Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

Equipment Operator

Bargaining Unit: Miscellaneous Non-Supervisory Unit
Salary Code: 18
Fair Labor Standards Act Designation: Nonexempt
Revision Date: August 1, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under general supervision of the Senior Civil Maintenance Worker, operates and makes minor adjustments and repairs to a variety of mobile earth-moving and load-lifting equipment used in the excavation, construction, maintenance, and repair of water distribution pipelines, canals, roads, embankments, reservoirs, and property, and may direct a crew. Use of independent judgment is required.

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. Operates excavators, 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. Excavates, constructs, maintains roads, embankments, canals reservoirs, ditches, pumping plant pads, drainage areas, and properties to a specified grade and slope as required.
  3. Operates 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. Lays out, grades, forms, reinforces, places, finishes, and repairs concrete pedestal slabs, foundations, canal panels, thrust blocks, pipe repair blocks, retaining walls, and precast and casts-in-place structures.
  5. Inspects, repairs, and replaces air release, butterfly, check, gate, and slidegate valves ranging in sizes up to 66 inches.
  6. Constructs, alters, and maintains concrete block, wood, and metal frame buildings, including site preparation, framing, drywall, sheet metal, cyclone fence, air-line, sewer line, flooring, and paint and trim work.
  7. Submits complete work orders, as-built sketches, pipeline entry permits, and equipment usage reports at job completion.
  8. Utilizes procedures for confined space entry, the use of hazardous materials, and crane and heavy equipment safety.
  9. Evaluates work to be done and possible hazards related to pipeline and other underground utilities; and makes recommendations as to heavy equipment requirements.
  10. Transports heavy loads.
  11. Digs trenches or levels lands.
  12. Dependent on assignment, provides direction to staff assisting with an assigned route or project.
  13. Sets grades and reads grade stakes.
  14. May also perform similar physical work typical of a Civil Maintenance Worker or similar staff within the department.
  15. Reads and interprets blueprints.
  16. Makes operating adjustments, minor repairs, and maintenance to heavy equipment in the field.
  17. Reports equipment malfunctions and requests maintenance service as necessary.
  18. Implements heavy equipment, crane, and excavation safety procedures in the field and maintains a safe work environment.
  19. 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:

Possess a United States’ high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and four (4) years of experience in the operation of a variety of heavy construction equipment, including backhoes, rubber-tired or track-type tractors, front-end loaders, motor graders, hydraulic motor cranes, and truck tractor/trailer rig.

Note: Successful completion of 2-year apprenticeship program can be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

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.
  • Applicable safety rules and procedures.
  • Blueprint reading.

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 of supplies and materials 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 six (6) months of appointment.