Equipment Operation

General

Licensing & Certification

Equipment	Requirement	Status
Excavator, dozer, loader	636E Heavy Equip. Operator	Voluntary
Mobile crane >16,000 lb·ft	339A / 339B Hoisting Eng.	Compulsory
Boom truck ≤16,000 lb·ft	Manufacturer training	Voluntary
Aerial work platform	Working at Heights (WAH)	Mandatory
Concrete boom pump	Mfr training + 80 hr supervised	Voluntary
Dump truck (public road)	Class DZ / AZ licence	Compulsory

O. Reg. 213/91 ss. 93–118 governs all construction equipment.

Earthmoving Fleet

Machine	Size	Key Hazard
Tracked excavator	20–30 t	Tail swing / swing radius
Backhoe loader	7–10 t	Tip-over w/o stabilisers
Skid-steer loader	2–4 t	Struck-by / caught-between
Bulldozer	D4–D6	Slope rollover
Wheel loader	2–3 yd³	Front-heavy tip-forward

ISO Excavator Controls

Left stick L/R: Swing | F/B: Boom down/up
Right stick L/R: Bucket curl/dump | F/B: Stick out/in

Key Tolerances & Specs

Item	Value
Foundation excavation	± 25 mm
GPS dozer grading	± 15 mm
Compaction lift (granular)	200 mm max compacted
Compaction lift (cohesive)	150 mm max compacted
Proctor — general fill	95% Standard Proctor
Proctor — structural fill	98% Standard Proctor
Utility hand-dig zone	Within 1 m of marked line
Trench shoring required	>1.2 m in Type 3/4 soil
Machine setback from trench	1.5 m min (O. Reg. 213/91)
Roller overlap (min)	150 mm between passes
Backfill lifts near walls	300 mm; plate compactor within 1 m

Concrete & Crane Equipment

Concrete Pumps

Boom pump: set outriggers on firm ground; verify boom reach vs. pour area
Line pump: max hose run ~150 m; add 3 m vertical per elbow
Mixer truck: 7–10 m³ capacity; max 90-min drum time from batch

Crane Operations

339A/339B required for mobile cranes >16,000 lb·ft
Load chart: derate for radius, boom length, ground conditions
75% of rated capacity = maximum planned lift
Wind: cease operations >35 km/h (or per crane manufacturer)
Critical lift (≥80% capacity): requires engineered lift plan

Aerial Work Platforms

Type	Best For	Key Rule
Telehandler	Material placement, roofing	Never exceed load chart at extension
Scissor lift	Interior finish, ceilings	Level ground only; no driving elevated
Articulating boom	Steel connections, soffits	Harness + lanyard required always
Telescopic boom	High-reach exterior, steeples	Wind limit; boom flex at max height

WAH training mandatory for all aerial platform operators on construction projects.

Regulatory References

O. Reg. 213/91: Construction Projects — equipment ss. 93–118
O. Reg. 851: Industrial Establishments (forklifts in shops)
339A/339B: Compulsory mobile crane operator trade
636E: Voluntary heavy equipment operator trade
WAH: Working at Heights — CPO-approved provider required
Ontario One Call: Locate before any excavation

Safety — Do Not Forget

Pre-start inspection every machine, every day, before it moves. No checklist = no start.
Three-point contact mounting/dismounting. Never jump off equipment.
Seatbelt ON in all equipment at all times.
Backhoe: Both stabilisers down for ANY backhoe work. Lower front bucket for extra stability.
Skid steer: Load 150–200 mm off ground during travel. Check behind before reversing.
Excavator: Never swing loaded bucket over workers. Check tail swing before every swing.
Crane credentials: Verify 339A/339B certificate BEFORE operator touches controls.
Church sites: Swing boom AWAY from existing buildings. Protect surfaces with plywood/ROTs.

Pro Tips

Excavator loading: On tight church sites, swing away from existing building even if it adds cycle time.
Dozer backfill: Push parallel to foundation walls, not directly at them. Backfill in 300 mm lifts.
Skid steer on pavement: Use rubber-over-tire tracks (ROTs) to prevent scuffing. No skid-steering on finished surfaces.
Wheel loader: V-pattern truck loading. 5–6 passes for 12 yd³ truck with 2.5 yd³ bucket.
Dozer grading: Start at building, push away — ensures water drains away from structure even at rough grade.