U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler Werle, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technician, handles part of a Caterpillar construction roller while working in the heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. The heavy equipment shop is responsible for repairing all government-owned construction equipment on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
Tools, bolts and fixtures are scattered on a work table in the 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. The shop is in charge of repairing all heavy equipment for the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
David Collinsworth, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technician, works diligently on a CAT roller scrape plate in the heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. The plate helps keep the drum clean and functioning. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
David Collinsworth, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technician, works on a CAT roller scrape plate in the heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. The plate helps keep the drum clean and functioning. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
David Collinsworth, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technician, works on a a component of a CAT roller scrape plate in the heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. The plate helps keep the drum clean and functioning. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler Werle, a 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technician, measures a part while working on a Caterpillar construction roller at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. Werle is a member of the heavy equipment shop where broken government-owned construction equipment is brought to be repaired. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
David Collinsworth and U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler Werle, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technicians, work on a Caterpillar construction roller at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. Heavy equipment technicians like Collinsworth and Werle are part of the heavy equipment shop. They are responsible for repairing not only government-owned construction equipment on base, but aircraft tow equipment as well. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
David Collinsworth, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technician, tightens bolts while working in the heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. The shop repairs all government-owned construction equipment while also assisting with the repair of aircraft tow equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
David Collinsworth and U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler Werle, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy equipment technicians, repair a Caterpillar construction roller at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 3, 2012. Collinsworth and Werle are part of the heavy equipment shop that assists the other vehicle repair shops on base with maintaining all government-owned vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
by Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
7/3/2012 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- In case the shop's name didn't give it away, the heavy equipment shop at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., has a heavy workload to help keep base operations running smoothly.
Shop repair technicians with the 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron maintain all heavy equipment for the base as well as construction equipment, plows, deicers and aircraft tow vehicles.
Technicians average more than 80 hours of repair time per week. Winter months are particularly demanding for the shop as snowfall brings on the likelihood of 24-hour shifts.
Dealing with heavy equipment comes with certain hazards. Personnel must be on constant lookout for hot and corrosive fluids, toxic chemicals and pinch points.
Before working on any equipment, all personnel are thoroughly trained on proper safety procedures to minimize risks.
