HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

This position is responsible for performing various job tasks on hazardous and non-hazardous waste sites in the Mountain Region of the US.  Work performed on hazardous waste sites may include possible exposure to lead, PCBs, H2S, arsenic, and various other metals, chemicals, and conditions.  Heavy equipment operation is a skilled trade that involves the operation of excavators (and attachments such as shears, impact hammers, thumbs, etc.), loaders, dozers, backhoes, dump trucks, articulating dump trucks, tractors, motor graders, scrapers, water trucks, etc., to excavate, grade, or move earth or to demolish structures.  May repair and maintain equipment in addition to regular duties.  Workdays > 8 hrs / day, 5 to 6 days per week.    

• Quality fleet of heavy equipment
• Good long-term employment prospects.
• Ability to run dozers and excavators required  
• Will require frequent and extended travel to projects
• Per diem/ living allowance and trips home
• 40-hour HAZWOPER training preferred
• Subject to a background check & physical/drug screen
• Must be able to wear PPE when needed

Company benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, disability, sick pay per state law, 401k Full Time Pay:  $27.00 - $32.00 per hour plus travel pay and per diem pay   Candidates must be open to sustained project-based travel within the US. Project locations will vary depending on the assignment. Candidates can reside anywhere within the US   Essential Job Functions Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Excavate, move, or grade contaminated or non-contaminated earth. 
• Excavate contaminated or non-contaminated sludge material.
• Demolition of various structures including, but not limited to buildings, aboveground storage tanks, underground pipelines, etc.
• Mixing reagents with contaminated soil or hazardous waste.
• Ability to read and understand construction specifications, construction plans, and operating procedures.
• Cutting and filling grades per plan specifications.
• Loading materials into trucks for removal from project site.
• Loading and unloading trucks for onsite transporting of materials
• Haul material in trucks to on-site unloading area.
• Performing daily inspection and maintenance on assigned piece of construction equipment including grease and oil.
• Moving of materials, laying pipe, backfilling pipe.
• Loading and unloading equipment from trailers.
• Lifting and setting heavy loads.
• Assist with the preparation and review of Job Safety Analyses, observations, and other reports.
• Promote the use of Stop Work Authority.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Ability to meet deadlines and contribute to a positive, safe, high-quality culture in a fast-paced environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical and Visual Activities Required: Physical and visual activities that are commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job include:

• Performing physical activities that may require moving one’s whole body, such as in climbing, lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, reaching, handling, balancing, walking, stooping, squatting, where the activities often require considerable use of the hands, arms and legs such as in the physical handling of materials or tools or operation of tools and equipment.
• Use both hands, arms, feet, and legs while standing, walking, climbing, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, handling, fingering, and feeling.  Other requirements include talking, hearing, acuity-near, distinguish colors, peripheral vision, and hand to eye coordination.  Hear the direction from which a sound originated.  Detect distance of objects and depth perception.
• Controlling operations of equipment or systems.  Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.  The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.  Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate.

Physical Demands: Physical demands commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job include:

• Sitting for long periods of time in moving, vibrating, jerking, or stationary machinery. 
• Using installed equipment ladder, steps, and handholds maintaining 3 points of contact to climb in and out of machinery on regular basis.
• Repetitive motion from operating hand and foot controls of the equipment.
• Hand cleaning tracks and undercarriages with small tools after working in wet and sloppy conditions. 
• Expected to lift objects weight 1 to 25 lbs. on a regular basis and may be required to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs. 
• Working in loud or noisy environments.

Environmental/Atmospheric Conditions: Environmental and atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job include:

• Outside construction site. 
• Terrain is rugged and may be difficult to navigate. 
• Dusty and windy atmospheres.
• Confined spaces.
• Potential airborne exposures to dusts, mists, fumes, and vapors in concentrations not exceeding OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELS) or other published occupational exposure limits.  

Personal Protective Equipment Different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be worn including hard hat, ear protection (plugs or muffs), eye protection (safety glasses, goggles), safety vest, hand protection (gloves), steel toe boots, and negative or positive pressure respirators may be required depending on site conditions.

Qualifications Knowledge:        Must possess and demonstrate skills to safely operate heavy equipment (backhoe, bulldozer, excavator, etc.). and is knowledgeable of their uses and limitations. Experience:        3-5 years’ experience in operating heavy equipment, preferably in environmental remediation projects. Education:  HS Diploma or equivalent Machines, Tools, Equipment Used:   Rubber-tire or track heavy equipment such as backhoes, loaders, dozers, and excavators; tractors, articulated dump trucks, motor graders, scrapers, pumps, dewatering systems, pugmills, batch plants, dredges, crushers, screens, etc.  Hand tools and power tools. Licenses/Certifications: Must have completed necessary training required per OSHA HAZWOPER including an annual 8-hour refresher.