Pipelayer
Other Titles
Construction Laborer, Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Machine Operator, Pipe Crew Foreman, Pipe Foreman, Pipelayer, Skilled Laborer, Waste Water Worker
Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
Cut pipes to required lengths.
Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
Operation and Control→ Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment→ Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.
Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic principles.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Apply adhesives to construction materials.
Cut metal components for installation.
Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
Weld metal components.
Install plumbing or piping.
Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures.
Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
Evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications.
Mark reference points on construction materials.
Compact materials to create level bases.
Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.
Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
Dig holes or trenches.
Drill holes in construction materials.
Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
Direct construction or extraction personnel.
Train construction or extraction personnel.
Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Extent Flexibility→ The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Depth Perception→ The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination→ The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Reaction Time→ The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Static Strength→ The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength→ The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Rate Control→ The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Building and Construction→ Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Design→ Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Air compressors
Backhoes→ Tractors with backhoe attachments
Blocks or pulleys→ Block and tackle equipment
Blow torch→ Cutting torches
Boring or sinking machinery→ Boring machines; Horizontal boring machines
Caulking guns
Circuit tracers→ Wire tracers
Compactors
Desktop computers
Dewatering pumps→ Water removal pumps
Diaphragm pumps→ Test pumps
Drain or pipe cleaning equipment→ Pigs; Snakes
Dredgers→ Dredges
Drill press or radial drill→ Drill presses
Explosimeters
Forklifts
Gas generators→ Generators
Graders
Hammers
Hydraulic truck cranes→ Hydraulic cranes
Integrated tool carriers→ Tractor pipe carrier attachments
Jacks→ Manual screw jacks; Pipeline jacks
Ladders
Laser measuring systems→ Pipe lasers
Laser printers
Level sensors or transmitters→ Transit levels
Levels→ Optical levels
Liquid leak detectors→ Leak detection equipment
Manlift or personnel lift→ Manlifts
Metal detectors→ Null locators
Metal inert gas welding machine→ Metal inert gas MIG welders
Mill saw file→ Single-cut mill saw files
Mud pumps→ Sand pumps
Notebook computers
Offset socket wrenches→ Offset socket wrench sets
Ohmmeters
Personal computers
Pipe bending mandrel→ Pipe bending mandrels
Pipe bending tools→ Manual benders
Pipe layer→ Pipelayers
Pipe or tube cutter→ Pipe cutting machines
Pipe vises→ Aligning clamps
Pneumatic grinders→ Pipe beveling machines
Pneumatic hammer→ Air hammers
Pneumatic sanding machines→ Sandblasters
Power drills
Power grinders→ Bevel grinding machines; Motor-driven grinders; Portable grinders; Stationary grinders
Power saws→ Concrete saws; Reciprocating pipe saws
Pressure indicators→ Pressure testers
Pry bars
Scaffolding
Sheet metal grooving machine→ Roll groovers
Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine→ Shielded arc welding tools
Shovels→ Narrow mouth shovels; Round point shovels
Sledge hammer→ Sledgehammers
Slings→ Belting slings
Spot welding machine→ Portable welding machines
Squares→ Combination squares; Framing squares
Tampers→ Hand tampers; Powered tampers
Tapping machine→ Tapping machines
Threading dies→ Pipe threaders
Track excavators→ Excavators
Track loaders→ Tractors with loader attachments
Trenching machines→ Cable plows; Trenchers
Tube end finisher→ Facing machines
Tungsten inert gas welding machine→ Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
Voltage or current meters→ Voltmeters
Water pumps→ Ditch pumps; Fill pumps
Welding masks→ Welding hoods
Wheel bulldozers→ Bulldozers
Wheel loaders
Winches
Wire brushes→ Motor-driven brushes
Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.