TITLE: LABORER

DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS 

 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This is general highway and park maintenance work involving the construction and maintenance of roads, drainage, curbing, storm sewers, public grounds, athletic fields, and landscaped areas.

Work involves responsibility for safe and effective use of handheld tools and power equipment in basic highway and park maintenance. Duties include maintaining highways and parks, assisting in road drainage, curbing, and storm sewer construction and repair, maintaining fields, playgrounds and open areas.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Highway and Parks Superintendents, or a Crew Leader, as assigned. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assists in patching roads, repairing, and replacing highway barriers, clearing catch basins, and performing related maintenance tasks using hand tools.

 Cuts brush and clears land. Maintains the cleanliness and service of roadways and public areas. Mows grass.

Assists in road, drainage, curbing and underground utility construction.

Lifts and carries heavy objects.

 Assists in stone mason work, mixes cement, loads and unloads truck of construction material.

 Assists in grading baseball diamonds, lining athletic fields, painting benches and other facilities, cleaning and maintaining buildings, including comfort stations.

Performs work in a safe manner and observes all safety procedures. Operates light maintenance equipment and machinery such as tractors, medium sized mowers, light dump trucks, chain saws and various power tools.

 Maintains lawns and fields, plants and maintains shrubs and flowers. Plants grass seed, spreads fertilizer, sprays weeds, rakes leaves. Fabricates and installs signs. Removes leaves and snow.

Uses all tools, equipment and materials responsibly and performs basic inspection and preventive maintenance prior to use. 

Fills out job forms, as assigned.

 May perform work alone when mowing for extended periods.

NONESSENTIAL DUTIES

None.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Some knowledge of the tools, equipment and methods of manual labor in highway and parks maintenance.

 Some knowledge of the work standards and safety procedures of manual labor in highway maintenance.

 Good ability to drive light gas vehicles, such as pick-up trucks, small dump trucks, and to learn the operation of dump trucks and heavy equipment.

 Good ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers.

 Good skill in the use of the hand tools and power equipment.

 Good ability to follow oral and written instructions and to learn city procedures.

 Some ability to fill out forms.

 QUALIFICATIONS

A high school diploma, or the equivalent, plus one year of experience in manual labor and hand tool or power tool operations, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience.

 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have a valid Connecticut driver's license.

 TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Pickup trucks, and small dump trucks, snow blowers, grass mowers, power equipment such as jackhammers, leaf blowers, weed whackers and hand tools such as shovel, rake and broom.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

 GENERAL GUIDELINES

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

 The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.