Dispatchers and Radio Operators
NOC: 1475
Description
Dispatchers operate radios and other telecommunication equipment to dispatch emergency vehicles and to co-ordinate the activities of drivers and other personnel. They are employed by police, fire and health departments, other emergency service agencies, taxi, delivery and courier services, trucking and utilities companies, and other commercial and industrial establishments. Radio operators receive, transmit and record signals and messages using radios and other telecommunication equipment. They are employed by transportation companies, mining, forestry and other industrial establishments, and the armed forces.
| Essential Skill | Level Required | Example Task |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Text | 1 to 3 | Reads e-mail messages regarding scheduling details (1) |
| Reads memos from such organizations as the Canadian Police Info. Centre (2) | ||
| Reads manuals outlining requirements for towing vehicles or for transporting dangerous goods (3) | ||
| Document Use | 1 to 3 | Consulting city directories to verify if certain addresses exist (1) |
| May use highway weight scale charts to schedule loads for drivers (2) | ||
| May complete 911 trace forms when a caller must be located (3) | ||
| Writing | 1 to 3 | May write notes while on the phone or dispatch radio (1) |
| May write interoffice memos and e-mails regarding route changes (2) | ||
| May write ambulance reports, outlining the urgency of the call, the condition of the patient and action taken to reach family members (3) | ||
| *Numeracy | 1 to 2 | May handle customer payments, collecting payments in cash or cheque and recording payment on the invoice (1) |
| May calculate the amount of an invoice, including taxes and discounts (2) | ||
| Adjusts delivery schedules to accommodate special needs, such as a high priority shipment (3) | ||
| Oral Communication | 1 to 2 | Receives requests for information from clients and instructions from co-workers and supervisors (1) |
| May interact with emergency personnel to arrange for quick and effective response by police vehicles, fire trucks or ambulances (2) | ||
| Computer Use | 2 to 3 | May retrieve satellite and radar imagery and print out maps (2) |
| May collect and organize information using specific dispatcher software (3) | ||
| Thinking Skills | 2 to 3 | Calms callers in emergency situations and dispatches appropriate emergency personnel (2) |
| Decides which of several calls is the most urgent (3) | ||
| Thinking Skills - Problem Solving | Data currently being updated | |
| Thinking Skills - Decision Making | Data currently being updated | |
| Thinking Skills - Critical Thinking | Data currently being updated | |
| Thinking Skills - Job Task Planning and Organizing | Data currently being updated | |
| Thinking Skills - Significant Use of Memory | Data currently being updated | |
| Thinking Skills - Finding Information | Data currently being updated | |
| Working with Others | N/A | Mainly work independently but may work with a partner or a helper |
| Continuous Learning | N/A | Learn about new computer programs |
| Learn about new/changed procedures (i.e. computer skills, first aid and CPR) | ||
| Other Information | Physical | Mainly sitting at a desk or standing at a counter |
| Need good interpersonal and listening skills | ||
| Ongoing need for computer training and finding info from various sources | ||
**Thinking Skills include: Problem Solving, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Job Task Planning and Organizing, Significant Use of Memory, and Finding Information.
View the external profile (new window) Source: HRSDC
Average Salary: 18.58
Source: http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca
Source: http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca
To Be successful in this position, a person may need:
Literacy & Basic Skills, Grade 12, Occupation Specific Training
Source: HRSDC
Most Important Skills:
Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Decision Making
Source: HRSDC
Age Profiles
| Age Bracket | Age Profile |
|---|---|
| 15 to 24 | 35 |
| 25 to 44 | 305 |
| 45 to 64 | 210 |
| 65 plus | 0 |
Employment Trends
Information not available at this time
Source: http://www.labourmarketinformation.caTop Occupational Areas
| Sector | Number Employed in Niagara | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48-49 Transportation and warehousing | 245 | 58.33% | |
| 91 Public administration | 85 | 20.24% | |
| 56 Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 55 | 13.10% | |
| 41 Wholesale trade | 35 | 8.33% | |
Related Occupations
Air Traffic Control and Related Occupations (2272), Bus dispatchers (in 7222 Supervisors, Motor Transport and Other Ground Transit Operators), Railway Traffic Controllers and Marine Traffic Regulators (2275), Supervisors of dispatchers (in 1215 Supervisors, Recording, Distributing and Scheduling Occupations)
Source: http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca
