Plant Utility Worker

City of Hamilton, Ohio; Hamilton (OH); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Hamilton is seeking an experienced utility maintenance worker for its hydroelectric and power facilities. The role involves operating hydroelectric generators, performing inspections, and maintaining a range of plant equipment and systems.

Strong technical aptitude and the ability to follow detailed procedures are essential. Applicants should have a High School Diploma and at least one year of relevant experience in power plant or utility maintenance.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required. One year experience in power plant/utility maintenance preferred.
• Experience with hydroelectric and turbine equipment is desirable.
• Ability to read plans and follow detailed instructions.

Responsibilities

• Makes scheduled inspections of hydroelectric plant equipment and records readings.
• Starts up and shuts down hydroelectric generators as required; operates controls.
• Performs and documents regulatory inspections of plant and waterways.
• Reads turbine meters and records readings; responds to alarms and takes corrective action.
• Maintains plant buildings and equipment; performs minor repairs and adjustments.
• Assists in repairing and maintaining pumps, motors, and other machinery.

Skills

Hydroelectric ops

Preventive maintenance

Troubleshooting

Blueprint reading

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

THIS IS AN INTERNAL POSTING. ONLY CURRENT CITY OF HAMILTON EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IUOE, LOCAL 20 MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL BE REJECTED.

This is skilled and semi-skilled work in the maintenance of facilities and equipment in a variety of Utility Operations facilities, including Hydroelectric facilities, Water Plants, Water Reclamation Facilities, Electric Generation Plant, and other City facilities.

Employees in this class are responsible for the performance of a variety of operating, relief, inspection, repair and maintenance tasks in maintaining the efficient operations of these facilities.

Employees are responsible for the operation of hydroelectric generation and auxiliary equipment at the Hamilton Hydroelectric plant.

Employees are responsible for the operation of gas turbine and auxiliary equipment at the Hamilton Power plant.

This position reports to the Supervising Mechanical Engineer or Director’s designee. Assignments are received both orally and in writing and are performed in cooperation with, or under the supervision of the Supervising Mechanical Engineer, Power Plant 1st Class Maintenance Mechanic, or supervisor’s designee.

Detailed assistance is provided initially or on difficult or complex tasks. Aside from normal position duties, this employee will exercise independent judgment particularly in meeting unusual or emergency conditions. All work is reviewed in process and upon completion by appropriate personnel for proper performance and adequacy of results.

