Field Workers (lettuce) And Ag. Equipment Operators

Job description

Head Lettuce Clean and Core: Heavy field work to harvest cored head lettuce in preparation for value added processing. Manual cutting is done by walking in uneven furrows behind a harvesting conveyor belt or riding a machine platform. Under the direction of the field Supervisors, the worker then determines the size and quality of the cored lettuce to be harvested and using a harvesting knife with a coring attachment, the employee bends at the waist, grasps produce and cuts the head from its roots. Employee then trims the outer leaves from the head and removes core with the coring attachment. Employee inspects the head lettuce for defects and places head onto the belt. The process is repeated. The cored lettuce is then carried down the belt where employees inspect quality, core, and remove loose leaves prior to being dropped in a bin where it is sorted to bin capacity. Bins are constructed and sorted directly on the trailer on a pallet. Bins may weigh up to 50 lbs. empty. Pallets may weigh up to 95 lbs. empty. Between two workers the empty pallets are carried, and bins are assembled.

Romaine Top & Tail: Heavy field work to harvest romaine lettuce in preparation for value added processing. Manual cutting is done by walking in uneven furrows behind a harvesting conveyor belt. Under the direction of the field Supervisors, the worker then determines the size and quality of the romaine lettuce to be harvested and using a harvesting knife, the employee bends at the waist, grasps produce and cuts the head from its roots. Employee then trims the outer leaves from the head and places head onto table. The process is repeated. The romaine is then topped and cored then carried down the belt where employees inspect quality, core, and remove loose leaves prior to being dropped in a bin where it is sorted to bin capacity. Bins are constructed and sorted directly on the trailer on a pallet. Bins may weigh up to 50 lbs. empty. Pallets may weigh up to 95 lbs. empty. Between two workers the empty pallets are carried, and bins are assembled.

Romaine, Hearts, Mix Leaf: Heavy field work to harvest romaine, heart and mix leaf. Employees cut, bag, pack, and load fresh romaine, head, and heart lettuce in the field. Cutting is done by walking in uneven furrows behind a harvesting platform machine or belt. Under the direction of the field Supervisors, employees determine size and quality of the product to be harvested. Then, using a harvesting hand knife and bending at the waist, the employee grasps the produce, cuts the head from the roots, and trims the outer leaves from the head to prepare it to be placed into a carton or tote. Cutter places the product on a table for the packer to either or combination of, tie, spot wash, sort, wrap, seal and place into a carton or tote. Packers will secure empty containers from designated racks, insert lining material as necessary and fill the carton or totes to specification. Once totes, cartons or bins are filled they are pushed on to conveyor belt for loaders to close/cover and stack on the pallet. The cartons or totes for the product are constructed by unfolding and bending the material as designed to form a box. Carton is labeled and marked as required. The process is repeated. The cartons, totes or bins are lifted then stacked onto pallets on the deck of the harvester or trailer. Cartons or totes with product can weigh up to 50 lbs. Empty bins Pallets can weigh up to 95 lbs. Between two workers the empty pallets are carried, and bins are assembled.

Continued on Addendum C

Special Requirements

This work may entail exposure to plant pollens, insects and noxious plants, and to fields and plant materials which have been treated with insect and/or disease control sprays. The employer will comply with all worker protection standards and re-entry restrictions applicable to pesticides and other chemicals used in the fields. Workers are also required to comply with all applicable worker protection standards and re-entry times. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of company supervisors and managers.

Continued on Addendum C