Construction labourer job description template

Table 1: Position Identification

1. Position Summary

The Construction Labourer provides physical labour, material handling, site preparation, and trade assistance across active commercial, civil, or residential job sites operated by [ORGANIZATION_NAME]. Reporting directly to the [REPORTS_TO_TITLE], this role ensures daily site operations remain safe, productive, and clear of hazards in accordance with provincial occupational health and safety standards. The role directly influences daily productivity by preparing work surfaces, staging materials for skilled trades, and operating basic non-powered and light powered tools. The primary outcome of the role is the timely, accurate, and safe completion of assigned physical construction tasks to support project schedules and site safety compliance.

2. Key Responsibilities

2.1 Site Preparation and Demolition (20%)

• Clears brush, debris, trash, and hazardous material from designated work zones using hand tools, shovels, and wheelbarrows to establish clean work footprints.
• Strips concrete forms, dismantles temporary wooden bracing, and removes interior finishes or non-structural framing using wrecking bars and sledgehammers.
• Digs trenches, footings, and grade foundations manually to specified depths when mechanical excavators cannot access the area.
• Erects and secures temporary safety perimeter fences, barricades, signage, and construction silt fencing to control site access and sediment runoff.

2.2 Material Handling and Staging (20%)

• Unloads incoming delivery trucks containing lumber, drywall, steel studs, fasteners, concrete bags, and pipe assemblies safely and methodically.
• Transports materials across uneven terrain to designated staging areas using pallet jacks, carts, wheelbarrows, or team-lifting techniques.
• Stacks and covers moisture-sensitive building materials to protect inventory from rain, snow, and site damage.
• Sorts and distributes specific trade supplies directly to trade craftspeople to minimize skilled-trade downtime and maintain task momentum.

2.3 Tool and Light Equipment Operation (15%)

• Operates hand tools including shovels, picks, rakes, sledgehammers, levels, tape measures, and hand saws according to standard operating safety practices.
• Runs non-specialized powered hand tools, such as pneumatic nail guns, rotary hammer drills, circular saws, angle grinders, and plate compactors under direct supervision.
• Sets up, fuels, checks fluid levels, and operates site support equipment, including portable generators, submersible pumps, air compressors, and temporary light towers.
• Inspects all tools before and after each shift, tagging and removing damaged equipment from service and reporting defects immediately to the [REPORTS_TO_TITLE].

2.4 Trade and Concrete Support (15%)

• Mixes, pours, spreads, and levels concrete, grout, and mortar using shovels, rakes, floats, and mechanical screeds during foundation and flatwork pours.
• Positions reinforcing steel mesh and rebar supports under the direction of qualified trade workers.
• Holds framing members, sheets of plywood, and drywall panels in place while carpenters and installers fasten them to structural framing.
• Applies masking tape, poly sheeting, and protective coverings over finished installations to safeguard work during subsequent construction phases.

2.5 Site Maintenance, Waste Management, and Environmental Control (10%)

• Sweeps interior floor slabs, vacuums construction dust, and gathers discarded packaging into designated disposal containers throughout the workday.
• Sorts construction and demolition waste into specific bins (wood, metal, clean fill, drywall, landfill) to meet project recycling targets.
• Controls fugitive dust by wetting haul routes, sweeping paved areas, and applying temporary stabilization tarps during dry conditions.
• Secures loose tools, materials, trash, and tarps at the end of each shift to prevent wind hazards and secure the site overnight.

2.6 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Compliance (15%)

• Wears all mandatory personal protective equipment ([REQUIRED_PPE]) correctly at all times while present within active construction gates.
• Participates actively in daily morning safety tailboard meetings, hazard assessments, and site toolbox talks led by the [REPORTS_TO_TITLE].
• Reports all unsafe site conditions, near misses, equipment defects, and injuries immediately to the [REPORTS_TO_TITLE] or site first aid attendant.
• Follows Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) labeling and handling guidelines when transporting or using chemical products, fuels, and adhesives.

2.7 Equipment Storage and Inventory Assistance (5%)

• Collects, cleans, and locks all power tools, hand tools, cords, and hoses in site storage containers at the conclusion of every work shift.
• Cleans concrete mixers, wheelbarrows, and finishing tools immediately after concrete operations finish to prevent material curing on tools.
• Informs the [REPORTS_TO_TITLE] when consumable items such as blades, drill bits, fasteners, marking paint, or safety supplies run low.

3. Qualifications & Experience

Table 2: Required and Preferred Qualifications

4. Competencies

Table 3: Core Competencies

5. Working Conditions & Performance Measures

5.1 Physical and Environmental Demands

The following assessment establishes the essential physical and environmental requirements of the Construction Labourer position for recruitment, operational planning, and human rights accommodation reviews.

Table 4: Physical and Environmental Demands Assessment

5.2 Performance Measures

Table 5: Performance Evaluation Criteria

5.3 Career Path

The Construction Labourer position serves as an entry-level operational role within [ORGANIZATION_NAME]. Employees in this role develop fundamental construction knowledge, site safety fluency, and tool proficiency that enable clear career progression pathways within the company.

• Typical Prior Roles:
• General Labourer (Warehouse, Landscaping, or Agriculture)
• Demolition Helper
• Material Handler / Order Picker

• Entry-Level Trade Helper

• Typical Progression Pathways:

• Specialized Trade Apprentice (e.g., Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Masonry)
• Concrete Finisher / Formworker
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Site Lead Hand / Labour Foreperson
• Construction Site Safety Officer (with relevant provincial certifications)

6. Position Acknowledgement and Authorization

This job description outlines the primary accountabilities, qualifications, competencies, and physical demands required for the Construction Labourer position at [ORGANIZATION_NAME]. It is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that may be assigned to an employee. Operational circumstances may require reasonable modifications to specific tasks, schedules, or reporting structures. [ORGANIZATION_NAME] reserves the right to amend this position description with reasonable notice to the incumbent in accordance with operational needs and applicable employment standards.

Employee Acknowledgement:

I confirm that I have received, read, and understood the contents of this job description. I verify that I am capable of performing the essential functions and physical demands of this role, with any accommodation required under applicable human rights legislation.

Employee Name (Print)

Employee Signature

Date (DD-MMM-YYYY)

Manager / Supervisor Authorization:

[REPORTS_TO_TITLE] Name (Print)

[REPORTS_TO_TITLE] Signature

Date (DD-MMM-YYYY)

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