Equipment Operator

Workers will operate equipment and perform manual labor to plant, establish, water, and maintain trees on slopes along flood-control channels, detention basins, retention ponds, and related Harris County Flood Control District properties. The trees are planted as part of erosion-control and soil-stabilization operations. Their root systems establish permanent vegetation, stabilize exposed soil, reduce runoff, and protect channel, basin, and pond slopes from erosion. Workers will prepare designated slope areas for erosion-control tree planting; load, unload, stage, and transport trees and planting materials; mark planting locations according to project plans; and dig or auger planting holes. After receiving employer-provided training and authorization, workers may operate tractors, skid steers, mini excavators, augers, water trucks, water tanks, pumps, trailers, and related equipment used to establish and maintain trees on flood-control slopes. Workers will remove nursery containers and ties; position, straighten, backfill, and tamp trees; install or adjust stakes and protective materials; apply mulch; and clean up materials and debris generated by planting activities. Workers will establish and maintain newly planted and previously installed erosion-control trees by operating water trucks, tanks, pumps, hoses, and related watering equipment. Duties include watering trees; applying fertilizer and approved soil amendments; maintaining mulch and soil around trees; repairing minor washouts immediately surrounding planting locations; adjusting stakes, ties, and protective materials; controlling competing vegetation immediately surrounding trees; pruning damaged or dead material; inspecting trees for moisture stress, disease, erosion damage, and mortality; and replacing failed trees as directed. These activities are performed to promote root establishment, tree survival, slope stabilization, and continued erosion protection. Workers will load, unload, and transport equipment, trees, water, fertilizer, mulch, tools, and other materials necessary for the described erosion-control tree-planting and maintenance activities. Workers will conduct daily equipment inspections; check fluids, grease points, tires, belts, hoses, fittings, pumps, and hydraulic systems; report mechanical problems; and clean and properly store equipment and tools. Workers will perform minor routine maintenance that does not require a licensed or specially trained mechanic. Work requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds. Work is performed outdoors in conditions that may include extreme heat, humidity, rain, mud, dust, and steep, uneven, wet, or sloped terrain near flood-control channels, detention basins, and retention ponds. No minimum education, training, or prior work experience is required. Employer will provide paid, employer-specific training regarding tree-planting procedures, erosion-control objectives, safe equipment operation, slope and worksite hazards, and required procedures. Workers will operate only equipment for which they have received employer training and authorization. Workers may be assigned among the worksites disclosed in the job order based on erosion-control planting, watering, and tree-maintenance schedules. All assigned duties will be directly related or incidental to the planting, establishment, watering, and maintenance of trees used for erosion control and soil stabilization. Employer will provide all required tools, equipment, supplies, and personal protective equipment at no cost to workers. Housing: Rental or public accommodations Meals: Employer will provide free housing that meets all applicable federal and state standards. Each housing unit includes convenient cooking and kitchen facilities available for workers to prepare their own meals at no cost. Housing will include functioning stoves, refrigerators, sinks with hot and cold running water, and adequate food storage and preparation space. All utilities are provided free of charge. Transport: Employer will provide daily transportation at no cost for workers living in employer-provided housing. Company trucks will pick up workers at the housing location each morning and transport them directly to the assigned worksite. At the end of the workday, company trucks will return all workers to the housing. Transportation is provided using employer-owned vehicles operated by authorized drivers, with approximately one (1) truck provided for every five (5) workers. Experience wanted: 0 months NONE #J-18808-Ljbffr H2ajobs