• Makes scheduled inspections of the Hamilton hydroelectric plant to ensure that all equipment is functioning properly and to read, and record on log sheets, the readings from gauges and meters with respect to pressures, voltage, output, temperatures, etc.
• Starts up and shuts down hydroelectric generators at the Hamilton Hydroelectric Plant according to the supply and flow of water; operates various mechanical and electrical controls in regulating the electric production.
• Checks to determine that the Hamilton Hydroelectricplant water level indicator and battery systems are functioning properly.
• Performs and documents all regularly scheduled regulatory inspections of the Hamilton hydroelectric plant and associated equipment and waterways, including crack monitoring and weekly inspections.
• Keeps the Hamilton Hydroelectric Plant building and equipment clean and make minor repairs or adjustments. Keeps water intake screens free of debris.
• Operates, inspects and tends combustion turbine power generating and auxiliary equipment
• Monitors the operation and condition of combustion turbine power generating and auxiliary equipment for proper operation, in accordance with established policies and procedures, takes and records a varietyof readings, makes adjustments to turbine and auxiliary equipment and operating correctionsas required; reports abnormal conditions; takes corrective measures.
• Reads turbine operating metering devices and records readings in plant log.
• Responds to supervisory alarms from the control panel and takes immediate remedial actionincluding manual control of equipment in case of failure or faulty operation ofautomatic controls.
• Installs, operates and repairs mechanical and operating systems within the Third Street Power plant.
• Prepares, implements and maintains a schedule of maintenance for the up-keep of the City of Hamilton Third Street Power Plant.
• Oversees, inspects and performs maintenance at the Third Street Power plant and internal systems, including plumbing, heating, and other mechanical systems
• Knowledge of controls on building mechanical systems to ensure efficient and properfunctioning of equipment
• Performs or assigns tasks involving the maintenance and up-keep of the Third Street Power plant.
• Visits designated locations, as directed, to observe equipment and conditions.
• Assists in taking down, replacing parts in, reassembling and testing turbine and generators.
• Performs preventive maintenance such as checking, lubricating, or inspecting plant auxiliaries and hydroelectric systems as directed. Reports any unusual conditions to their supervisor.
• Removes, tins, pours, grooves, scrapes and fits babbitted journal bearings; sets brass bushings; realigns crankshafts through adjustment of pedestal bearings; grinds valves and valve seats.
• Assists in repairing, overhauling and reassembling operating parts of pumps; uses hand tools in repairing and maintaining pumps, motors, air compressors, valves and other plant machinery and equipment.
• Takes and records various readings; changes charts on graphic instruments.
• Lubricates all plant equipment including turbine generators; inspects machines for hot bearings, sticking valves and other trouble, makes running adjustments and repairs.
• Assists in operating and tending auxiliary and other equipment, as assigned.
• Assists in rounds and inspection of turbine and auxiliary equipment and other equipment in operation; checks and maintains proper oil level; checks packing glands; checks bearing temperatures; reports abnormal conditions.
• Performs scheduled maintenance on equipment and facilities.
• Repairs, and assists with repair of, malfunctioning equipment and assists with installation of new equipment.
• Lubricates, cleans and maintains packing glands on wash water, high service pumps, and sludge pumps in a water reclamation plant.
• Assists in the reconditioning, maintenance and cleaning of deep wells; assists in pulling from ground, cleaning and painting and replacing of worn parts; and in setting up and tearing down rigging in the well fields; repairs well houses and pumps.
• Wash, clean and remove settled solids material from various tanks.
• Cleans machinery, equipment and floors of buildings as assigned.
• Performs skilled machine work, piping and repair.
• Installs piping to carry liquids or compressed air.
• Fabricates, maintains and repairs metal objects through the operation of lathes, shapers, planers, milling machines, drill presses and similar equipment; and gauges work carefully by using precision tools.
• Operates traveling screens in pump house as assigned.
• Performs electric welding; uses cutting torch; does burning, brazing and miscellaneous blacksmithing.
• Uses power bench tools (saws, pipe threader, welders, drill press, etc.) in repair and maintenance of equipment.
• Sand blasts, cleans, and paints motors, piping, valves and other equipment.
• Assess the condition of used parts using micrometers, calipers and specifications.
• Record all maintenance and repair services performed and keep track of all materials and parts used during the repair process.
• Uses outdoor maintenance equipment such as mowers, weed whackers, trimmers, sprayers to maintain various city properties.
• Studies manufacturer manuals and blueprints and carefully follow directions when operating or setting up newly acquired machinery.
• Receives, reviews, utilizes, and follows tasks from the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Records, corrects, adds to, and provides feedback to information received from the CMMS system.
• Travels as necessary to support a variety of Utility Operations facilities, including the Greenup, Meldahl, and Hamilton Hydroelectric facilities, Water Plants, Water Reclamation Facilities, Third Street Power Plant, and other City facilities.
• Occasionally acts as crew leaders over Plant Utility Worker, Plant Maintenance, and Laborers.
• Occasionally works nights, weekends, and several weeks straight without time off to support urgent needs.
• Performs related work as required.

• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions of the work.
• Knowledge of the functions and mechanics of the stationary equipment typically found in power plants, water plant, or water reclamation such as turbines, generators, pumps, motors, conveyors, air compressors and related equipment.
• Knowledge of the methods and practices used in operating a hydroelectric system including knowledge of efficient operating levels of water supply.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, blueprints, sketches, models and oral and written instructions.
• Knowledge of proper methods of oiling movable parts.
• Ability to check a wide variety of mechanical and electrical equipment and to detect defects or flaws in operation.
• Knowledge of the methods, materials, tools and practices of the mechanical trades.
• Knowledge of the general methods of carpentry and plumbing repairs, and skill in making general maintenance repairs.
• Some knowledge of the tools, materials, methods and standard practices of the machinist trade.
• Some knowledge of the inter-relationships between the various plant machines and equipment and the effect that faulty operation of one has on the system.
• Skill in the use of bench and hand tools, machines and equipment of the mechanical and related trades.
• Ability to make minor adjustments and repairs of automotive equipment and hydroelectric systems.
• Mechanical aptitude and good general intelligence.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to react quickly and calmly in an emergency.
• Ability to understand and carry out both oral and written directions.
• Ability to report malfunctions or irregularities in writing.
• Mathematical ability to perform necessary calculations to determine malfunctions or operational needs.
• Some knowledge of the principles of electrical power generation.
• Some knowledge of the principles of drinking water production.
• Some knowledge of the principles of water reclamation.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) [will be verified for finalists]; and
• One (1) year experience in power plant operations, water production operations, water reclamation operations, industrial maintenance, or utility maintenance; and
• Possession of a valid driver's license [will be verified for finalists].

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) to five (5) years ofexperience in power plant operations, water production operations, water reclamation operations, industrial maintenance, or utility maintenance.