Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Go Back to List Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Tasks
	Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
	Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
	Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
	Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
	Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
	Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
	Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
	Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
	Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
	Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.

Skills
	Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
	Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
	Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
	Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Knowledge
	Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
	Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
	Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Search for Jobs on Connecticut's Labor Exchange (CTJOBcentral)
	(Please note that some searches may not produce any results.)

Education & Training   Education:   These occupations usually require a high school diploma.   Related Experience:   Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Browse Through a List of Businesses That Employ People With Your Same Skills
	Potential Employer Search

Related Occupations
	Dredge Operators
	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
	Rail Car Repairers
	Highway Maintenance Workers
	Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
	Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
	Helpers--Extraction Workers
	Pipelayers
	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
	Pile-Driver Operators

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.