Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

The employer is seeking reliable, hardworking individuals to assist with the blueberry harvest. See Addendum C for hourly work schedule explanation. Duties include machine harvesting, stacking, loading/unloading blueberries and forklift and tractor operation. Other duties may include general farm labor such as, but not limited to, hand harvesting, base pruning, cutting-trimming, staking plants, pulling weeds, repairing irrigation, applying fertilizer, maintenance and cleanup. Workers should follow safety and farm instructions. This job will be done under varying outdoor extreme weather conditions such as heat, direct sunlight, cold weather, possible rain, wind, and exposure to pollen. Repetitive physical conditions such as prolonged standing, heavy bending, stooping, and lifting will be involved on a regular basis.

Workers will work in teams to machine harvest and stack blueberries. Workers who operate the machine harvester must be careful to avoid damaging blueberry bushes. Workers will load empty lugs onto machine harvester, monitor lugs on belt line as blueberries come in, and unload/load filled lugs on pallet or wagon. Workers may also operate a forklift to load and unload the blueberry pallets, or drive and operate a tractor while pulling a wagon or two wagons full of blueberry lugs to field packing shed or truck for loading. Tractor drivers should be able to properly back tractors while pulling wagons. Forklift and tractor operators must take care to not drop lugs, which may be empty or full of blueberries. All workers must always follow safety rules.

Special Requirements

Workers must be dependable and punctual and have the ability to stand, bend, and work for long periods outdoors. They must pay attention to detail and quality. Workers must adhere to all safety rules as instructed by supervisors and practice safety in all aspects of work.