Craft laborers perform tasks involving physical labor at building, highway, and heavy construction projects, tunnel and shaft excavations, and demolition sites. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, clean up rubble and debris, and remove asbestos, lead, and other hazardous waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Craft laborers need manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, good physical fitness, a good sense of balance, and an ability to work as a member of a team. Primary skills used in this occupation include: clean tools and equipment; dig holes or trenches for foundations, posts, poles; grade or tamp earth for roads or other construction; load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or equipment; measure and mark lay out for construction projects; prepare building surfaces for paint, finishes, wallpaper, or adhesives; prepare site or surfaces for concrete or masonry work ; use hand or power tools; read work order instructions; adhere to safety procedures; assist trades workers.