Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

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Equipment Operator-Apprentice

Bargaining Unit: Miscellaneous Non-Supervisory Unit
Salary Code: 16
Fair Labor Standard Act Designation: Nonexemp
Revision Date: February 24, 2023

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under direct supervision of the Senior Civil Maintenance Worker, receives training and experience operating and making minor adjustments and repairs to a variety of mobile earth-moving and loadlifting equipment used in the excavation, construction, maintenance, and repair of water distribution pipelines, canals, roads, embankments, reservoirs, and property. This is an apprentice position for an Equipment Operator.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

The information below provides examples of the job duties and responsibilities for this classification. This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed.

  1. Learns to operate backhoes, road graders, dozers, compactors, and other earth-moving equipment, along with vehicles up to 40-ton capacity as required to haul equipment for repair or replacement of underground pipelines, valves, and concrete structures to a depth of 25 feet.
  2. Learns to excavate, construct, and maintain roads, embankments, canals reservoirs, ditches, pumping plant pads, drainage areas, and properties to a specified grade and slope as required.
  3. Learns to operate material-handling equipment, including truck-mounted and telescopic cranes up to 8-ton capacity to rig, load, unload, and place various types of equipment, such as pumps, motors, valves, and precast concrete structures, and piping (up to 13 feet in diameter and 40 feet long).
  4. Learns to evaluate assigned work and possible hazards related to pipeline and other underground utilities.
  5. Learns to make operating adjustments, minor repairs and maintenance to heavy equipment in the field.
  6. Learns to read and interpret blueprints.
  7. Implements heavy equipment, crane, and excavation safety procedures in the field and maintains a safe work environment.
  8. Reports equipment malfunctions and requests maintenance service as necessary.
  9. Utilizes portable compressors, pumps, arc and gas welding equipment, spray equipment, and pneumatic, power and hand tools.
  10. Assists in setting grades and reading grade stakes.
  11. Assists in completing work orders, as-built sketches, pipeline entry permits, and equipment usage reports at job completion.
  12. Digs trenches or levels land.
  13. Performs similar physical work typical of a Civil Maintenance Worker or similar staff within the Department.
  14. Performs other duties as assigned.

CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience

Any combination of equivalent education and experience that has led to the acquisition of the knowledge required by the position. A typical way of acquiring the knowledge would be:

Option 1: Successful completion of 2-year apprenticeship program; OR

Option 2: Possess a United States’ high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and three (3) years of experience in water pipeline and water distribution facility construction or industrial repair; or equivalent.

Knowledge of:

  • The California Vehicle Code, Construction Safety Orders and California Transportation Procedures pertaining to the operation and transportation of heavy construction equipment.
  • Excavation and Crane Safety Procedures.
  • General construction and maintenance materials, procedures.
  • Blueprint reading and interpretation.

Skills/Abilities to:

  • Perform basic operation of machines and tools and the usage of these in the maintenance function.
  • Recognize needed mechanical repairs.
  • Read, understand and apply moderately difficult materials.
  • Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
  • Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels as well as with the public.
  • Operate a District vehicle and/or equipment observing legal and defense driving practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Heavy lifting up to 100 pounds.
  • Use of hazardous materials.
  • Possess the physical strength and agility to work outdoors under adverse climatic conditions.
  • Works in an environment with exposure to dust, dirt, and/or weed abatement chemicals.
  • May stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, reach, sit, stand, and walk for extended period of time.
  • Possess the physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the job, including the ability to climb stationary ladders up to 100 feet in height, work suspended above ground level (approximately 45 feet) in a bosun chair or aerial lift, and work in confined spaces such as in excavations (approximately 20 feet below ground level), buried dewatered pipelines and manifolds (ranging in size from 3 feet to 13 feet in diameter), and dewatered sumps and turnout facilities (approximately 30 feet below ground level).

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

  • Possess a valid California Class C Driver’s License with a driving record acceptable to the District’s automobile insurance provider.
  • Possess a valid California Class A Driver’s License with air brake endorsement or must be obtained within twelve (12) months of appointment.