Laborer

Job Information

This position is a union position with Illinois American Water and the starting pay rate is $31.30 per hour.

This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement, and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth. In addition to compensation, you will receive a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!

American Water employees also receive learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally.

Work Schedule

Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rotational Overtime.

Primary Role

Installs and repairs service lines, water mains, and hydrants. May operate heavy machinery.

Key Accountabilities

• Repairs/replaces water lines and mains on a frequent basis, requiring constant standing and walking on uneven and slippery surfaces, good balance, and even weight distribution.
• Uses pry bar to open lid to the valve.
• Enters and exits excavation sites, using ladders to climb down and into holes.
• Uses key to open/close valves.
• Holds onto handle at waist height and turns valve.
• Puts sleeve on the main and tightens by hand, using a wrench; may lay on stomach or sides on the ground.
• Backhoe digs a hole and may have to hand-shovel.
• Two-person lifts/carries shoring from truck to hole, weighing 50-90#; lowers
• shoring into hole. Carries pump to hole (40#) and attaches pump to shoring.
• Carries dewatering pump to hole (75-90#), and may need to use cheater bar.
• Must be alert and able to perceive sounds of voices and machinery and acutely observe surroundings.
• Uses backhoe, shoring, pumping, dewatering pump (75-90#), tamper wrenches, cheater bar, shovels, rakes, hand tools, and air tools, ladder, cut-off saw (25#).

Key Accountabilities Cont'd

• Uses hand and air tools, pry bar, key, hand-held and truck- mounted valve turning equipment.
• Any or all of these duties may require grasping, wrist deviation, forearm rotation, trunk/elbow/neck flexion, forward reaching, extension, and internal/external rotation.
• Locates water lines on an occasional basis: drives vehicle with automatic transmission to location of water lines; uses map to locate the area and pulls card from file in the vehicle; finds meter tile and removes meter lid with meter hook, hooks locating cables to the service, shoveling to remove dirt or debris from on top of meter tile; loosens stuck lid; finds and marks locations of the water lines; pushes equipment down into ground to locate main; uses locating device to find the pipe and puts flag in location or spray paints mark. Uses hammer, small pry bar, probing rod, locating device, flag, meter, card file, shovel, meter, etc.
• Any or all of these duties may require constant gripping, neck rotation, vibration, neck flexion, sweeping motions, etc. 
• Performs traffic control on an occasional basis: places cones and signs in the appropriate place in the roadway; lifts up to 10
• Uses cones and traffic control signs.
• Any or all of these duties may require constant standing and walking, trunk/shoulder/elbow flexion, wrist extension and flexion, and neck rotation
• Meter reading and Field Service representative work.

Knowledge/Skills

• General Construction
• Repairs/replaces hydrants/valves, as needed: uses backhoe to dig around the hydrant/valve; hand digs, as necessary; uses hydraulic snappers (100#), with a pumping motion to squeeze the main and break it; uses backhoe to move the hydrant; flushes hydrants, using a wrench to open/shut the hydrant; may need to use a cheater pipe; lubricates the threads; holding onto handle at waist height, uses key (30#) to open/close the valve; operates cut-off saw (25 #) and tapping equipment.
• Any or all of these duties may require trunk/neck /elbow/shoulder flexion, grasping, extension, forward reaching, and internal/external rotation.
• Maintains hydrants/valves on a frequent basis: Flushes hydrants: uses a wrench to open/shut the hydrant; may need to use a cheater pipe; lubricates the threads; uses key (30#) to open/close valve; holds onto handle at waist height and turns valve; uses pry bar to open lid to the valve.

Experience/Education

• Water and/or wastewater experience preferred
• High School Diploma or Equivalent

Work Environment

• Works on mud, gravel, asphalt, concrete, grass, and slippery and uneven surfaces. Work is outside and in all weather conditions.
• Exposure to dust, fumes, and gases

Other

• May work excessive overtime beyond the normal shift or normal work week during system emergencies.
• Valid drivers license / CDL required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire date.

Competencies