How to become a Plant Operator
How to become a Plant Operator Keen to explore all your career options – including a position as a plant operator? Luckily, the team of expert assessors at SB Skills Solutions has helped countless companies upskill their employees as well as numerous individuals obtain essential qualifications to achieve their dream job in the construction industry and further afield. From the average plant operator salary in the UK to which qualifications, skills, and training courses can help you to become a plant operator, we explain everything you want to know about this profession. What is a plant operator? A plant operator is a title given to an employee that supervises the daily running of a construction site and has responsibility for the operation of heavy machinery. What do construction plant operator jobs involve? As a plant operator, you’ll be required to carry out a wide range of tasks. Primarily, this will include the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of heavy machinery like diggers, bulldozers, cranes, and excavators. With help from these machines, you may be asked to move, excavate, lift, or crush building materials or organic matter. Alternatively, if you’re working with automated machinery that tends to be controlled by a computer, you may be required to work in a control room and monitor their progress. In the event that these machines stop working or develop inefficiencies, a plant operator will be on hand to rectify any issues and support productivity. This role tends to also cover the maintenance of these machines, ensuring they’re in good working order. A more comprehensive list of plant operator responsibilities can include: ∙Supervising and overseeing operations ∙Monitoring process parameters ∙Performing maintenance tests ∙Ensuring safety rules are followed ∙Operating heavy machinery and equipment ∙Transporting a variety of materials A construction plant operator, in particular, may have more specific daily duties such as: ∙Operating forklifts, bulldozers, excavators, trucks, and more heavy machinery ∙Transporting and storing building materials and earth ∙Carrying out safety checks ∙Level out working areas ∙Communicate using radio signals What are the working conditions like? A construction plant operator will often be required to work outdoors in a range of weather conditions. Construction sites aren’t squeaky clean like an office or control room. You may work at heights such as operating a tower crane or a large excavator. Instead, the working conditions for a construction plant operator tend to be significantly dirtier and nosier than alternative plant operator positions. Due to the nature of the building industry, you may also be required to work nights or weekends in order to deliver the necessary progress within the set construction deadline and budget. How much does a plant operator earn? According to information published by Totaljobs, a plant operator salary in the UK varies between £27,681 and £37,500, with an average annual salary of £32,500. It’s worth bearing in mind that the exact salary for this position will naturally vary depending on the location of the job and the industry that you work in. Higher-paying positions are more accessible to individuals that upskill themselves, allowing them to work in a wider range of relevant industries. This is because plant operators tend to specialise in just one type of equipment. What skills do I need to become a plant operator? Unsure whether you have the necessary skills to become a plant operator? Below, we list some of the most common skills plant operators possess that can help them to succeed in both this role and their chosen industry. These plant operator skills include: …
