POSITION SUMMARY

The Powerline Operator is a skilled, non-supervisory field position responsible for safely operating assigned vehicles and heavy or specialized equipment used in overhead and underground powerline construction, maintenance, repair, and restoration. Under the direction of the Powerline Foreman, the Operator supports pole setting and removal, excavation, trenching, material handling, lifting, equipment positioning, right-of-way preparation, backfill, restoration, and related crew activities.

The Operator conducts inspections, maintains equipment readiness, follows approved work plans and signals, protects personnel and property, and assists with ground duties when equipment is not in use. This position does not independently direct electrical work or perform switching, grounding, energized work, or other tasks reserved for qualified electrical workers unless the employee has received the required training, qualification, supervision, and specific authorization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Equipment Operation and Positioning

• Safely operate assigned digger derricks, bucket trucks, line trucks, loaders, backhoes, excavators, skid steers, trenchers, forklifts, telehandlers, compactors, winches, trailers, and related equipment within documented training and authorization.
• Position, set up, and stabilize equipment using outriggers, pads, cribbing, wheel chocks, barricades, and other required controls after evaluating ground conditions, slopes, clearances, access, traffic, and adjacent hazards.
• Follow manufacturer instructions, equipment ratings, load charts, approved work methods, Foreman direction, and established hand or radio signals during all operations.
• Maintain control of the machine, attachment, boom, load, and work area and stop immediately when communication is lost or safe movement cannot be confirmed.
• Remain within rated capacity, operating limits, minimum approach distances, and assigned work boundaries; do not bypass interlocks, alarms, guards, or safety devices.
• Secure equipment, attachments, booms, tools, materials, and loads before movement or transport and confirm clearances and travel routes before relocating equipment.

Powerline Construction and Maintenance Support

• Support overhead and underground line construction, maintenance, replacement, extension, emergency restoration, and related infrastructure work as assigned.
• Operate equipment for pole-hole excavation, pole setting and removal, anchor installation, material placement, conductor or cable handling, equipment lifting, and site restoration under qualified crew direction.
• Assist with trenching, potholing, conduit and vault installation, cable pulling, backfill, compaction, grading, drainage, and surface restoration while protecting marked utilities and customer facilities.
• Coordinate machine movement with spotters and qualified line personnel and maintain established clearances from conductors, structures, grounds, rigging, personnel, traffic, and other equipment.
• Handle poles, transformers, reels, structures, hardware, cable, conductor, and other materials using approved attachments, rigging, load-control methods, and exclusion zones.
• Perform ground support, material handling, cleanup, traffic control, and general crew duties when assigned equipment is not actively operating.

Excavation and Underground Utility Protection

• Review applicable utility locates, drawings, markings, permits, tolerance zones, excavation limits, and Foreman instructions before disturbing soil.
• Use approved hand-digging, potholing, vacuum-excavation, or other verification methods within tolerance zones as directed and do not rely solely on surface markings.
• Monitor soil, spoil placement, trench edges, access, water accumulation, adjacent loads, equipment setback, and changing ground conditions during excavation activities.
• Stop excavation when markings are missing or inconsistent, an unknown facility is found, locate validity is uncertain, or conditions differ from the approved plan.
• Immediately stop work, protect the area, and report utility contact, damage, unusual resistance, odors, escaping product, arcing, or other abnormal conditions.
• Do not enter an excavation unless entry has been authorized and all required protective systems, access, inspection, and atmospheric controls are in place.

Lifting Rigging and Load Control

• Inspect the equipment setup, attachment points, hooks, sheaves, winches, rigging, tag lines, and load path before lifting or moving materials.
• Confirm load weight, radius, equipment capacity, rigging capacity, balance, stability, overhead clearance, and landing area with the Foreman or designated qualified person.
• Accept signals from the designated signal person and obey an emergency stop signal from any person.
• Keep personnel clear of suspended loads, tensioned lines, pinch points, swing radius, bights, and the anticipated path of equipment or materials.
• Do not perform critical, personnel, tandem, or other specialized lifts unless a required lift plan, qualified personnel, and specific authorization are in place.

Vehicle Equipment Inspection and Care

• Complete and document required pre-use, shift, and post-use inspections of vehicles, equipment, attachments, trailers, brakes, tires, fluids, controls, alarms, lights, outriggers, booms, hydraulics, and safety devices.
• Report leaks, damage, unusual operation, warning indicators, missing components, and safety defects promptly and remove equipment from service when continued operation may be unsafe.
• Perform authorized routine care such as fueling, lubrication, cleaning, fluid checks, attachment changes, and minor adjustments in accordance with company and manufacturer requirements.
• Do not perform unauthorized repairs, modifications, electrical work, hydraulic work, or diagnostics or operate equipment tagged out of service.
• Maintain equipment interiors, beds, compartments, trailers, tools, and work areas in a clean, orderly, and secure condition.
• Protect equipment from misuse, theft, environmental exposure, contamination, and avoidable damage and promptly report accidents or property damage.

Safety and Electrical Hazard Control

• Participate in pre-job briefings, job hazard analyses, tailboards, emergency planning, and work-plan changes and confirm assigned responsibilities before work begins.
• Follow company, customer, site, and job-specific safety requirements, permits, personal protective equipment rules, traffic controls, and Foreman instructions.
• Treat all electrical lines, conductors, equipment, vehicles, structures, grounds, and customer systems as energized unless their status has been established through authorized procedures by qualified personnel.
• Maintain required approach distances and account for boom movement, load movement, conductor sag, wind, uneven ground, equipment settling, and operator blind spots.
• Use a dedicated spotter or observer whenever required by the work plan, visibility, customer rules, equipment type, electrical exposure, or site conditions.
• Exercise stop-work authority when system status, scope, signals, equipment condition, ground stability, load control, clearance, or authorization is unclear.
• Immediately report injuries, near misses, electrical contacts, flashes, utility strikes, spills, equipment failures, vehicle accidents, and unsafe conditions and assist with emergency actions within training.
• Do not perform switching, testing for absence of voltage, grounding, energized linework, electrical connections, or work reserved for qualified electrical workers unless separately qualified and authorized.

