Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

What Does a Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Do?

Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface 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. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
• 2Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
• 3Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
• 4Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
• 5Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
• 6Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
• 7Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
• 8Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.

Required Skills

• Global positioning system GPS software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Word

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary