Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
organic and conventional hops.
This job requires a minimum of 2 months of prior experience in operating hop harvesting top cutter, bottom cutter or working in a hop picking machine clean up position. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency.

General

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 comprehend 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 the foreman or crew boss. 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 on or after the date of need.

Workers should be able to work on their feet 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.

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. Workers are frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl under trellis wires. Workers must be able to lift/carry up to 70 lbs. throughout the course of the day.

Workers may drive/operate tractors. Workers will be instructed in safety and operation of the tractor before driving tractor. Tractors should be driven in a manner to protect operator, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination.

Hops

Hop Harvest Bottom Cutter Operator: 1-2 employee(s) will operate bottom cutter, which is essentially an orchard tractor with blade hookup mounted in front. Operator will receive in-house training prior to operating bottom cutter.

Hop Harvest Top-Cutter Operator: 1-4 employees will operate the top cutter, which is essentially a modified grain combine with a blade hookup mounted in front. Operators will receive in-house training prior to operating the top cutter.

Miscellaneous Field Work: Workers will be required to:

Machine Clean up: Employees working in the machine clean-up position are expected to monitor the hop picking machine for plug ups, breakdowns, or anything out of the ordinary. In the event of a break down, picking machine clean-up employees immediately notify mechanics of the issue. When the machine shuts down for scheduled maintenance, the picking machine clean up crews will clean conveyor belts.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 2 months of prior experience in operating hop harvesting top cutter, bottom cutter or working in a hop picking machine clean up position. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 70 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work. Workers must possess valid insurable drivers license.
Workers may be required to work shifts during hop harvest, per 24 hours, with an unpaid lunch break, Monday through Saturday:
(Shift 1) 6:00 a.m. to 1:30p.m.
(Shift 2) 6:00 9.m. to 1:30a.m.
Each worker will be assigned to a shift.