HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR / WELDER

Definition

Under direction, operates one or more types of gasoline or diesel powered equipment to perform the more complex and demanding assignments to fine grade slopes, inclines, ramps, curves, and excavations by scrapping, scooping, rolling, lifting, or leveling on all types of terrain; works to fine specifications from grade stakes set by survey party; inspects machinery daily and reports unsafe conditions; services and makes minor emergency repairs to equipment in garage or field; may occasionally perform a variety of manual or unskilled tasks; does other related duties as required.

Under direction, performs various tasks in electric arc and oxyacetylene welding and cutting; maintains, repairs, rebuilds, and fabricates metal equipment and tools; may prepare or work from sketches, plans, and specifications in accord with approved trade practices; takes the lead over and gives suitable assignments to those assigned as helpers; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Maneuvers diesel or gasoline powered equipment with wheeled or crawler type traction such as bulldozer, frontend loader, motor grader, backhoe, grad-all, scraper, and so forth.
• Manipulates controls to adjust attachments for proper positioning on rough, rocky, or soft terrain or other sub-surfaces that change because of weather conditions which may alter the soil composition to fine grade slopes, inclines, ramps, curves, and excavations by scrapping, scooping, rolling, or leveling.
• Maneuvers equipment and manipulates different controls to adjust attachments for proper positioning near a variety of obstructions and/or in difficult surroundings such as close to buildings, trees, utility wires, drop offs, pipes, or rocks to dig or move earth or destroy obsolete brick and stone structures.
• Operates cranes (truck mounted and/or crawler mounted) at various outdoor locations where maneuverability is restricted and accuracy is critical such as near obstructions which restrict load or boom movement and/or areas which do not permit positioning of the crane near the work to be done.
• Reviews with foreperson rough sketches or blueprints that are marked to indicate sections to be cut, filled, and the level of the finished job to compare terrain at the beginning of the operation with the proposed finished job.
• In operating equipment, follows all types of alignment stakes which are used in laying out construction projects and their boundaries and reads the information contained on them to know the stationing or location of any part of the road relative to a starting point or reference, the amount of cut and fill to be removed from the existing ground surface or reference mark on the stake at that point, or the shoulder or ditch line when offset stakes are used or the distance from the centerline to stake location.
• Ensures that equipment is ready for operation at all times by inspecting all moving parts for adequate lubrication and lubricates as necessary; inspects tires for proper inflation; checks brake hydraulic reservoir level and oil level, and makes a general inspection of the entire equipment for any obvious deficiencies.
• May occasionally operate a truck to haul and dump sand, gravel, asphalt, and refuse; carries equipment and/or snow plow.
• May perform a variety of manual unskilled tasks when not engaged in operating equipment. Receives assignments either in writing or orally explaining work to be done and equipment to be used.
• Reports any problems that cause a delay in the completion of the work assignment to the supervisor either in writing or verbally.
• May function in a lead worker capacity.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems used by the agency, office or related unit.
• Operates various electric resistance welding machines such as spot, seam, and flash, or uses a manual gas torch welding process such as oxyacetylene to join a variety of different kinds of parts or components.
• Determines the welding techniques and machine settings to be used; assembles and sets up the parts to be welded following guides such as resistance welding control charts, specifications, accepted shop practices, and oral or written instructions from the supervisor to make the required welds.
• Welds metal parts and structures that may vary in size, shape, and thickness, and welds dissimilar metals such as copper to steel to weld all types of commonly used metals and alloys.
• Controls the metals and determines the welding technique to use for preventing distortion, burning of the metals or other defects when welding in hard to reach places that must meet close tolerance, strength, and other requirements to ensure evenness of fit and smoothness of contour.
• Welds materials in various positions such as flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead to perform the required welds.
• Devises special jigs and fixtures to hold parts to be welded by using techniques such as preheating, heat sinks, and stress relieving to maintain specified dimensions to prevent distortion or burning of the parts being welded.
• Controls the torch or arc and the positioning and feeding of the welding rod or electrode when welding manually to prevent burning of base metals, complete fusing of base filler metals, and to obtain the desired penetration and weld head dimensions.
• Obtains, stores, records, safeguards, and properly uses equipment, materials, and supplies when performing work.
• May prepare itemized work orders of work performed and materials used in accord with established policy and procedures.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• <b>REQUIREMENTS:
• TRAINING:</b>
• Successful completion of a two (2) year training program in basic welding operations.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in the operation and maintenance of construction and maintenance equipment.

One (1) year of varied experience in welding which shall have included oxyacetylene and arc welding and cutting.

License

Applicants may be required to possess a license as a Crane Operator issued by the New Jersey Department of Labor and, a certification issued by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) in the appropriate specialty as determined by the Appointing Authority (lattice boom crawler crane, lattice boom truck crane, telescopic boom crane with a capacity of more than 17.5 tons, telescopic boom crane with a capacity of less than 17.5 tons).

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Appointee must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated.

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of this position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the assigned equipment and its limitations in performing a variety of tasks.
• Knowledge of blade positioning to fine grade surfaces, inclines, slopes, and curves on all types of terrain.
• Knowledge of adjusting, oiling, and maintaining equipment in a safe operating condition.
• Knowledge of accident prevention procedures for operating assigned equipment.
• Ability to follow specific oral or written instructions concerning the work assignment.
• Ability to adjust, oil, grease, and maintain assigned equipment.
• Ability to maintain concentration, alertness, and an exceptional degree of visual and physical coordination.
• Ability to grade surfaces to fine specification by adjusting attachments while the vehicle is in motion on all types of terrain.
• Ability to simultaneously operate controls, make difficult clearance judgments while watching the load, and compensate for variation in the equipment's lifting or hauling capacity during position changes.
• Ability to understand equipment and its limitation on all types of terrain.
• Ability to work without direct supervision.
• Ability to manipulate attachments rapidly to adjust to the changing condition of the surfaces.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODE: @ 7/26/2016
• <b>WELDER</b>
• Knowledge of welding and related trade procedures such as brazing, soldering, flame and arc cutting, surface hardening, annealing, and metal spraying.
• Knowledge of electric, gas, and other welding processing, repairing, modifying, rebuilding, and assembling various types of metal and alloy parts, equipment, systems, and structures.
• Knowledge of the characteristics of various metals, and how they react to different welding processes and techniques.
• Ability to read, interpret, and complete assignments from layouts and diagrams.
• Ability to obtain, store, record, safeguard, and properly use equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: LG- GB/mer 5/11/2010
• DUAL TITLE CODE:
• This job specification is for local government use only.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

The distinction between this title and the title of Equipment Operator () lies in the degree of skill and precision required to perform the principal tasks of the Heavy Equipment Operator title and the type of equipment operated. Positions assigned to this class operate equipment which is larger, more complex, and/or used on varied types of terrain requiring more skill and greater motor coordination to manipulate, and/or in more confined spaces where the consequences of error and potential for danger are greater, and for which additional certification and/or licensure may be required. Heavy Equipment Operators may also operate, maintain, and/or repair, as incidental duties, less complex equipment, other machinery or vehicles which do not require the same level of skill, do not present a commensurate level of difficulty or require certification and/or licensure.

Incumbents in this title are responsible for ensuring that land is marked properly and according to specifications. Additionally, incumbents in this title are responsible for ensuring that stakes and layouts are maintained and adhered to for the duration of each job.

Appropriate formal training in the operation and maintenance of construction equipment may be substituted for one (1) year of required work experience.

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicle being operated, rests with the Appointing Authority.

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants who do not possess the required two (2) years of training may substitute additional experience as indicated above on a year for year basis.