Transportation and Site Movement

• Operate company vehicles and transport equipment only with the appropriate license, endorsement, qualification, and authorization for the vehicle and load.
• Complete required vehicle inspections, load securement, coupling, lighting, brake, height, width, weight, and route checks before travel.
• Comply with traffic laws, permits, posted restrictions, customer requirements, company driving rules, and applicable commercial-vehicle requirements.
• Use spotters when backing or maneuvering in congested areas and stop when the path cannot be visually confirmed.
• Report citations, roadside inspections, accidents, damage, mechanical concerns, and changes affecting driving eligibility promptly.

Environmental and Jobsite Responsibilities

• Use spill-prevention measures, secondary containment, drip protection, and designated fueling practices and maintain spill-response supplies on assigned equipment.
• Immediately report and assist with the control of fuel, oil, hydraulic-fluid, coolant, or other releases within training and company procedures.
• Minimize disturbance to soil, vegetation, drainage, wildlife, cultural resources, roads, and customer property and remain within approved work and access limits.
• Support dust control, erosion prevention, waste segregation, cleanup, backfill, compaction, grading, and final site restoration.

Documentation and Communication

• Accurately complete equipment inspections, time records, equipment hours, fuel records, mileage, maintenance requests, field tickets, material records, and other assigned documentation.
• Communicate clearly with the Foreman, spotters, signal persons, ground personnel, drivers, and other operators through approved hand signals, radios, and verbal confirmation.
• Report production status, delays, changing conditions, material needs, equipment concerns, utility conflicts, and unresolved hazards promptly.
• Interact professionally with coworkers, customers, inspectors, landowners, other contractors, and the public and refer scope, schedule, or cost commitments to supervision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Two or more years of experience operating construction, utility, excavation, agricultural, oil and gas, industrial, or comparable heavy equipment; powerline or utility experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to safely operate one or more equipment types relevant to assigned powerline work and complete required practical evaluations.
• Working knowledge of equipment inspections, operating limits, load control, ground conditions, excavation hazards, utility markings, hand signals, and jobsite traffic.
• Ability to understand and follow work plans, drawings, locate markings, load charts, manufacturer instructions, safety rules, signs, and verbal or radio direction.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record consistent with company requirements.
• Commercial driver's license and required endorsements when operating or transporting equipment that requires them; ability to obtain additional credentials when assigned.
• Ability to complete company-provided and customer-required training, qualification, medical evaluation, fit testing, and site-access requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience operating digger derricks, bucket trucks, line trucks, excavators, backhoes, loaders, skid steers, trenchers, forklifts, telehandlers, compactors, winches, or conductor-handling equipment.
• Experience supporting pole setting, anchor installation, overhead distribution, underground distribution, trenching, cable pulling, storm restoration, or facility-power projects.
• Current CDL, first aid/CPR, flagger, excavation-competent-person awareness, equipment, rigging, defensive-driving, H2S, or similar job-relevant credentials.
• Experience working for electric utilities, cooperatives, municipalities, industrial facilities, oil and gas operators, renewable-energy projects, or utility contractors.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Operate equipment smoothly and precisely while monitoring personnel, loads, clearances, machine response, ground conditions, traffic, and changing hazards.
• Recognize unsafe equipment conditions, electrical exposures, unstable setups, utility conflicts, improper rigging, and work beyond individual qualification or authorization.
• Interpret load charts, warning indicators, equipment manuals, inspection criteria, locate markings, basic drawings, and field measurements appropriate to assigned duties.
• Coordinate effectively with spotters and crew members, follow signals without delay, and stop operations when communication is lost or conflicting.
• Work independently within assigned limits while remaining responsive to Foreman direction, crew needs, customer requirements, and changing field conditions.
• Demonstrate dependable attendance, sound judgment, equipment care, accurate documentation, teamwork, and a consistent commitment to safe production.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

This position performs physically demanding field work in rights-of-way, roadsides, yards, customer facilities, construction sites, industrial locations, and remote areas throughout the company's service territory.

• Frequently sit for extended periods while operating equipment and repeatedly use hands, feet, arms, and controls requiring coordination, grip, and sustained attention.
• Frequently stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, twist, push, pull, climb, and enter or exit trucks and equipment using three points of contact.
• Frequently lift or carry items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds and use team lifting or mechanical assistance for heavier or awkward materials and equipment.
• Work on uneven, muddy, rocky, gravel, sloped, elevated, or restricted-access surfaces and around traffic, moving equipment, open excavations, suspended loads, and electrical facilities.
• Work outdoors in heat, cold, wind, dust, rain, storms, noise, vibration, insects, and changing weather while wearing required personal protective equipment.
• Travel frequently, including possible overnight travel, and work extended shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, emergency restoration, and on-call schedules as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities. The Powerline Operator may provide equipment-specific guidance to spotters, helpers, and crew members during coordinated operations but does not independently assign electrical work or direct the crew unless formally designated.

DISCLAIMER

This job description summarizes the position's general duties and requirements and is not exhaustive. Management may modify duties or assign additional responsibilities to meet business, legal, safety, and operational needs. Employment remains subject to applicable company policies and requirements.

Standard Safety & Supply is an Equal Opportunity Employer.