| Operating Engineers
The Work
Operating engineers operate heavy construction equipment such
as cranes, bulldozers, pavers, trench excavators and many other
kinds of equipment used for constructing buildings, dams, airports
and highways. They also work in the sand and gravel, cement
and asphalt industries; in the shipyards; on the water with
dredges; oil refineries; oil pipelines; sewer and water construction;
ports of major cities; municipal work with cities and counties;
landscaping; scrap metal work; and the forest products industry.
Operating engineer apprentices can also work in the mechanical
field as heavy-duty truck and equipment mechanics and in the
field of technical engineer (surveyor).
Working Conditions
The work is outdoors and can depend on the weather. Bad weather
can shut down jobs; generally the machinery is not operated
in heavy snow or rain. The average operator works 800 to 2,000
hours per year; some get less work, depending on their job
skills. Apprentices are sometimes required to commute long
distances or to relocate for a few weeks or months to obtain
gainful employment. Apprentices must be flexible and adaptable
to different environments, job sites, and requirements.
The Apprenticeship
The term of apprenticeship is 3-5 years and requires a total
of 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 9-11 weeks of classroom
instruction per year.
Enrollment Period: Call the office for information on the
enrollment period.
To Apply
Alaska Operating Engineers Apprenticeship Training
900 West Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 561-5044 (phone)
(907) 561-3672 (fax)
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