Heavy Equipment Operator, Quarry

Quarry Technician

Company: Specialty Minerals Inc., a Minerals Technologies company, is the largest supplier and global leader in providing Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) specially designed for customers' application needs.

Location: USA | Adams, Massachusetts

Pay Range: $27.65/hour

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
• Health/Dental/Vision plans
• 401k company match
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
• Educational Assistance
• Employee Assistance Plan

Responsibilities

The basic purpose of this position is to run all necessary equipment and processes in the quarry operation to identify type of stone needed, drill holes for explosives, assist with blasting process, load trucks with stone, transport stone from areas of the quarry, and run the stone through the crusher.

This is considered a safety sensitive position therefore will be subject to random drug testing as required.

Drilling/Blasting Operation

• Inspect drill before use to ensure proper functioning and that no safety defects exist.
• Determine where to lay out shot based on type of stone needed and its position in relation to other stone ready for use, to maintain inventory supply for mill operations.
• Transport the drill to the proper drilling site, set it up, and drill the shots.
• Assist blasting contractor with blasting process as needed.

Excavating/Rock Breaking Operation

• Inspect machine prior to use to ensure proper functioning and that no safety defects exist.
• Start machine and allow it to warm up before use.
• Grease boom and bucket as required
• Position the machine at the proper work site based on stone color needed.
• Break large stones to a crushable size using rock-breaking equipment (hammer).
• Excavate in/around the quarry as needed using excavating equipment (bucket).

Loading Operation

• Inspect loader before each use to ensure proper functioning and that no safety defects exist.
• Start loader and allow it to warm up prior to use.
• Transport machine to proper work site in quarry and sort stone for proper color needed.
• Load trucks with stone to be hauled to crusher.
• Prepare area(s) to enable drilling operation to set up shots.
• Ensure berms are of adequate size and in good condition.

Truck Driving

• Inspect areas of the truck before use each shift to ensure proper functioning and that no safety defects exist.
• Fuel up the truck and service/grease it as needed.
• Start and warm up truck before using.
• Drive the truck on quarry roads prior to loading.
• Drive the truck to the loading site within the quarry.
• Position the truck appropriately at the loading site to enable proper loading.
• Transport the material in the truck to the crusher by driving the truck on quarry roads.
• Back the truck up to the crusher hopper and use truck controls to dump the load of stone into the hopper.

Crushing Operation

• Inspect crushing equipment before each shift to ensure it will properly function and that no safety defects exist.
• Grease crushing system as required
• Start crusher, belts, and dust collectors using controls.
• Communicate with truck drivers and/or loader operator working with stone to be crushed as needed.
• Control when and where the trucks dump the stone hauled from quarry.
• Communicate with contract hauler to make them aware of what stone is to be hauled to main plant from quarry.

Lean/OE

Actively participates in the implementation of sustainable improvement processes, such as 5S, Kaizen, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Daily Management Control, Standard Work and Problem Solving.

Miscellaneous

• Complete safety inspection sheets for work areas and/or mobile equipment.
• Inspect water pump periodically to ensure proper functioning.
• Communicate with others as needed.
• Record labor distribution information from work shift.
• Fuel and grease all equipment as needed.
• Assist with unplugging of the crusher and related equipment as needed.
• Plow snow and salt roads as needed.
• Strip over burden by loading trucks with materials and hauling materials in truck in order to clean up areas of quarry.
• Clean work areas using equipment/tools as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Note: Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience

• Prior quarry, heavy equipment, mining, construction, manufacturing, or related experience preferred.
• Entry-level candidates will be considered and provided training.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to safely operate heavy equipment and mobile machinery.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Strong attention to safety, detail, and operational procedures.
• Ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve equipment or production issues.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Ability to learn new processes and adapt to changing priorities.
• Basic recordkeeping and documentation skills.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to regularly sit, stand, walk, bend, squat, reach twist, lift, climb, push and pull throughout the work shift.
• Ability to train or share knowledge with others is preferred.

Work Schedule:

Must be able to work assigned shifts, including overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed to support operational requirements.

Working Conditions

• Frequent exposure to dust, noise, vibration, elevated work areas, and outdoor weather conditions.
• Regular interaction with heavy equipment and moving machinery.
• Work performed independently and as part of a team in an active quarry environment.

Safety Requirements

Employees are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including:

• Hard hat
• Safety glasses with side shields
• Steel-toe safety footwear
• Hearing protection
• Lockout/Tagout devices

Additional PPE, including fall protection equipment, must be used when required by task or site conditions.

Training Requirements

Employees will receive all required onboarding, task-specific, and MSHA-related training, including safety procedures, equipment operation, hazard recognition, emergency response, lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, and other regulatory and operational training requirements.

Refresher training will be provided as required by management and applicable regulations.