Lincoln, NE - Directional Boring / Hydro-Vac Machine Operator in Lincoln, Nebraska at General Excavating

Summary

General Excavating is an award-winning contractor serving public and private owners throughout the state of Nebraska. General Excavating specializes in the construction of; underground utilities, environmental remediation, excavation shoring, directional drilling, hydro-excavation, and heavy civil including bridge and concrete structures.

The Hydro Vac Operator is responsible for safely operating hydro excavation equipment to expose underground utilities, daylight existing infrastructure, perform non-destructive excavation, and support utility installation and maintenance projects. This position requires a strong commitment to safety, excellent equipment operation skills, and the ability to work in varying weather and field conditions while maintaining productivity and quality standards. The qualified candidate works on construction projects in an equipment operator capacity, however, will also serve in a utility (laborer) capacity, as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

• Safely operates hydro excavation trucks, vacuum systems, water systems, and associated equipment.
• Performs non-destructive excavation around existing underground utilities including gas, electric, fiber, communications, water, and sanitary sewer lines.
• Reads and interprets utility locates, site plans, and project specifications.
• Performs daylighting, potholing, trench cleanup, debris removal, and utility exposure.
• Coordinates daily activities with supervisors, foremen, project managers, utility owners, inspectors, and customers.
• Conducts pre-trip, post-trip, and daily equipment inspections in accordance with DOT and company requirements.
• Completes Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs), daily equipment logs, fuel records, and job documentation accurately and on time.
• Operates vacuum boom, water pressure systems, debris tanks, and related equipment safely and efficiently.
• Transports equipment and materials to and from project sites while maintaining DOT compliance.
• Performs routine preventive maintenance including greasing, fluid checks, filter cleaning, and minor repairs.
• Keeps hydro excavation equipment clean and well maintained.
• Identify underground utility conflicts and immediately report unsafe conditions or damaged facilities.
• Assists field crews with excavation, backfilling, traffic control, material handling, and general construction activities as needed.
• Follows excavation safety standards, trench safety requirements, confined space procedures, and company safety policies.
• Properly use required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Maintains positive working relationships with coworkers, customers, inspectors, and utility representatives.
• Participate in daily safety meetings, toolbox talks, and required company training.
• Travels to project locations as required, including overnight travel when necessary.
• Must excavate around utility lines with precision to avoid damage to lines and ensure safety of personnel in trench.
• Lead and direct assigned laborers or support personnel on hydro excavation projects, delegate daily work activities, provide on-the-job training and guidance, and ensure work is performed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies and project specifications.
• Accurately complete and submit daily timekeeping, production reports, equipment hours, and time and material documentation to support payroll processing, customer billing, project cost tracking, and operational reporting requirements.
• Participates in ongoing professional development, safety training, equipment certifications, and skill enhancement to improve individual performance and support modified or transitional work assignments when appropriate.
• Responds to emergency situations, including trench collapses and other utility-related incidents, by safely operating hydro excavation equipment to assist emergency responders, expose buried victims or utilities, stabilize excavation areas as directed, and support rescue operations while strictly following company procedures and the direction of incident command.
• Maintains and successfully complete all required company, customer, operator qualification (OQ), and regulatory training necessary to perform assigned work, including but not limited to gas distribution, pipeline operations, utility owner specifications, DOT requirements, OSHA standards, excavation safety, equipment operation, and other project-specific certifications.
• Maintains DOT compliance and completes all required documentation accurately.
• Must have physical strength, balance, hand-eye coordination and stamina necessary to complete jobs with various conditions and terrains.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 100 pounds and push / or pull 50-pound loads at a time.
• Must be able to stand and walk up to eight hours per day and climb multiple sets of stairs while carrying materials weighing between 40 and 60 pounds.
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous hydro excavation experience preferred.
• Ability to read utility locate markings and construction plans.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to safety.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of a job.

Education and/or Experience

Two (2) years minimum related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume and distance.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

• Valid Class A CDL with air brake endorsement with clean driving record.
• DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and are, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds without assistance. Occasionally lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical part, fumes, airborne particles, caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Conditions of Employment

Candidate is required to meet the above qualifications and job duties, task frequency and PPE requirements. Approval of pre-employment reference & background checks, and post offer drug testing with fit for employment screening are required as conditions of employment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE EMPLOYER.