Level Ii Bulb/flower Production Worker

Job description

• Operates various specialized flower and flower bulb production equipment including bulb graders, cleaners, declustering machines, derooters, and electronic counters, other greenhouse equipment, tractors and forklifts, etc.
• Operates various specialized flower and flower bulb production lines.
• Prepares the production lines for processing flowers or bulbs.
• Operates small forklift, having passed forklift safety class. Operates greenhouse equipment including small tractors with implements such as spader, rototillers, and cultivators.
• Operates other greenhouse equipment such as flower bulb planters, sawdust spreaders, and diggers.
• Operates tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest and spray fields and plants. Moves equipment from one field to next over local roadways.
• Prepares for and assists in the planting, care of, and harvesting of greenhouse flower crops. Care includes irrigation, hand watering, installing crop supports, trimming, etc.
• Installation, removal and repair of greenhouse equipment including roof coverings, inflator motors, poly lock, and other light duty maintenance.
• Must have a good working knowledge of tulip, daffodil and lily bulbs and flowers.
• Must be able to quickly learn specific variety names and characteristics and changing seasonal habits.
• Must help ensure safe work practices and maintain a safe work environment for the bulb and flower processing areas.
• Some mechanical ability to assemble/disassemble small equipment.
• Must be able to make small mechanical repairs to keep equipment running.
• Enter accurate daily records as to what was planted, harvested, processed, packed or shipped.
• Enter attendance information.
• Ensure quality at every level of the growing/harvesting/processing procedure.
• May perform other tasks involved with growing and processing bulbs or cut flowers when the above work is not available.
• Installs, cares for and maintains display garden throughout the whole season through performance of any of the following duties as directed by supervisory personnel: Conditions and prepares soils and plants bulbs in outdoor growing areas, using spades, trowels, sprayers, sprinklers, cultivators and other gardening hand tools and equipment.
• Fertilizes, waters, weeds, transplants or thins plants in growing areas.
• Mixes and applies pesticides to maintain health of plants and prepares for installation in display areas. Builds framework for displays.
• Use knowledge of tulips, daffodils and lilies, as well as knowledge of specific varieties of each, to lay out and plant designs in WBC display garden.
• Transplants and maintains bushes and trees native to State of Washington which is part of garden design. Tends to display beds to maintain plant health and beauty of display and identifies and removes diseased flowers and plants. Maintains all WBC owned landscapes.
• Maintains and repairs gardening hand tools and equipment and structures such as greenhouses and packing sheds, using maintenance and carpentry tools.
• May do maintenance painting to prolong life of various structures, including painting.
• Uses mowers, trimmers, edgers, shears and pruning loppers to maintain display areas and overall grounds of WBC.
• Work may involve moving or lifting up to 50 pounds. Bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, sitting, walking, and repetitive movements to accomplish tasks are all requirements of several primary tasks in these positions.

Specific vocational preparation: Workers referred must have one month experience in general farm work. Employee must possess the ability to communicate effectively and courteously to supervisors and co-workers. Employees meeting the experience requirements of Item A.8a of the ETA 790 and its attachments, and Section F(b) 4a of the ETA 9142 who require additional training in the specific equipment used by the employer will be provided such training.

Special Requirements

Some of the work is performed in a packinghouse or warehouse environment and can involve heat, cold, dirt and other environmental elements common to such an environment and the processing of flowers and bulbs.
Some of the work is performed in a greenhouse environment and can involve heat, humidity, dirt and other environmental elements common to such an environment and the growing of flowers.
Some of the work is performed outdoors and can involve heat, humidity, dirt and other environmental elements common to such an environment and the growing of flowers.
This work entails exposure to plant materials and occasional insects. Bulbs or cut flowers may have been treated with insect and/or disease control sprays. The employer and all employees will comply with all worker protection standards and re-entry restrictions applicable to pesticides and other chemicals used in the fields and greenhouses.