7621 – Public works and maintenance labourers

Public works and maintenance labourers perform a variety of labouring activities to maintain sidewalks, streets, roads and similar areas. They are employed by public works departments in all levels of government or by private contractors under contract to governments.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Casual worker – public works

Dumpman/woman

Garbage collector

Garbage receptacle maintainer

Garbage truck loader

General labourer – public works

Helper – garbage collection

Highway line painter

Labourer – sanitary service

Labourer crew leader – public works

Line-painting machine operator – highways and roads

Maintenance labourer – public works

Manual sewer pipe cleaner

Manual sidewalk cleaner

Manual street cleaner

Manual street sweeper

Municipal elemental worker

Municipal general labourer

Municipal labourer

Parking meter collector

Playground maintenance man/woman

Public works labourer

Road maintenance worker

Road maintenance worker – public works

Sanitation man/woman

Sanitation worker

Seasonal worker – public works

Sewer maintenance worker

Sewer system maintenance worker

Sidewalk cleaner

Sidewalk snowplow operator

Sidewalk-cleaning equipment operator

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.

Employment requirements

Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.

Additional information

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

Exclusions

Construction labourers (in 7611 Construction trades helpers and labourers)

Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers (8612)

Park maintenance labourers (in 8612 Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers)

Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers (7522)

Railway and motor transport labourers (7622)

Supervisors of public works maintenance labourers and workers (in 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)