Drilling and Boring Machine Operators
On the Job
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Operators set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
Physical Demands
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
- Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
- Signal others to coordinate work activities.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
- Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
- Assemble metal or plastic parts or products.
- Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- Working with a group or team.
- A work pace that is determined by the speed of equipment.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.