Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
rice, soybeans, crawfish.
This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable agricultural equipment operation employment experience, handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience.

Performs duties in ground support for aerial seeding, fertilizing and dusting crops, such as rice, soybeans ; mixes fertilizers according to prescribed formulas, loads seed, fertilizers onto airplane, loads rice into airplane for spreading in crawfish ponds; pours and pumps materials and seeds into feed hopper of airplane; may drive fertilizer truck and operate lift; may drive pickup to obtain parts and supplies; use power equipment including but not limited to large farm tractors; repair and maintain equipment, buildings, fences.

Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction. Operating large farm tractors and equipment as well as operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs is dangerous. Operator manuals for the equipment have label warnings – Do Not Operate Under the Influence of Drugs. Workers Comp Insurance, as well as vehicle insurance companies, require safety compliance. Poor judgment, improper driving, etc. can result in serious and fatal accidents. Employer has a strict policy prohibiting drug use.

Use, possession, transfer, offer, sale or manufacture of marijuana and/or controlled substances strictly prohibited. All work sites are alcohol and drug free work places. Employees must not report for work, enter the employers' property or perform work while under the influence of or having used alcohol, marijuana, illegal controlled substances, or any other substance that may in any way adversely affect alertness, coordination, reaction time or safety. Employer-paid post-hire random and post-accident drug testing required.

Workers must obey all safety rules and basic instructions and be able to recognize, understand and comply with safety, pesticide warning/re-entry and other essential postings. Employer will instruct workers in the safety and operation of equipment before use. Workers must operate equipment, with or without direction, in a manner that protects operator, visitors, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and possessing or able to obtain an insurable driver's license may drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses may transport other workers to and from employer-provided housing directly to worksites each day and may transport workers around farms during the workday, may transport crops, supplies, tools and/or equipment between farm locations, on private or public roads. Workers do not deliver to customers. Workers will drive multi-purpose vehicles that have a capacity of less than 13 tons, require a standard driver's license to operate, and may be used on or off farm by the workers (e.g., drive to the grocery store, bank, etc. at their discretion). Workers are not required or expected to arrange for the routine pick-up of another worker or groups of workers on a regular schedule at other housing locations or centralized pick-up points.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 75 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable agricultural equipment operation employment experience, handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 75 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire random and post-accident drug testing required. Workers with clean driving record and/or insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles.