Asphalt plant operators extract raw materials such as sand and stones and operate mobile equipment for their transport to the plant. They tend automated machines to crush and sort out stones, and to mix the sand and stones with asphalt cement. They take samples to check the quality of the mix and arrange for its transport to the construction site.

Tasks

Tasks include -
(a) Operating extrusion, moulding, mixing, pumping, compacting, grinding and cutting machinery to manufacture and finish precast concrete and stone products;
(b) Operating plant to produce cement, lime and clinker, including loading and unloading ingredients and operating continuous feed equipment such as pumps and conveyors;
(c) Operating plant and machines which weigh and mix sand, gravel, cement, water and other ingredients to make concrete;
(d) Operating plant and machinery which assembles and fills moulds with concrete and artificial stone mixtures, removes castings from moulds and finishes surfaces of precast products;
(e) Cutting, grinding, drilling, sandblasting and polishing concrete products and stone blocks, slabs and products to the specifications for the job;
(f) Checking production plans and specifications to determine and select materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings and adjustments for extrusion, moulding, mixing and compacting machines;
(g) Monitoring plant and machines during operation by observing instruments such as temperature and pressure gauges, and adjusting controls and reporting malfunctions as necessary;
(h) Collecting and examining samples of mixtures and finished products for conformity to specifications and adjusting machine settings accordingly;
(i) Checking and maintaining production records, including information about quantities, dimensions and types of materials and goods produced;
(j) Arranging and assisting with plant and machinery maintenance and repair.