Construction drillers operate various types of mobile drilling machines to bore foundation holes for buildings, obtain core samples from the earth for geological testing, drill holes in rock for injecting grout, and create blasting holes. Construction drillers work for construction companies or business that specialize in drilling.
A construction driller operates different tracked or truck-mounted drilling machines in order to create holes in rock and ore. For example, you could operate a percussion drill that uses a hammering action to bore blast holes or anchor holes in rock. You use this type of drill if there is not need for precise hole and no concern that the material being drilled will be damaged.
When more precision is required, you use a rotary drill, often with a diamond bit. This type of drilling is used when taking core samples for geological testing or for drilling holes for the injection of grouting materials. You also use this type of system when drilling into structures that could be damaged by the vibrations of a percussion drill.
You sometimes work on small air or hydraulic powered machines to drill smaller holes or on large diesel powered units to drill bigger, deeper holes.
The driller is responsible for driving the drill rig to the work site and setting it up. You operate controls to stabilize the machine and to position and align the drill. It's your job to fasten drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as the depth of the hole increases. You operate hand levers to control the drilling process and carefully monitor your gauges to regulate air pressure, rotary speed and downward pressure according to the type of rock being drilled. You also observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the flow of water going into the hole to flush out debris. Besides monitoring gauges, you also listen to the machine to determine the drilling conditions. The driller is also required to maintain and repair the equipment when necessary.
Your job as a driller is a very specialized one, requiring a great deal of experience to do it well. You must know the various conditions of rock or soil that you are drilling into and be able to choose the right drill for the job. Diamond drill bits are extremely expensive and a careless or inexperienced operator can cost a company thousands of dollars.
You must be in good physical condition and fairly strong to work as a driller. Drilling equipment is heavy and you will be required to do a lot of lifting when changing bits or adding rods. Since a lot of water is used in the drilling process, the job can be very muddy. It can also be very noisy, especially when you are operating a percussion drill in an underground location.
Most of the time you work outdoors, in all kinds of weather, although there are some jobs that have to be done indoors or underground. You often work in remote locations across Canada and around the world. Your may be required to stay away from home for long periods of time.
Your work can be varied and interesting. Each drilling job has its own unique requirements and set of problems. You often work without supervision and must solve problems on your own, using your skill and experience to find the most productive and efficient way of getting the job done.
Drillers can be paid by the hour or by the foot drilled. In exploratory drilling, a driller may be paid by the hour plus a production bonus so that the deeper you drill, the more money you make.
If you enjoy working outdoors, in a variety of locations, this could be a good job for you. You should be the type of person who likes change and doesn't mind spending periods of time away from home.
Drillers must have good mechanical abilities, since you may be required to make your own repairs in remote areas. You must also be self-reliant and dependable. Much of the time you are working without supervision. Your company is depending on you to solve problems and get the job done safely and on time.