How To: Gain accreditation to operate earthmoving machinery

Let me start with an admission: I have had no experience operating construction machinery, except on a few occasions where I've fumbled around with some levers on excavators at demo events.

So, after assuming the role of constructionsales.com.au editor in 2016, it was high time I get some grease and dirt under my nails and put myself in the shoes of a machinery operator.

Some researching and phone conversations later, I signed up to attend Wodonga TAFE’s 10-day earthmoving operation course, where students learn the ropes on four different machines – namely the excavator, dozer, wheel loader and backhoe loader. For about $300 extra, students can add a skid steer loader into the mix.

Wanting to make the most of my time at the course, I signed up for all five, which brought the total fee to $2176 (including GST).

All I then had to do was pack my steel-capped boots and turn up for earthmoving school…

No license required

Since January 2012, the operation of earthmoving equipment anywhere in Australia no longer requires a formal licence or certification, as stated in the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011. This is because the Government no longer deems earthmoving equipment operations as ‘high risk’, as opposed to the operation of other machines such as forklift, cranes, elevating work platforms (EWPs) and more.

However, the 'person conducting a business or undertaking' (PCBU) is still required to ensure employees are competent and have received sufficient training prior to carrying out any earthmoving projects.

Therefore, earthmoving training providers around the country, like Wodonga TAFE, will issue a 'competency card' or 'certificate of attainment' upon successful completion of the course which, in addition to the training itself, also enhances a student's employment prospects.

Quality training

While there are a number of earthmoving training providers around my home town of Melbourne, I ultimately settled upon Wodonga TAFE for several reasons: its reputation for high quality training in heavy vehicles and equipment and, more importantly, its ability to answer my enquiry in a timely manner.

On several occasions phone calls to other institutes went unanswered, as did emails.

Another thing that impressed me about Wodonga TAFE was the experience of its trainers – I was told they each need at least 15 years of industry work under their belt before they can be considered for a training role.

I had Andrew Keady and David Olsson conducting my course – two trainers with a wealth of experience operating a wide range of earthmoving machinery. Prior to teaching at Wodonga TAFE, both were contractors and have operated most if not all types of heavy machinery commonly found in the industry today.

Students receive a high-vis vest and a learning guide packed with information, including the machines' applications, pre-job preparation, hazard awareness, basic earthwork calculation and more.

Wodonga TAFE runs the 10-day course several times per year, depending on demand. Their next slot starts on July 16.

Hands on

There were seven students in my class, which was a manageable size for training purposes. We paired up to take turns, operating each machine for about 45 minutes each, and worked our way through all five machines every day.

We got stuck in from day one, because even though we initially didn't know what we were doing we were in fact familiarising ourselves with each machine's key functions, before moving on to specific tasks like digging trenches or stockpiling.

After all, 10 days to grasp five different machines is a big ask, and sitting in classrooms to learn the functions of different levers has its limits.

Before we did all that, however, we had a rundown on how to conduct pre-operational checks on each machine. After receiving a checklist to tick off, we had all the bases covered before firing up the engine and digging/loading/bulldozing away.

Key checks include engine oil, hydraulic oil and transmission oil levels; water and fluid levels; bucket and attachment condition; a tyres or track inspection; and a check that all controls are operational.

We were also tasked with ensuring all moving parts of the machines were properly greased and lubricated. Often the pre-operational check and greasing process takes a good 30 minutes, as there are plenty of greasing points to attend to depending on the machine. We were also using greasing pumps instead of grease guns, which require way more time and effort, but the course was deliberately pared back to maximise the learning.

Minimalistic

Which leads me to my next point – the simplicity of the machinery on offer, which had little to no technology in the cab. No electronics and no touchscreens, just basic levers, joysticks and dials. As our trainers put it: "If you can operate these machines here, you can operate anything out there."

The ages of the machines span one to 20 years old, so controls on the older machines were understandably more rigid and required more strength to operate. (My weightlifting sessions in the gym certainly paid off.) However, sore legs and arms were part and parcel of this course, which goes to show how important comfort features can be in a machine. Imagine spending eight hours a day for several months in a machine like that – the health impacts can be considerable.

All too often you hear of operators sustaining back or neck injuries through spending too much time in the operator's seat, so these days manufacturers are designing their machines with operator comfort top of mind. After all, a happy operator should also prove a productive one!

