · Task 20459 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Handle slides, mud, or pit cleanings or maintenance.

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Supplemental · Task 12791 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.

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Supplemental · Task 12785 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Measure and verify levels of rock or gravel, bases, or other excavated material.

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Supplemental · Task 12790 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Direct ground workers engaged in activities such as moving stakes or markers, or changing positions of towers.

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Supplemental · Task 12787 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths.

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Supplemental · Task 12788 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Drive machines to work sites.

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Supplemental · Task 12789 · 07/2013 · Incumbent

Perform manual labor to prepare or finish sites, such as shoveling materials by hand.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.