Traffic control person

Overview

Construction trades helpers and labourers assist skilled tradespersons and perform labouring activities at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines. They are employed by construction companies, trade and labour contractors, and surface mine and quarry operators.

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Load and unload construction materials, and move materials to work areas

  • Erect and dismantle concrete forms, scaffolding, ramps, catwalks, shoring and barricades required at construction sites

  • Mix, pour and spread materials such as concrete and asphalt

  • Assist tradespersons such as carpenters, bricklayers, cement finishers, roofers and glaziers in construction activities

  • Assist heavy equipment operators to secure special attachments to equipment, signal operators to guide them in moving equipment and provide assistance in other activities

  • Assist in aligning pipes and perform related activities during oil and gas pipeline construction

  • Assist in drilling and blasting rock at construction sites

  • Assist miners in excavating and in setting up and operating various drills and other surface mining machinery

  • Level earth to fine grade specifications using rake and shovel

  • Assist in demolishing buildings using prying bars and other tools, and sort, clean and pile salvaged materials

  • Remove rubble and other debris at construction sites using rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and other equipment

  • Operate pneumatic hammers, vibrators and tampers as directed

  • Tend or feed machines or equipment used in construction such as mixers, compressors and pumps

  • Clean up chemical spills and other contaminants, and remove asbestos and other hazardous materials

  • Oil and grease hoists and similar equipment

  • Direct traffic at or near construction sites

  • Perform other activities at construction sites, as directed.

Job titles

  • access floor installer helper
  • air breaker operator
  • air gun operator
  • air hammer operator - construction
  • air lock tender
  • air tool operator

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2025 edition
The labour market information for this career is aggregate data for Construction trades helpers and labourers

Annual salary

Low

$38,860

Median

$48,575

High

$74,805

Usual Hours Worked Weekly: 37.26

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

British Columbia

4,337

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • Flagmen/women may require a traffic control certificate.

  • Riggers and slingers may require a rigging certificate.

  • On-the-job training may be provided.

Additional information

  • Mobility is possible among workers in this unit group.

  • Progression from rigger to crane operator is possible with experience and additional certification.

Certification requirements

  • No certification requirements

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

No programs available in B.C.

There are currently no programs offered at public post-secondary institutions in B.C. that are related to this career. Please see the WorkSafeBC website for other options.

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