Irrigators and Agricultural Equipment Operators

at Foothill Packing Inc in Yuma, Arizona, United States

Job Description

Irrigators: Under the supervision of the Supervisor/Foreperson, performs general irrigation work of vegetable fields via drip/sprinkler irrigation; drip irrigation installation, repair and maintenance; and sprinkler installation, repair and maintenance. Workers will be responsible for starting and stopping surface and subsurface irrigation with syphon tubes as well as monitoring the elevation in head water by opening and closing irrigation gates. Workers will also need to assist in starting and stopping pumps for surface and subsurface drip irrigated fields. Performs maintenance in and around vegetable fields such as bird control, weeding with a long handle hoe around irrigation valves, borders and trash removal. Tractor driving activities for purpose sprinkler irrigation pipe. Reports break downs and understands and abides by our safety procedures and performance standards. Can fill out maintenance and progression sheet Required basic knowledge of driving a tractor, must pass a tractor safety training and demonstrate ability to operate tractor in a safe manner.

Agricultural Equipment Operators/Forklift Operator: workers will drive and operate various farm equipment to perform farm field preparation such as planting, cultivating, fertilizing, farming, and maintaining farms. Will attach and adjust farm implements to tractors such as discs, plows, lasers, rippers, cultivators, listers and planters and will ensure equipment is operating properly at optimum performances. Workers must conduct daily maintenance check prior to operate the tractor, monitor, and drive tractors safely and efficiently over difficult terrain and must have sufficient knowledge of tractor mechanics to make simple and minor adjustments and repairs to tractors. Workers will be required to understand and operate the GPS operating system. Required to have knowledge of driving a tractor, must pass tractor safety training and demonstrate ability to operate tractor in a safe manner.

Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties such as cleaning up field before during and after harvest, picking up trash. In addition, workers will be required to perform all operations related to sprinkler pipe irrigation, maintenance, and storage. This encompasses unstacking irrigation pipes from their seasonal storage yards and restacking them onto portable trailers and installing them into fields. Workers will also be required to remove sprinklers from these same fields and stack them in portable trailers.

In the event that an employee is injured while on the job, the Company will provide a temporary work assignment that will be as closely related to the job duties described herein, while the employee recovers from a work-related illness which meets with physicians’ clearance to return to work under specific limitations. The work assignment will not be a permanent position, it will be 
temporary to accommodate the injured worker under doctor’s restrictions and time period that may differ from the heavy field work described within.

All of the above work requires an able bodied person to lift up to 60 lbs., odd shapes, pull, push, walk on uneven ground all day, good eyesight for plant identification and ability to see what to harvest and where to make cuts, good personal hygiene, clothes and shoes appropriate for working in heat/ cold/ outdoors, ability to take instructions and follow them, use safety equipment 
correctly. If machine operator, driver must safely and carefully operate equipment that they are authorized/trained on in a safe manner.

Must have 1 months work experience as an irrigator and agricultural equipment operator as defined in this application.

Specific requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds frequently and being able to use hand tools. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or housing. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of company supervisors and managers.

Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to sun, mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, wet, humid, warm, and dry and other natural elements of the normal field environment. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described.

This work may entail exposure to plant pollens, insects, and noxious plants, and to fields and plant materials which have been treated with insect and/or disease control sprays. The employer will comply with all worker protection standards and re-entry restrictions applicable to pesticides and other chemicals used in the fields. Workers are also required to comply with all applicable 
worker protection standards and re-entry times. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of company supervisors and managers.

Daily individual work assignments will be made by, and at the sole discretion of, the Company as the needs of the harvesting operation dictate. Workers will be assigned to specific worksites by the company.

Workers are expected to assist in maintaining work areas and company property in a neat and clean condition by not littering. Lunch must be eaten in the assigned area(s) away from the employee’s work site and accordance to company Food Safety policies.

Workers will be expected to comply with all provisions of this Clearance Order and the Company’s work rules, policies and procedures, and to perform all assigned tasks in a professional and efficient manner. Failure to do so will subject the worker to the employer’s disciplinary procedures. Foothill Packing endeavors to produce a premium product. This is a demanding, competitive business. A high-quality product is expected and demanded by our customers.

All food and safety rules and instructions must be meticulously observed throughout the workday. All Foothill Packing rules and policies must be followed, to the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of this Clearance Order and/or the U.S. Department of Labor’s H-2Aregulations.

The normal work week is 6 hours per day, Monday through Friday, and 5 hours on Saturday (35 hours per week). Saturday work is required. Workers may be requested to work on Sundays or Federal Holidays depending on the conditions of the fields, weather, and maturity of the crop.

Overtime may be requested.

This is regular, full-time work for a temporary period of time requiring the worker to be available for work on a daily basis. This is not “day work”. Excessive tardiness and/or absences will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action, in accordance to Foothill’s policies in its handbook.

Start times vary depending on the weather and working conditions may change (fog, rain, heavy dew, and frost). The workday start times may vary between 4:00 am and 7:00 am and the workday end times vary between from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm depending on the start time. Work can start early in the morning. Workers must be able to work varying shifts as required by the season and work performed. Workers are notified of any change in the start time. Occasionally night time work between 5:00pm to 11:30 pm due to extreme temperature.

Employees are expected to take meal and rest periods as outlined below. Rest and meal periods will be staggered accordingly, an unpaid lunch break of 30 minutes for every 5 hours of work and 10 minutes paid rest period for every four hours worked or major fraction thereof. In a work day of more than 10 hours, a second unpaid meal period of 30 minutes is authorized, but may be waived if working 12 hours or less and the first meal period was taken. The second meal period cannot be waived if working more than 12 hours. Employees will be relieved of all work during meal and rest periods, if rest periods are interrupted by work, employees must notify management.

All employees not occupying employer-provided housing must provide the Company with contact information before the worker commences employment. This contact information may be used to notify the worker not to report work due to inclement weather or when work is not available or to notify the workers of any change in the worker’s daily schedule, or for any other reason.

Employees may experience a temporary reduction in work and/or a temporary work stoppage due to the natural agricultural cycle.

Tools and equipment: The Company will provide tools and equipment necessary to perform all required tasks at no cost to the worker. Tools and equipment include knives, gloves, and safety glasses, which will be provided if needed to perform the job. The reasonable repair and or replacement cost of tools or equipment may be deducted from the worker’s paycheck for willful damage or loss of such tools or equipment. The employer will not make any deduction from the wage or require any reimbursement from an employee for any cash shortage, breakage, or loss of equipment, unless it can be shown that such shortage, breakage, or loss is caused by a dishonest or willful act, or by the gross negligence of the employee.