Hydrovac Technician (Swamper)

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Job Type

Full-time

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Hydrovac Technician (Swamper) provides ground support for hydrovacuum operations used in non-destructive excavation, daylighting and exposing underground utilities, trenching, potholing, spill response, material recovery, tank and pit cleanout, and related environmental and oil and gas field work throughout the Permian Basin and southeastern New Mexico. Working under the direction of the Hydrovac Operator or field supervisor, this position helps establish and maintain a safe work area and assists with the controlled use of hoses, tools, water, vacuum equipment, and material-handling systems.

The technician serves as the operator's primary ground contact and spotter. Responsibilities include equipment setup and breakdown, hose and nozzle handling, utility and hazard observation, traffic and pedestrian control, material containment, equipment cleaning, daily inspections, field documentation, and general labor. Work must comply with company procedures, client requirements, permits, and applicable safety, environmental, transportation, and disposal requirements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Hydrovac Ground Support

• Assist the Hydrovac Operator with jobsite setup, equipment positioning, outrigger deployment, wheel chocking, grounding or bonding, barricades, cones, exclusion zones, and traffic-control devices.
• Connect, position, support, and disconnect vacuum hoses, water hoses, nozzles, extensions, fittings, and related attachments using safe lifting and handling practices.
• Support daylighting, potholing, trenching, slot excavation, utility exposure, spill cleanup, material removal, and other assigned hydrovac services.
• Operate the excavation lance, digging wand, vacuum hose, hand tools, and other authorized equipment from the ground under the operator's direction and within training limitations.
• Maintain clear, continuous communication with the operator using agreed hand signals, radio communication, and direct visual contact; stop work when communication is lost.
• Serve as a spotter for truck movement, backing, boom movement, hose placement, overhead clearances, underground utilities, nearby equipment, and personnel entering the work zone.
• Observe exposed utilities, excavation walls, soil conditions, water flow, suction performance, hose movement, and surrounding activity and immediately communicate changes or hazards.
• Keep hoses, tools, spoil, water, and recovered materials organized and contained to prevent trip hazards, blocked access, cross-contamination, or uncontrolled discharge.
• Assist with loading, unloading, water supply, debris-tank dumping, disposal activities, equipment washout, decontamination, and site restoration as assigned.

Safety and Utility Protection

• Verify the work area, excavation limits, utility markings, permits, safe-dig requirements, designated spoil areas, and disposal instructions with the operator before work begins.
• Recognize overhead and underground utilities, high-pressure lines, unstable soil, open excavations, traffic, H2S, electrical hazards, pinch points, pressurized-water hazards, rotating equipment, and restricted-access areas.
• Maintain required clearances and exclusion zones and keep unauthorized personnel away from the truck, boom, hoses, pressurized components, open tanks, and excavation.
• Never stand beneath a raised boom, between moving equipment and a fixed object, or in the line of fire of a pressurized hose, fitting, nozzle, or vacuum opening.
• Use required personal protective equipment and comply with respiratory protection, hearing conservation, fall protection, H2S, and other site-specific programs when applicable.
• Exercise stop-work authority and immediately report incidents, near misses, utility strikes, spills, property damage, equipment damage, and unsafe conditions.
• Deploy containment and spill-control materials and assist with response, recovery, and cleanup according to site procedures.

Equipment Inspection and Care

• Assist with documented pre-use and post-use inspections of hoses, fittings, nozzles, tools, tanks, valves, boom components, filters, emergency equipment, and spill-control supplies.
• Inspect hoses and connections during operation for leaks, wear, kinks, blockages, movement, pressure concerns, or other unsafe conditions.
• Clean, drain, flush, organize, and properly store hoses, tools, fittings, nozzles, personal protective equipment, and other assigned equipment.
• Assist with routine operator-level maintenance, lubrication, filter cleaning, debris removal, winterization, and minor adjustments within training and authorization.
• Promptly report defects, leaks, damage, missing equipment, or maintenance needs and remove unsafe tools or equipment from service when directed.