Task masters

Once we were comfortable with the controls, the trainers then started giving us tasks to carry out: digging a trench with the backhoe, stockpiling with the wheel loader, levelling the ground with the bulldozer, loading trucks with the excavator and so on.

Admittedly, I took a bit longer than my classmates to fully grasp the operation of the machines. A few of them already had some experience operating machinery like these or other types of vehicles such as tanks and trucks, which made it easier for them to pick up on the controls. The heaviest machinery I'd experienced previously was limited to driving my car…

For example, it took me a while to get my head around working the two levers in an excavator and backhoe accurately and smoothly to lower the bucket, lift the boom, curl the bucket etc. However, once I got used to them, the digging machines quickly became my favourites.

It was certainly eye-opening to see just how versatile the machines can be. A dozer, for example, can be used for stockpiling, ground levelling, land clearing, ripping, battering, benching, backfilling and more.

The first week of the course was all about understanding the machines, grasping the key controls and carrying out basic tasks. In the second week, once we were more comfortable, we were taught to carry out slightly more complex jobs such as building a ramp on a hill and digging a level trench to a certain level of proficiency.

The trainers will first sit in the cab with you to explain the controls and teach you the nuts and bolts of the task at hand, before we were let loose ourselves.

A massive part of the course was learning through trial and error. I once unloaded a massive pile of dirt onto the skid steer loader I was in (thank goodness for the sturdy FOPS structure) and soon realised I did not have the self-levelling function on when unloading. To be fair, I also panicked and rolled the bucket further towards the loader when I should have been rolling it forward to tip the dirt into the truck. You live and learn!

Tasks aside, we were also taught to traverse slopes safely, which meant lowering the booms and buckets as close to the ground as possible to improve stability. Suffice to say my heart was in my mouth for a good 10 minutes worrying that the excavator would flip as it travelled down a 45-degree descent, but it reached flat ground smoothly without so much as a soft thump.

"Getting your knuckles white over nothing!" joked one of my trainers, Andrew Keady.

Both of my trainers were nothing but helpful, encouraging and patient, which helped a great deal. Often times over the course I was frustrated enough at myself for being slower than the others, so an impatient trainer would just add salt to the wound.

The same could be said of my classmates, who were just a bunch of top blokes who never hesitated in lending a helping hand when I ran into tight corners – at times literally!

Nearing the end of the course, we were also taught to load the machines on to trailers safely with the help of a spotter, and then tie them down for transport using chains and ratchet dogs.

In terms of the course's comprehensiveness, I have no complaints.

Assessments

Even though the operation of earthmoving machinery is no longer considered 'high risk', course participants still have to pass a written and practical assessment to be deemed competent.

Having said that, the assessments were probably not as stringent and formal as I’d imagined, which took an immense amount of pressure off the students.

The written assessment was done as a group – it's effectively an open-book test, where we discussed the answers as a team. There was a paper for each machine, which meant I had to complete five of them.

The practical assessments were done in the last few days once the trainers were confident that the students were fairly comfortable with the key operations of each machine.

Unlike a driving test, for example, students did not have their names called for an assessment, and there were no officers with clipboards in hand hopping into the machine and scrutinising their every move.

Instead, we would just be carrying out our practice sessions as per usual, and the trainers would assess us as we worked our way through the machines.

While perhaps not as strict as high-risk assessments would be, the trainers still looked for a certain level of proficiency and that students were operating the machines with the highest level of safety, and not putting others in danger with any reckless driving.

To my relief, I passed. About two weeks after the course, my competency card and certificates of attainment arrived in the mail.

Last words

I stepped into the course feeling overwhelmed and a bit nervous, but stepped out a confident operator, thanks to the fantastic training, encouragement and help I received from my trainers and fellow students.

I was not fully proficient by any means at the end of the course, but I am now certainly much more comfortable with firing up 20-tonne machines to dig massive holes than I was a few months ago.

If anyone is interested in heavy-machinery training, I would highly recommend Wodonga TAFE. After all, the construction industry is booming in Australia at the moment, so the time is now to get your foot in the door.

For just over $2000, this is a time- and cost-effective way to earn your earthmoving chops.