Heavy Equipment Operator I

Employees of the City of Clinton and applicants for employment shall be afforded equal opportunity in all aspects of employment without regard to race, color, religion, political affiliation, national origin, disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

Reasonable accommodations may be available to employees or applicants of this position under the ADA/ADAA if given prior notice by the employee or applicant.

The information contained within this document has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work to be performed by an employee within this classification.  It is not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or work required of employees assigned to this position.

Essential Job Functions

The duties listed are intended only as illustrative examples of the various types of work that may be performed by individuals in this classification. Any of the following duties may be performed. These examples are not necessarily performed by all incumbents and do not include all specific essential functions and responsibilities the incumbent may be expected to perform.

• Street and Sanitation Heavy Equipment Operator I Functions

1. Operates a wide variety of vehicles to include, but not be limited to a motor vehicle, garbage truck, vacuum truck, asphalt truck, boom truck, street sweeper, sand spreader, mowers, backhoe, bushhog, tamper, and other equipment for the purpose of collecting and transporting solid waste, picking up and disposing of animal carcasses, maintaining grounds, cleaning streets and other division functions.
2. Utilizes various types of equipment and tools, including weed eaters, edgers, stump grinders, chipper, cement grinder, pressure washers, hedge trimmers, chemical sprayers, and other hand and power tools in the performance of duties. Uses a two-way radio and telephone.
3. Ensures the safe operation and utilization of all equipment and machinery.
4. Inspects machinery and equipment daily to ensure proper condition for the completion of daily responsibilities; performs necessary repairs and maintenance; services vehicle as needed including washing, greasing, fueling, etc.; ensures bolts, hoses and pins are properly secured.
5. Reports all equipment malfunctions; prepares required documentation of daily inspections and maintenance problems.
6. May oversee the duties of co-workers as assigned; trains new employees on the use of equipment and in division procedures.
7. Maintains a drug-free workplace by adhering to established City of Clinton Personnel Handbook and Department of Transportation rules and guidelines including random drug and alcohol testing.
8. Assists crew members with duties as required.
9. Performs all work in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, regulations and standards of safety and quality; ensures the timely completion of all assignments.
10. Maintains assigned equipment, tools, and vehicles which may include dump trucks, other trucks, mowers, tractors, bush hog, chemical sprayers, weed eater, hedge trimmer, edger tamper, asphalt machine, sidewalk grinder, chipper, gas pump, and other various hand and power tools.
11. Responds to after-hours emergency calls as required and routine standby on-call assignments.
12. Interacts and communicates with a wide variety of individuals and groups in the performance of duties such as the immediate supervisor, other department supervisors and employees, other City employees, vendors, and the general public
13. Must be physically able to exert up to fifty pounds of force occasionally and/or frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects of various sizes, shapes, and weights.
14. Must possess and maintain a valid SC Drivers’ License with a minimum of a Class B Commercial Driver’s License Endorsement and safe driving record.
15. Other duties as required

• Minimum Training and Experience 

1. Requires a four-year high school diploma or GED from an acceptable accredited program supplemented by six months of experience in municipal streets and sanitation operations, equipment operations and/or general maintenance work, or any equivalent combination of acceptable education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful in the position. NOTE: Generally, “online issued” high school diplomas are not acceptable; the City of Clinton reserves the right to accept/reject any diploma submitted on a case by case basis.
2. Must possess and maintain a valid SC Drivers’ License with a minimum of a Class B Commercial Driver’s License Endorsement and safe driving record, or obtain the Class B CDL within six months of hire date.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

1. The methods, policies and procedures of the Street and Sanitation Department, City of Clinton Employee Handbook, City ordinances, laws, and other standards, rules, and regulations pertaining to the position of Street and Sanitation Heavy Equipment Operator I.
2. The use of materials, tools, and equipment needed for the maintenance, general groundskeeping, general construction work and other functions of the position.
3. Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws and regulations related to signage, rerouting traffic, cones, and warnings and the laws, rules, and regulations of the SC Department of Public Safety in the lawful and safe operation of motor vehicles and heavy equipment machinery.
4. The safe operation of various vehicles, trucks, and heavy equipment as previously outlined.
5. Street maintenance and repair, solid waste management, groundskeeping and other division functions.
6. The standard tools, materials and practices of the industry.
7. The layout of City streets as necessary to locate job sites and operate routes.
8. Routine and common terminology used within the industry.
9. Safety policies and procedures for all aspects of this position.
10. The occupational hazards of the industry and compliance with all OSHA safety rules, standards, and regulations of the position.
11. Basic risk management and safety policies.

