Equipment Operator

Equipment Operator

The Equipment Operator is responsible for operating various types of machinery to support right of way vegetation maintenance and clearance around power lines. This role identifies safety hazards and helps perform basic maintenance to ensure equipment is within working order to support business needs.

Essential Job Duties:

• Loads and unloads vehicles and equipment from a trailer. Responsible for proper load securement in accordance with company policies, approved work methods and FMCSA regulations.
• Works on the ground using hand saws, ground saws or other applicable tools to cut brush, limbs and logs of larger trees. Also utilizes a variety of tools (i.e. rake, shovel, leaf blower) to remove debris from work area.
• Gathers manageable size brush, limbs and logs and carries to the designated chipping area.
• Operates heavy machinery such as boom trimmers or mowers, excavators, tub grinder, feller-buncher, etc.
• Adheres to and helps educate less experienced employees on company policies, on-the-job safety practices, approved work methods and OSHA regulations.
• Uses applicable herbicide equipment to treat stumps and brush. Maintain appropriate application records.
• Applies herbicide and growth regulators to brush and stumps.
• Works around hazardous equipment and in close proximity to energized power lines.
• Conducts pre-inspection of work area to identify potential hazards.
• Loads vehicles and equipment with manageable size limbs and logs not suited for wood chipping.
• Sets up warning signs, barriers, flags, relays hand-signals, directs traffic and other applicable traffic control devices to protect employees and members of the public from hazards in and around the work area. Cooperates with property owner, customer, and emergency personnel when blocking streets or driveways.
• Staging and clean-up of tools and equipment at the job site. Maintains a neat and orderly work area.
• Conducts vehicle and equipment inspections to ensure proper working conditions. Conducts routine maintenance on company vehicles, equipment and tools. Reports specialized vehicle maintenance or equipment needs to General Foreperson.
• During emergencies or natural disasters may be required to be on duty and travel outside of regular work location for the duration of the disaster. Assists with contacting and coordinating the crew's response to such work and responsible for determining proper steps necessary to eliminate hazards and trim/remove trees while onsite during emergency response.
• Support, actively participate, and act in accordance with Wright's culture of safety and employee ownership.
• Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations; maintain knowledge of and follow all company policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance at work and meetings.

Other Duties:

• Drives and operates vehicles and equipment as assigned.

Supervisory Duties:

Knowledge, Skills & Ability Requirements:

• Ability to operate heavy equipment such as boom trimmers or mowers, excavators, tub grinder, feller-buncher, etc.
• Knowledge of trees, including identification, growth habits and arboricultural techniques specific to trimming, pruning, repairing, maintaining and removing, in close proximity to energized conductors.
• Knowledge and understanding of the American National Standards for Tree Care Operations (ANSI Z133.1-current version).
• Ability to adhere and coach employees on company and industry safety requirements.
• Knowledge of electrical circuits and skilled in reading and understanding of circuit maps.
• Knowledge of OSHA electric power generation, transmission, and distribution standards. Ability to determine nominal voltage, proper use of insulated tools near energized parts and distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment.
• Ability to learn quickly and to follow instructions accurately.
• Must be able to communicate with others and represent Wright Tree Service in a professional manner.
• Must be able to comprehend and/or read and write both written and verbal job instructions and safety information.
• Ability to recognize poisonous plants and take proper safeguard against them.
• Must be able to wear necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
• Ability to work long hours and overtime during emergencies (including holidays, weekends, storm work) and will be subject to call-out work.
• Demonstrate knowledge and trained to perform tree and bucket rescue.
• Ability to operate and service all required tools and equipment.
• Ability to work both independently and in a group.

Education, Certification & Experience Requirements:

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred, but not required.
• Must have valid First-Aid and CPR cards or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.

Other Preferred Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver's or commercial driver's license (dependent upon Division and utility/contract requirements) and DOT medical card in accordance with FMCSA regulations.
• Drive a vehicle with an attached chipper or other trailing unit to, from or within the work area.
• Maintain herbicide application certification or equivalent as required by Wright Tree Service and local, state, and federal law.
• Keeps informed of new equipment and specifications, standards, practices, and operating procedures.

Language Requirements (read, write, speak):

English - Read, Write, Speak

Spanish - Read, Write, Speak

Other Language _________________ - Read, Write, Speak

Travel Requirements:

No-Seldom

Yes-Occasional (up to 5%)

Yes-Moderate (5% to 25%)

Yes-Substantial (25% to 50%)

Yes-Extensive (greater than 50%)

Physical Characteristics:

This position may require physical demands and activities including:

• Effective bending, reaching, standing, walking, climbing, lifting, carrying, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Occasionally reach upward and downward.
• Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 50 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Possesses the ability to lift, move, and maneuver up to 50 pounds on an infrequent basis and up to 30 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Must be able to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned or make general observations of the community; close visual acuity, such as reading a computer screen, reading printed material, inspection of small defects, and using measurement devices.
• Ability to enter and exit vehicles and equipment numerous times per day.

Environmental Factors:

This position may be exposed to the following factors:

• Routine exposure to indoor and outdoor working conditions.
• Routine exposure to weather, climate and temperature, such as rain, heat, sun, cold, snow.
• Routine exposure to nature, such as irritating plants, biting or stinging insects, dust, etc; position works outdoor on rugged terrain.
• Routine exposure to noise, vibration, working hazards such as proximity to moving parts, mechanical equipment, moving vehicles, gasoline powered equipment, electrical current, heights, exposure to heat, exposure to chemicals, work in close quarters, narrow aisles or passageways, communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, cleaning chemicals, dust, odors, and a variety of pests.