Earth Driller (except Oil and Gas)

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Blast Hole Driller; Diamond Driller; Drill Operator; Driller; Hard Rock Drill Operator; Highwall Drill Operator; Rock Drill Operator; Underground Drill Operator; Water Well Driller; Well Driller

Tasks

• Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
• Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
• Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
• Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
• Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
• Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
• Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
• Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
• Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
• Document geological formations encountered during work.
• Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
• Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
• Record drilling progress and geological data.
• Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.

Knowledge

• Mechanical
• Administration and Management
• Public Safety and Security
• Transportation
• Design

Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Active Listening
• Speaking

Abilities

• Control Precision
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Multilimb Coordination
• Reaction Time
• Manual Dexterity
• Depth Perception
• Rate Control
• Near Vision
• Perceptual Speed
• Oral Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Visualization
• Far Vision
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Finger Dexterity
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Flexibility of Closure
• Selective Attention
• Auditory Attention
• Speech Clarity