Great artisans are usually capable of:

• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials.
• Performing precise and skillful manipulation of small objects.
• Being active and proactive in regards to physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Technicians will often be asked these tasks:

• Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

• Inspecting derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
• Inspecting derricks for flaws, and cleaning and oil derricks for maintaining proper working conditions.
• Controlling the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
• Repairing pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
• Setting and bolting crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.
• Listening to mud pumps and checking regularly for vibration and other problems for ensuring that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
• Starting pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes for cooling drill bits and flushing out drill cuttings.
• Positioning and aligning derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
• Supervising crew members, and providing assistance in training them.
• Guiding lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.
• Preparing mud reports, and instructing crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
• Clamping holding fixtures on ends of hoisting cables.