Heavy Equipment Operator - 1st Shift

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for operating Heavy Equipment in our alternative engineered fuel facility in Gray Court, SC, First shift.

Job Duties:

1. Safely and efficiently operate assigned wheel loaders, excavators and other authorized mobile equipment in an active shredding and AEF processing environment.
2. Complete documented pre-use and post-use inspections. Check tires or tracks, buckets or grapples, pins, guards, windows, mirrors, cameras, lights, alarms, brakes, steering, hydraulics, fluid levels, fire extinguisher, and other safety systems.
3. Stop using unsafe equipment, secure it against use, and immediately report hydraulic leaks, damaged guards, worn attachments, unusual vibration or noise, warning indicators, or control problems.
4. Feed shredders, hoppers, conveyors, or processing areas at the controlled rate directed by the operating plan. Avoid overfeeding, bridging, unsafe pile faces, and material accumulation around equipment.
5. Inspect visible material while handling it and stop the process for suspected compressed-gas cylinders, aerosol cans, batteries, hot or reactive material, unknown containers, metal, oversize items, or other prohibited contamination.
6. Build, blend, turn, spread, consolidate, and reclaim stockpiles according to profile, production plan, quality requirements, space constraints, and fire-prevention controls.
7. Maintain stable pile geometry and safe travel surfaces. Protect berms, drains, utilities, buildings, fire lanes, pedestrian routes, and other equipment from contact or obstruction.
8. Load walking-floor trailers, roll-off containers, dump trailers, or other approved outbound units evenly and within site loading instructions while coordinating with spotters and drivers.
9. Direct or coordinate inbound truck movement and tipping when assigned. Maintain positive radio communication and confirm that personnel are clear before trucks or equipment move.
10. Monitor equipment gauges, process flow, pile condition, product consistency, and changing site conditions. Communicate production constraints and likely shortfalls early.
11. Complete equipment inspection reports, production records, load records, downtime notes, and other assigned documentation accurately and on time.
12. Perform authorized operator care such as cleaning, greasing, fueling, fluid checks, and minor adjustments within training. Repairs and maintenance beyond operator scope must be referred to qualified personnel.
13. Assist with safe troubleshooting and recovery from process interruptions only within training and authorization and under the site energy-control procedure.
14. Keep equipment cabs, access steps, processing floors, tip areas, pile perimeters, and travel paths clean and free of accumulated debris and fire hazards.
15. Participate in shift handoffs, safety meetings, near-miss reporting, incident reviews, maintenance planning, training, and productivity-improvement work.
16. Perform other related duties assigned by site leadership within the employee's training, authorization, and safe-work requirements.

Required qualifications:

• At least 3 years of recent heavy-equipment experience, including strong proficiency on a wheel loader and at least one of the following: excavator or material handler, skid steer, telehandler, or heavy-duty forklift.
• Experience working around stockpiles, truck traffic, loading operations, confined operating areas, and changing ground or material conditions.
• Ability to pass a practical operating evaluation on assigned equipment and complete all VLS site-specific training before independent operation.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation to the assigned shift.
• Ability to read procedures, warning signs, equipment manuals, production instructions, and inspection forms and to complete clear written or electronic records.
• Ability to work the assigned shift and required overtime, weekends, or schedule changes based on operating needs.

Preferred qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED; equivalent industrial experience will be considered.
• Five or more years operating heavy equipment in recycling, shredding, solid waste, alternative fuel, aggregate, biomass, forestry, scrap, or comparable industrial production.
• Demonstrated proficiency with wheel loaders and excavators or material handlers using buckets, grapples, forks, or other approved attachments.
• Experience is not necessary but preferred in feeding shredders, hoppers, crushers, screens, grinders, balers, conveyors, or comparable processing equipment.
• Mechanical aptitude and experience with daily greasing, operator inspections, basic troubleshooting, and clear maintenance reporting.