Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Operate, maintain, and repair gin equipment, vehicles, and machinery in connection with the ginning of cotton. Load and unload cotton bales. Perform general maintenance, repairs, and safety checks of equipment and gin machinery. Operate ginning machinery. Operate various pieces of equipment, including, but not limited to, a module unwrapper, a bale strapper, a bale hoister, skid steer, forklift, front end loader and a cotton module feeder. Load cotton seed. Load cotton modules, bring them to the feeder, feed wires on press, un-tarp modules, move bales from press to bale slab. Operate equipment in a manner to protect the operator, other workers, products and equipment. Tie, tag and bag bales of cotton as they come out of the press. Remove a sample of the cotton from each bale per supervisor's instructions. Roll USDA Government Samples. Load bales into vehicles for transport. Assist the gin operator with various duties such as making repairs to the equipment, clearing blockages, cleaning lint filters, refilling supplies, sweeping floors, removing trash buildup and picking up cotton on yard. Pick up trash, clean bathrooms, sweep floors and perform other farm and shed sanitation duties. Observe safe operating rules and follow employer's directions.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

The employer will offer 2 shifts per 24 hours: (Shift 1) 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and (Shift 2) 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with a 1 hour unpaid lunch break Monday through Saturday. Each worker will be assigned to a shift.
Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employer's recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences. Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company premises is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination.

Special Requirements

Extensive pushing, pulling, sitting, stooping, and bending. Stand and walk for extended periods of time. Work may be performed in extreme temperatures including extreme heat up to 90 degrees and high humidity. Drug testing may be conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.