Heavy Equipment Operator - 1st Shift

Job Summary

SUMMARY:

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

Job Duties:

• Safely and efficiently operate assigned wheel loaders, excavators and other authorized mobile equipment in an active shredding and AEF processing environment.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Build, blend, turn, spread, consolidate, and reclaim stockpiles according to profile, production plan, quality requirements, space constraints, and fire-prevention controls.
• Maintain stable pile geometry and safe travel surfaces. Protect berms, drains, utilities, buildings, fire lanes, pedestrian routes, and other equipment from contact or obstruction.
• 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.
• 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.
• Monitor equipment gauges, process flow, pile condition, product consistency, and changing site conditions. Communicate production constraints and likely shortfalls early.
• Complete equipment inspection reports, production records, load records, downtime notes, and other assigned documentation accurately and on time.
• 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.
• Assist with safe troubleshooting and recovery from process interruptions only within training and authorization and under the site energy-control procedure.
• Keep equipment cabs, access steps, processing floors, tip areas, pile perimeters, and travel paths clean and free of accumulated debris and fire hazards.
• Participate in shift handoffs, safety meetings, near-miss reporting, incident reviews, maintenance planning, training, and productivity-improvement work.
• 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 r quired 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.