Agricultural Equipment Operators

at j&j dill in Union, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance (ability to continue or last) to repeat the harvest process though out the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Workers may not leave trash, or other discarded items in work areas or vehicles but must dispose of such items in provided receptacles. Workers must wash hands with soap and water after all bathroom and meal breaks. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, related agricultural chemicals, etc., may affect worker’s ability to perform the work described herein. Sanitation Requirements: For food and general personal safety purposes, all workers will be required and expected to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly critical when hand harvesting crops for human consumption. Employees are required to cleanse their hands by washing them thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before entering the fields for harvest activities or the packing facility for packing operations. Agricultural Equipment Operation: Worker may operate equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors and implements. Worker may manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Worker may attach farm implements such as harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools. Worker may load hoppers, containers, and conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, shovels, and pitchforks. Worker may operate grading and digging equipment. Worker may perform preventive maintenance and troubleshooting repair on equipment. Worker should inspect, observe, and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions. Stay a safe distance away and do not touch any moving part of a machine. Never try to un-jam clothes, ice or cardboard while machines are running. Do not stand between a moving tractor and implement. Never stand on the hitch. Always place chocks at the back of tires on a trailer. Never remove a safety guard. If a guard is damaged or missing, report it and do not operate the machine. Worker should notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions or is not safe. Worker may repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment by adjusting, repairing, and servicing them. Any worker’s negligence, resulting in damage to any machinery or equipment, will be cause for disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Worker may mix specified materials and chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, and seeds into planter and sprayer machinery. Cilantro, Parsley (plain, & curly), Collards, Kale (Green, Black, Red, Loose), Greens (Mustard, Turnip), Dill (Pickling & Dill), Beets (bunch & Golden Bunch), Dandelion (Green & Red), Chard (Green, Red, & Rainbow), Kohlrabi, Mint, Parley Root: Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables. Workers will bend and stoop to pick vegetables according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity and place into field containers. Workers may carry full container weighing approximately fifty (50) lbs. and empty into field bin or load onto trailer. May be required to pull and discard culls as directed by supervisor. Pickers will take care not to bruise or scar produce. Workers will stand on feet for long periods of time. Workers are required to work in fields when plants are wet with dew or rain. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from forty (40) to over one hundred (100) degrees. Field Maintenance: At the end of the season the works will perform post-harvest field clean up including removing plastic mulch. Workers will set up irrigation system, move, and take down irrigation system at the end of the season. Building Maintenance: workers will assist in building and repairing greenhouses. Box making: workers may be required to make their own boxes for field packing harvested vegetables.