Material Handling and Site Support

• Assist with containment, segregation, labeling, transport preparation, unloading, and disposal of recovered liquids, slurry, soil, and other materials according to project instructions.
• Prevent unauthorized discharge, mixing, tracking, or disposal of recovered materials and maintain clean work and travel areas.
• Perform manual excavation, shoveling, sweeping, absorbent placement, erosion-control installation, site cleanup, and other environmental field labor as assigned.
• Support mobilization and demobilization and verify that tools, hoses, protective equipment, and job materials are accounted for before leaving the site.

Communication and Documentation

• Communicate clearly with the operator, field supervisors, crew members, utility representatives, client contacts, truck drivers, and other contractors regarding work progress and changing conditions.
• Complete time records, inspection forms, field tickets, disposal records, job logs, and other assigned documentation accurately and on time.
• Report changes in site conditions, work scope, access, equipment condition, water supply, disposal requirements, or schedule that may affect safe and timely completion.
• Represent Standard Safety & Supply professionally and protect confidential company and client information.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous experience in hydrovac services, environmental field work, oil and gas, industrial cleaning, construction, utilities, vacuum truck operations, or general labor preferred but not required.
• Ability to understand utility markings, hand signals, permits, site maps, safety procedures, equipment instructions, and verbal direction.
• Ability to communicate effectively, remain attentive, and work in close coordination with an equipment operator and field crew.
• Ability to pass required pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol testing and meet client site-access requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• One or more years of hydrovac, vacuum truck, environmental field service, utility, industrial cleaning, construction, or oil and gas experience.
• Experience serving as a spotter or working around commercial vehicles, mobile equipment, excavations, pipelines, or underground utilities.
• Interest and ability to progress toward a commercial driver's license and Hydrovac Operator position.
• Current H2S, First Aid and CPR, excavation safety, traffic-control, or related training. Standard Safety & Supply provides applicable position-based training as required.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Maintain constant situational awareness and recognize hazards involving utilities, vehicle movement, boom swing, hoses, pressure, vacuum, traffic, terrain, and personnel.
• Use hand signals, radios, and direct communication consistently and stop work when instructions, visibility, or communication are unclear.
• Safely handle hoses, tools, fittings, and recovered materials while protecting people, property, utilities, and the environment.
• Follow detailed procedures and work productively under direct or limited supervision while meeting safety, quality, documentation, and schedule expectations.
• Learn hydrovac systems, operator controls, equipment limitations, inspection requirements, and commercial-driving responsibilities as assigned.
• Maintain dependable attendance and report to work fit for duty and prepared for field conditions.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

This is a safety-sensitive, field-based position. Work is performed primarily outdoors at oil and gas locations, utility corridors, remediation sites, roadways, construction areas, disposal facilities, and remote properties throughout the Permian Basin and southeastern New Mexico.

• Stand and walk for extended periods and frequently bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, reach, push, pull, twist, and maintain balance on wet, muddy, uneven, or unstable surfaces.
• Regularly handle hoses, fittings, nozzles, tools, chocks, covers, and supplies and lift or carry items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Work around high-pressure water, vacuum systems, moving vehicles, traffic, open excavations, recovered materials, noise, vibration, dust, fumes, odors, and active oil and gas equipment.
• Work in heat, cold, wind, rain, blowing dust, and other weather conditions common to West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
• Wear required personal protective equipment for the duration of the work assignment.
• Work extended shifts, overtime, nights, weekends, holidays, or on-call assignments when required by project or emergency-response needs.
• Travel to remote field locations and periodically stay overnight away from the employee's home location.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility. The Hydrovac Technician Swamper works under the direction of the Hydrovac Operator, Environmental Foreman, or Project Manager.

DISCLAIMER

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Management may modify duties or assign additional responsibilities to meet business, client, safety, and operational needs. Employment remains subject to applicable company policies and requirements.

Standard Safety & Supply is an Equal Opportunity Employer.