15 Oct
Halifax Water
Halifax Regional Municipality
Competition # HW24-CSOE Department Wastewater and Stormwater Services Primary Function
Working out of our 455 Cowie Hill Rd. (Halifax) depot or our 213 Bissett Rd. depot (Dartmouth), as a Collection Systems Operator Apprentice you will:
- Perform scheduled and emergency cleaning, repair, and maintenance of sanitary and stormwater sewers, pipes, pumping stations and related infrastructure.
- Operate a variety of vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe manner.
- Work primarily outdoors, in all weather conditions and in confined spaces, etc.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Operates a variety of cleaning, maintenance, repair equipment, tools and vehicles
- Cleans, repairs, and maintains sewers, underground access chambers, catch basins,
wet/dry wells, laterals and forcemains, etc.
- Replaces, repairs, and adjusts manhole and catchbasin covers
- Responds to flood, fuel spills, sewer odors, sewer backups and customer complaints. Investigates and resolves such complaints
- Inspects wastewater and stormwater related infrastructure
- Cleans repairs and maintains storm sewers, culverts, catchbasins, ditches including grading
- Loads and unloads equipment and materials as required
- General care, maintenance and safe operation of assigned equipment and tools
- Orders supplies and materials as required
- Provides written and verbal reports concerning daily work activities
- Must be willing to work overtime for emergency call-outs
- Performs other related duties as required
Reporting Relationships
Reports to: Works Supervisor
Supervises: N/A
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Grade 12 or equivalent
- A valid Class 5Nova Scotia Drivers’ license
- Two years of experience working in a similar environment and with similar equipment and tools. (ie: road construction, paving crew, pipe laying, jet truck operation, hydro excavation)
- You will be required to obtain certification through Nova Scotia Environment within 6 months of hire as an Operator-in-Training. We arrange for the exam and pay the fee to write it
To Progress in this role to the next level (and higher pay) you will require the following:
- Collection Systems Operator Level I
- 18 months of experience working for Halifax Water as a Collection Systems Operator Apprentice
- Nova Scotia Environment Wastewater Collection Level I certification
- Class 3 Drivers’ license
- Demonstration of your ability to perform the various tasks within the Collection Systems Operator role such as:
manhole repair and installation, catch basin repair, lateral installation, which will be verified by a completed checklist
- Collection Systems Operator Level 2
- 3 years of experience working for Halifax Water in Wastewater Collections
- Nova Scotia Environment Wastewater Collection Level II certification
- Demonstration of your ability to complete more complex tasks such as cleaning sewers, troubleshooting, cleaning pump station wet wells, etc. which will be verified by a completed checklist
Other Requirements
Technical Knowledge:
- Must be familiar with related Occupational Health and Safety practices
- Must have good verbal and written communication skills. Must be willing to work overtime for emergency call outs.
- Must be reliable,
punctual and have a good attendance record.
- Must be willing to take occupational and other training related to classification and equipment
- Must meet and maintain essential physical requirements of the position as described in Working Conditions
Competencies:
Physical Demands/Working Conditions:
- Location: primarily outdoors and underground in an environment that includes dust, fumes, volatile organic compounds, noise, odor, heat, cold, etc.
- Equipment and tools operation in difficult conditions (heat, rain, snow, ice or confined spaces)
- Workload Level: Medium to Heavy. May be required to work alone
Essential Physical Requirements:
- Pre-employment testing and periodic reassessment and retesting will be required which will include functional assessment plus confined space entry with appropriate equipment.
- Standing, walking, head/neck- neutral, bilateral handling - simple and firm grasp, climbing, sitting (driving), forward reaching, lifting.
- Required to enter and work in confined spaces. Must be capable of safely accessing and egressing confined spaces with safety gear using Duo Safety Corporation ladders rated at a maximum load of 750lbs. These confined spaces have a minimum manhole access of 27 inches in diameter. May be required to wear respiratory equipment, depending on environmental conditions. Worker is required to wear a full body harness when working in underground/enclosed areas.
- Sitting and foot movement (driving): occasional (on average 1 - 2.5 hrs/shift)
- Standing and walking:
frequent (2.5 to 5.5 hrs/shift, short to moderate periods of dynamic standing, interspersed with occasional to frequent periods of short to moderate distance walking)
- Bending and forward reaching: occasional to frequent depending on work project
- Reaching Overhead: occasional (1 - 2.5 hrs/shift)
- Balance: occasional (1 - 2.5 hrs/shift)
- Head/neck neutral mobility: frequently (2.5 to 5.5 hrs/shift)
- Head/neck-flexion, extension, rotation: occasional (1 - 2.5 hrs/shift)
- Climbing or descending: occasional (ladders from 4 - 40 feet, average 10-15 foot ladders)
- Bilateral handling: constant (over 5.5 hrs/shift)
- Handling - Simple and firm hand grasp: frequent (2.5 to 5.5 hrs/shift)
- Handling - turning and fine finger manipulation:
minimal (0 - 1 hr/shift)
- Lifting: occasional (1 - 2.5 hrs/shift - 5 to 70lbs - one worker)
- Lifting: minimal (0 – 1 hr/shift - 70-135lbs - 2 workers working jointly)
- Carrying: occasional (20-70lbs - 1 - 2.5 hrs/shift)
- Pulling forces: heavy range (50-100lbs)
- Kneeling, crouching, squatting: occasional (1 - 2.5 hrs/shift)
- Crawling, twisting: minimal (0 - 1 hr/shift)
HOURS OF WORK : As per Collective Agreement
RATE OF PAY : As per Collective Agreement
This is a CUPE Local 227 Unionized position
▶️ Collections Systems Operator, Apprentice(s)
🖊️ Halifax Water
📍 Halifax Regional Municipality