Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface 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. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
<ul><li>Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.</li><li>Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.</li><li>Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.</li><li>Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.</li><li>Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.</li><li>Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.</li><li>Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.</li><li>Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.</li><li>Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.</li><li>Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.</li><li>Document geological formations encountered during work.</li><li>Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.</li><li>Record drilling progress and geological data.</li><li>Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.</li><li>Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.</li></ul>