Sanitation Worker

Under general supervision, performs municipal solid waste collection services including refuse, bulky waste, yard waste, recycling, and cleanups at City facilities by driving a collection vehicle and loading, hauling and unloading solid wastes according to established procedures and regulations; and performs related work as required.

Responsibilities

• Drives and operates solid waste collection vehicles, which includes rear loading and automated side loading trucks on assigned routes.
• Maneuvers vehicles through streets, alleys and traffic while obeying all traffic laws and regulations.
• Operates lift, packing, and dumping mechanisms on trucks; picks up spilled and dumped materials; inspects all materials for compliance with City collection procedures and regulations.
• Ensures that solid wastes are collected separately as required by department policy and procedures including refuse, bulky waste, yard waste and recyclables.
• Reports problems with collection, including customer compliance, equipment operation and route completion; unloads materials at a sanitary landfill, materials recycling facility and other disposal facilities as required; and assists other work crews in the completion of assigned work.
• Responsible for the safe operation and proper care of assigned vehicles and equipment; performs daily maintenance and reports problems on vehicles and equipment, including pre-trip and post-trip inspections of the chassis, packing mechanisms and other equipment as required; and cleans vehicles daily as required.
• Adheres to all Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations, including wearing of all mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform all job-related duties.
• Completes daily reports and records solid waste tagged for non-compliance regarding collection and equipment as needed for analysis of routes and work routines by supervisory staff.
• Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies, procedures and safety practices.
• Timely attendance is mandatory for emergency snow removal operations.
• Plows snow, spreads ice melting chemicals (salt) and provides operator level maintenance of plow and spreader equipment.
• Responds to emergency calls, flood control, storms, snow, and other serve weather by performing work of a similar nature, and manual labor including shoveling snow, filling sandbags, and other related activities involving time after normal working hours, overtime hours, weekends and holidays, which may involve operating street maintenance equipment.

Non-Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Makes repairs to garbage and recycling carts as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: A level of knowledge normally acquired through the successful completion of high school or a GED equivalency. This position requires the successful completion of the Iowa Civil Service examination, meeting additional requirements stated in the Code of Iowa. Must possess, and maintain throughout the duration of employment, a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL), with air brake and tank endorsements.

Experience

Requires six (6) to twelve (12) months of successful experience operating solid waste collection vehicles or commercial driving experience. This is an entry level position in the Operations Division of Public Works.

Analytical Abilities

Requires the ability to operate equipment and tools in such a manner as to prevent injury to self, co-workers, property and equipment.

Interpersonal Skills

Requires excellent interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate with co-workers, other City employees, residents, and respond to requests made by the general public. Must be an effective team player and requires the ability to work independently.

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.

• Able to lift, carry, and load awkward size and heavy (ranging from 20 to 40 lbs.) objects, bags or containers.
• Able to climb on and off the vehicles ranging from one step to twenty-four inches (24").
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing, which permits the employee to communicate effectively.
• Sufficient vision, which permits the employee to read information, road signs, and operate equipment and tools.
• Sufficient manual dexterity, which permits the employee to operate equipment and tools.
• Sufficient personal mobility, which permits the employee to complete daily route tasks and operate equipment and tools.

Work Schedule

Generally, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with a half hour unpaid lunch. Hours may vary based on flexible scheduling or needs of the department. Must be available outside of and in addition to these hours for weekend solid waste collection, City meetings and emergency activities. Will be required to be on call for snow removal from November 15th and ending March 31st of every year.