Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
apples, pears, cherries.
This job requires a minimum of six months of verifiable work experience operating agricultural equipment. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers must be able to perform all work activities with accuracy and efficiency. Primary tasks will be operating tractors, sprayers and other farm equipment.

General

Qualified workers will primarily complete tasks including, but not limited to, the operation of general-purpose vehicles to transport equipment and bins of product or fruit from one field location or facility to another, and the operation of tractors, sprayers and turf mowing equipment. Workers will be instructed in the safety and operation of the vehicles/ equipment before driving/operating such farm machinery. Tractors should be driven in a manner to protect the operator, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Workers will complete all Worker Protection Standard training necessary to comply with national regulations regarding the safe application of pesticides. After completion of the WPS training, or under the supervision of a certified pesticide applicator, workers will mix and apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers or other crop enhancing/protecting sprays as deemed necessary by management. Workers may be tasked with mowing grass, raking pruning debris or chopping brush using a tractor and mower. Workers will also be required to conduct basic tractor/equipment repairs and maintenance such as changing tires and transmission oil. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination of employment

Instructions and overall supervision and direction of workers will be provided by a company supervisor. Workers hired pursuant to this labor certification must be able to to read and understand instructions for applying and loading sprayers with pesticides, and follow instructions of a company supervisor and communicate effectively to supervisors. Unusual, complex or non-routine activities will be supervised. Workers will be expected to perform basic duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.
Work assignments will be made at the sole discretion of the employer conditional on unforeseen circumstances such as weather or other unscheduled/unexpected interruptions in regular work. Workers must perform the assigned work and may not perform duties not provided in this application, or work in areas not assigned without the specific authorization of a supervisor or orchard management. Workers will be expected to perform any of the listed duties as assigned by his/her supervisor.

Workers will be required to attend an orientation on workplace rules, policies and safety information prior to beginning work

Workers should be able to work sitting down, on their feet or in bent positions for long periods of time. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Work is to be done for long periods of time. Temperatures may range from 40 to 105 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Saturday work required.

Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodation. 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.

The job requires regular standing and walking. Employees are frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and climb or balance.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of six months of verifiable work experience operating agricultural equipment. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers must be able to perform all work activities with accuracy and efficiency. Primary tasks will be operating tractors, sprayers and other farm equipment. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 50 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required at random, upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work.