Skilled Labourer

Bothar Boring & Tunnelling (“Bothar”) is an international contractor that has over 30 years of cutting-edge experience in successfully delivering challenging engineering solutions to a wide range of clients and market sectors. It has an enviable track record and a highly skilled and diverse capability range that enables it to provide a focused contract solution to all tunnelling projects. 

Bothar has a strong focus on employee, subcontractor and public safety, whilst ensuring that it minimises its environmental footprint. During the planning and construction phase of all projects, Bothar strives to maintain the public amenities to road, rail, seaway and utility services to ensure we meet the local community’s expectations. 

Bothar requires Skilled Labourers to perform essential manual labour tasks to support shaft construction and tunnelling operations. This involves working in confined spaces up to 10m deep and tunnels with 1.4m diameters. The role requires adherence to a demanding schedule of 12-hour days over a 22-day period, ensuring safety and efficiency. Skilled labourers will transition from temporary labour hire to Bothar employment, contributing to the project's expansion and success.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use hand tools and power tools to assist in the excavation of tunnel faces.
• Assist equipment operators in manoeuvring excavation machinery as needed.
• Assist in the installation of temporary and permanent support systems within the tunnel, including timber sets, steel ribs, and shotcrete.
• Ensure that support systems are installed according to engineering specifications and safety standards.
• Operate small machinery and equipment such as pneumatic drills, jackhammers, and compactors under the supervision of skilled operators.
• Perform routine maintenance on machinery and equipment to ensure optimal performance and safety.
• Follow operating procedures and safety protocols at all times.
• Assist riggers and equipment operators in lifting and positioning heavy materials and equipment within the tunnel using slings, shackles, and other rigging equipment.
• Ensure that loads are properly secured and balanced to prevent accidents or injuries.
• Communicate effectively with team members during lifting operations to ensure coordination and safety.
• Participate in quality control checks to verify the integrity of tunnel structures, support systems, and materials.
• Assist in the documentation of inspection results and any required corrective actions.
• Adhere to all safety protocols and procedures to prevent accidents, injuries, and environmental hazards.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times, including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and steel-toed boots.
• Participate in safety training sessions and toolbox talks to maintain awareness of hazards and best practices.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth coordination of tasks and activities.
• Offering assistance where needed.

Physical Demand

• Prolonged standing, walking and/or sitting
• Use of hands to handle/feel objects, tools, or controls
• Ability to climb stairs and/or ladders, balance, stoop or kneel and walk on uneven ground
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• Capability to work in confined spaces is required
• Ability to hear equipment alarms, voices, radio transmissions, and other noises consistent with construction sites
• Ability to work in all weather conditions, inside and outside

Key Competencies:

Leadership/Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with the operations team to accomplish organisation/project goals; taking actions that respect the needs and contributions of others; contributing and accepting the consensus; leading by personal high-level workplace behaviours and self-presentation

Communication: Ability to express ideas effectively in writing or verbally in individual and project team situations (including non-verbal communication); adjusting language or terminology to the characteristics and needs of the audience. Able to interact with people at the highest and other levels. Ability to communicate with and develop/ maintain relationships with clients and ability to negotiate effectively to reach consensus on workplace issues.

Quality Orientation/Attention to detail: Accomplishing tasks through concern for all areas involved in the project, regardless of size; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; maintaining watchfulness for the length of the project.

Safety, Health and Environment Awareness: Accomplish tasks with an awareness of Health and Safety concerning themselves and others, and their environment. Ability to assess the risks and hazards involved in tasks, and methods to manage the hazards in order to prevent incidents, injury and damage.

Technical Knowledge: having achieved a satisfactory level of technical skills/knowledge and experience in job-related areas; keeping abreast of current developments and trends in area of expertise.

Analysis/Problem Solving: Ability to secure relevant information and identify key issues and relationships; identify cause-effect relationships and readily develop solutions to workplace problems.

Essential Criteria:

Requirements: Confined Space, Working at Heights, White Card, Work Entitlement in Australia, Minimum Dogman ticket

Preferred: Rigger Ticket, First Aid & CPR, HR driver’s License

Experience: Previous experience with TBM, Auger Boring or AVN Microtunnelling Machines (preferred but not required)

Willing and able to work in confined spaces and at heights.