Utility Worker

About the Department

Under general supervision, performs unskilled work in the maintenance of the County’s easements, reservoir dams, and/or wastewater treatment plants and other Utility facilities. Work involves performing general housekeeping of buildings, grounds, and equipment. Employee is also responsible for performing basic landscaping duties and removing snow and ice. Employee operates tractors, mowers, grass trimmers, fork trucks, vehicles, and various other powered and non-powered equipment and tools. Work also involves operating biosolids dewatering equipment at the County’s wastewater treatment facilities. Employee assists the maintenance department with preventive maintenance or repairs when needed. Employee must exercise some independent judgment and initiative in all phases of work.  Employee must adhere to Spotsylvania County Safety Policies and Regulations.  Reports to the Chief Operator or Utilities Field Crew Leader.

This position is essential. Personnel occupying this position may be scheduled to work irrespective of weather conditions and/or when general County offices are closed. Applicants must be available to work Sunday through Saturday as needed.

Position Duties

Utility Worker – Wastewater Treatment

• Cleans equipment associated with the wastewater treatment process to include but not limited to bar screens, grit collectors, clarifier troughs and weirs, and other associated processes.
• Collects and disposes of trash and debris from buildings and grounds.
• Cleans tanks, equipment, and basins when drained for repairs or preventative maintenance.
• Retrieves supplies and materials as needed, including fuel, cleaning supplies, and treatment chemicals.
• Loads and unloads trucks.
• Carries or moves materials, including chemicals, supplies, tools, and equipment.
• Cleans out drains, ditches, and culverts.
• Cuts grass, weed eats, and removes brush and weeds from treatment facilities as needed. 
• Removes snow and ice from walkways, driveways, and equipment.
• Operates biosolids dewatering equipment to include but not limited to belt filter presses, centrifuges, polymer feed equipment, sludge pumps, etc.
• Applies herbicides and pesticides under supervision.
• Paints buildings and equipment as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Participate and comply with the EHS Management System and utilize the KPA Flex Safety management tool.  

Utilities Worker – Easement and Dams Maintenance Crew

• Performs mowing, brush and tree trimming, utility maintenance, and landscaping duties in relation to the Reservoir Dam Maintenance Program and Utility easement maintenance.
• Operates a variety of equipment to include but not limited to: zero-turn mowers, skid-steers with various attachments, tractors, bush-hogs, blowers, trimmers, dump trucks, trailers, service vehicles, and various hand tools.
• Performs maintenance of equipment associated with public utility easement and grounds maintenance, including but not limited to tractors, zero-turn mowers, skid-steers, trailers and dump trucks, and smaller hand-held equipment.
• Reseeds and/or performs grading within public utility easements, at all Utilities & Public Works facility locations, and at the County-owned reservoir dams.
• Retrieves supplies and materials as needed.
• Cleans out drains, ditches, and culverts.
• Removes snow and ice from walkways, driveways, and equipment.
• Applies herbicides and pesticides under supervision.
• Paints buildings and equipment as needed.
• Assists maintenance personnel when needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Participate and comply with the EHS Management System and utilize the KPA Flex Safety management tool.  

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent. Must be able to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job; or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities. 

Must have a valid driver’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Must obtain First Aid/CPR certification within six (6) months of hire.

Complete and maintain OSHA 10 Certification in accordance with EHS Safety Management System requirements.  

Pesticide technician’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia must be obtained within 18 months of employment.

Wastewater Treatment Only – Obtain Wastewater Operator Class IV license within 18 months of employment

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge of and ability to operate landscape maintenance equipment, including, but not limited to, tractors, mowers, skid-steers, trailers, dump trucks, and smaller hand-held equipment.
• Knowledge of the maintenance requirements of a wastewater/water treatment facility. 
• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions associated with wastewater /water plants and related activities. 
• Knowledge of the mechanical maintenance and lubrication requirements of the equipment operated. 
• Ability to understand and follow specified operating procedures. 
• Ability to make minor repairs to equipment operated. 
• Ability to exercise independent judgment based on training and experience in making decisions and coordinating the proper operation of equipment. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments, or directions from supervisors.
• Ability to read diagrams and blueprints.
• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions; to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in or from standardized situations.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including mechanical and electrical terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas: to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate respectfully and professionally.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and machinery, including dump trucks, backhoes, tractors, mechanics' tools, and hand tools. Must also be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for that of Medium Work. Will be required to work various assigned shifts and at various facilities. Wastewater facilities operate twenty-four (24) hours a day, every day. Employee must be able to perform essential job functions while wearing specified respirators. In order to demonstrate ability, employee must be able to pass pre-employment and five-year follow-up medical evaluation and spirometric evaluation. Spirometry testing will be utilized to measure. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume-1 Second (FEV1). If FVC is less than 75% and/or FEV1 is less than 70%, the employee will not be allowed to wear a respirator unless a written waiver is obtained from a medical doctor. May be required to take a yearly pulmonary function test (PFT). Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using wastewater treatment equipment and office machinery. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as wastewater treatment equipment and office machinery. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.