Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator Job Description

Summary: Operates various pieces of heavy equipment (graders, dozers, scrapers, excavators, etc.) to move, level, and distribute earth and to push trees and rocks from land preparatory to constructing roads and buildings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operates assigned equipment safely and efficiently, which could include driving a company vehicle.
• Performs daily maintenance checks of machinery for fluids, grease, etc.
• Ability to be fluid/smooth with the machine controls to cut ditches, slopes, grades, clear brush, shape and dress slopes and other earthmoving activities.
• Maintain grade by either communicating with a grade checker, using machine mounted lasers, or by use on machine mounted GPS as well as without the use of GPS.
• Ability to setup, set, and take down rotating laser equipment/base station.
• Must be able to read grade stakes, perform arithmetic, use scale ruler or other basic functions used to determine grade and read blue prints/plans.
• Must be able to endure a high production environment for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to operate in tight, congested work areas with multiple other activities occurring immediately around the machine.
• Understands weight distribution affects stability; rated operating capacity.
• Understands the importance of safety, efficiency and productivity. Works efficiently with others on his/her crew.
• Other duties may be assigned

Skills/Qualifications:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret maps, sketches, drawings, specifications and technical manuals
• Understands and follows oral and written instructions
• Works independently in the absence of supervision
• The ability to work 55 - 60 hours a week including Saturdays.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodation, the employee must have the ability to stand; walk; sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl for long periods. Must be able to handle and manipulate objects on a repetitive basis. Ability to talk and see well to distinguish between back up alarms, voices, and other normal sounds consistent with construction job sites. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodations, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and vibrations. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions as well as heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.