Skill in:

1. Planning and coordinating daily schedule to achieve established goals and maximize efficiency.
2. Adhering to work methods and procedures which promote a safe and efficient working environment.
3. Interpreting, understanding, and applying technical reports, statutes, rules, and regulations.
4. Evaluating work priorities, procedures, and processes to determine their effectiveness and efficiency.
5. Providing outstanding customer service (internally and externally).
6. Communicating using various methods to varied audiences.
7. Anticipating others reactions and responding accordingly.
8. Strong oral and written communication and customer service skills are essential.

Ability to:

1. Work independently and with direct supervision.
2. Communicate orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
3. Represent the City positively and effectively.
4. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
5. Negotiate effective solutions to complex problems.
6. Coordinate head, hands, eyes, legs, feet, and body rapidly and accurately in operating a motor vehicle and other motorized equipment in addition to various tools and machinery.
7. Handle a variety of items including, but limited to, control knobs, push buttons, switches, dials, hand-held and small power tools; requires significant levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
8.  Distinguish colors or shades of color
9. Speak and hear through an expression or exchange of ideas with spoken words and perceiving sounds in physical, electronic, and telephonic form.
10.  To complete assignments and work within established deadlines in accordance with directives, policy, standards and prescribed procedures.
11. Maintain accountability for assigned vehicles, equipment, assigned responsibilities in the technical, human, and conceptual areas.
12. Have regular and consistence attendance and to remain on the job with the highest regard for the policies and procedures pertaining to absenteeism and tardiness.
13. Adhere to and support policies and procedures with supervision with respect to sick, vacation, or other leave requests.
14. Maintain an enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting attitude and approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities.   Strives to anticipate workloads to be accomplished and initiates appropriate and acceptable action that will ensure the completion of assigned work with limited and minimum direct supervision.
15.  Maintain a positive professional, image of self, the City, and fellow employees.
16. Attend required meetings, training, planning sessions, and other meetings and reports on time.
17. Adhere to, abide by, and comply with all established safety and housekeeping policies, rules, regulations, and standards as established by the City of Clinton, OSHA, EPA, DHEC, and all other application regulating agencies.  Compliance with and adherence to all safety and housekeeping responsibilities is not optional and is a condition of employment.
18. Ensure such safety and housekeeping responsibilities are not violated.
19. Must have the ability and discretion to work with and maintain confidential information.
20. To adapt to perform the functions of this position from minimum levels of stress to increasingly moderate to high levels of stress when dealing with the general public, during emergency operations, or meeting tight deadlines.

Physical Demands of Position

1. Must be physically able and possess the manual dexterity of all limbs to safely operate a motor vehicle and operate or assist in operating different types of construction and maintenance equipment including, but not limited to, tractors, backhoes, garbage, trucks, hand and power tools, etc.
2. Must be physically able to exert up to fifty pounds of force occasionally and/or frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move and manipulate objects of various sizes and weights of up to one hundred pounds.
3. Physical demands require walking, standing, reaching, stooping, crouching, climbing, sitting, and bending in various positions for various periods of time.
4. Must be able to work in a variety of environmental/climatological conditions to include, but not be limited to, extreme heat, humidity, cold, rain, sleet, snow, smoke, dust, pollen, moderate sound, etc.
5. Physical demands are, at times, in excess of sedentary (driving).
6. Employee is exposed to computer screens and other electronic communication and data storage equipment.
7. This position may be exposed to danger or risk to a moderate degree and must be able to calmly and appropriately deal with those type situations.
8. Must be physically able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Working Conditions

1.     Working conditions include usual outside working conditions associated with providing customer service on location.

2.     Must maintain a drug-free workplace and be subject to on-going random drug and alcohol testing.

3.    This position may require the use of personal protective equipment to include, but not be limited to, steel toed shoes, head, hand, and eye protection, etc.