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What They Do
About This Career
Separates blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammers, wedges, or chop saws.
This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.
A person in this career:
- Locates grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut.
- Removes pieces of stone from larger masses, using jackhammers, wedges, and other tools.
- Inserts wedges and feathers into holes, and drives wedges with sledgehammers to split stone sections from masses.
- Marks dimensions or outlines on stone prior to cutting, using rules and chalk lines.
- Cuts slabs of stone into sheets that will be used for floors or counters.
- Sets charges of explosives to split rock.
- Drills holes along outlines, using jackhammers.
- Drills holes into sides of stones broken from masses, inserts dogs or attaches slings, and directs removal of stones.
- Cuts grooves along outlines, using chisels.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
- Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
- Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
- Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
- Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
- Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
- Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
- Whole body vibrations, such as when operating a jackhammer
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Using muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
- Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
- Seeing clearly up close
- Exerting oneself physically over long periods of time without getting out of breath
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
- Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
Work Hours and Travel
- Regular working hours and limited travel
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Driller
- Quarry Worker
- Rock Splitter
- Splitter Operator
- Stone Breaker
- Stone Splitter
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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