Careers with Heavy Plant Machinery

There are many reasons for deciding on a career within the quarry industry working with heavy plant machinery. Below we take a closer look at job opportunities within Britain's oldest industry - quarrying.

Heavy Plant Machinery and Careers

Modern quarrying is a mechanical process involving large, powerful excavating, transporting and crushing equipment. Deep drilling machines and explosives are also used where necessary to break the rock. With over 2000 quarries spread throughout the UK you would be forgiven for thinking that all job opportunities using heavy plant machinery are already filled. Unfortunately in recent years the quarry industry has been suffering from a shortage of skilled staff and it is estimated that this situation will worsen during the next decade as a high proportionate of the labour force are approaching retirement age. As a result there is a myriad of job roles within the innovative modern quarrying industry to choose from, including:

• Machine Operators – this may involve working with the heavy plant machinery, such as excavators, draglines and cranes
• Plant and process operators - employed on crushers, screening plant and graders
• Maintenance workers - fitters, mechanics and electricians working on the maintenance of plant and vehicle used in the quarry
• Driver - driving tipper and dumper trucks and other vehicles
• Driller or a shotfirer – this involves specialist training in the use of drilling equipment and explosives
• Laboratory and quality control technicians - working in laboratories on quality control or recording site samples
• Administration and office-based roles - for example sales and marketing or human resources
• Job opportunities abroad - especially in developing countries.

Quarry sites are usually situated in rural areas so travel is normally involved. The work can also be physically demanding and dusty and noisy.

If you are already working within the quarry industry and are interested in the purchase of any heavy plant machinery please do not hesitate to get in contact with N.H. Greaves & Co Ltd on 01709 582381 and we will do our very best to help.

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