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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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75212.00 – Public works and maintenance labourers

Public works and maintenance labourers perform a variety of labouring activities to maintain sidewalks, streets, roads and similar areas.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Helper - garbage collection
  • Municipal labourer
  • Parking meter collector
  • Public works labourer
  • Road maintenance worker
  • Sewer maintenance worker
  • Sidewalk cleaner

Core competencies

  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to perform scheduled inspections on machinery, such as excavators or road sweepers, checking for wear and tear, fluid levels and operational performance, document findings and report issues
  • Operation and Control to operate construction and maintenance equipment, such as backhoes and street sweepers, in a safely manner for basic public infrastructure work
  • Stamina to perform sustained manual tasks such as lifting heavy materials, operating infrastructure maintenance machinery and working long hours under varying weather conditions
  • Static Strength to shovel cement and other materials into cement mixers, to spread concrete and asphalt on road surfaces using shovels, rakes and hand tampers
  • Collaboration to practice teamwork, such as assisting equipment operators to secure attachments to equipment and trucks, clear communication and cooperative problem-solving skills
  • Knowledge in Public Safety and Security to understand basic safety protocols, hazard identification and emergency response procedures relevant to maintaining public infrastructure and ensuring public safety

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Clean and maintain sidewalks, streets, roads and public grounds of municipality and other areas, working as member of crew
  • Sweep debris and remove snow from streets, sidewalks, building grounds and other areas, and load snow and debris into carts or trucks
  • Shovel cement and other materials into cement mixers, spread concrete and asphalt on road surfaces using shovels, rakes and hand tampers, and perform other activities to assist in maintenance and repair of roads
  • Spread sand or salt on sidewalks for snow and ice control
  • Dig ditches and trenches using shovels and other hand tools
  • Operate jackhammers and drills to break up pavement
  • Load and unload trucks with supplies and equipment
  • Collect money from coin boxes of parking meters along established route
  • Collect and load refuse on garbage trucks
  • Assist equipment operators to secure attachments to equipment or trucks
  • Assist in routine maintenance and repair of equipment
  • Assist skilled tradespersons such as carpenters, plumbers and mechanics
  • May operate mobile sidewalk-cleaning equipment.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions or to public works maintenance equipment operator positions is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers (74205)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

5 – Occupations usually require short-term work demonstration and no formal education

Major group

75 – Helpers and labourers and other transport drivers, operators and labourers

Sub-major group

752 – Transport drivers, operators and labourers

Minor group

7521 – Water and rail transport operators and labourers and related occupations

Unit group

75212 – Public works and maintenance labourers

Occupational profile

75212.00 – Public works and maintenance labourers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 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. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.