Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Underground Maintenance Worker

🎯 Role Definition

The Underground Maintenance Worker is a field-focused technician responsible for the safe, efficient upkeep and repair of underground utility infrastructure — including water mains, sewer lines, storm drains, conduits, and tunnel systems. This role requires hands-on expertise in trenching and shoring, confined space entry, pipe repair and replacement, CCTV inspection, bypass pumping, and operating excavation/maintenance equipment. Ideal candidates demonstrate strong adherence to OSHA and local utility safety standards, proficiency with diagnostic and detection tools, and the ability to respond to emergency utility failures and scheduled preventive maintenance programs.

This position is optimized for organizations that maintain municipal utilities, private utility networks, transit tunnels, or commercial/institutional underground systems. The ideal Underground Maintenance Worker blends physical trade skills, technical knowledge (reading blueprints and utility maps), and clear communication for coordination with traffic control, inspectors, and contractors.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Maintenance Laborer / General Construction Laborer with trenching or excavation experience
Utility Technician Apprentice or Entry-Level Pipefitter
Road/Street Crew Worker or Municipal Public Works Laborer

Advancement To:

Senior Underground Maintenance Technician
Underground Utilities Supervisor or Crew Leader
Utilities Operations Specialist or Maintenance Foreman
Pipeline/Utility Project Coordinator or Field Safety Officer

Lateral Moves:

Traffic Control Technician
Confined Space Rescue Technician
Heavy Equipment Operator (specialization in excavators/backhoes)
Pipe Inspection & CCTV Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct scheduled and emergency inspections of underground infrastructure (water mains, sanitary sewers, storm drains, tunnels, and utility ducts) using CCTV cameras, sonar, and visual inspection techniques to identify defects, blockages, corrosion, infiltration, and structural issues.
Perform hands-on repair and rehabilitation of underground pipes and conduits, including cutting, replacing, patching, lining, banding, and coupling, ensuring pressure integrity and leak-free connections.
Execute confined space entry procedures to access vaults, manholes and tunnels; follow permit-required entry systems, atmospheric testing, continuous ventilation and rescue readiness to maintain worker safety and regulatory compliance.
Operate excavation and earth-moving equipment (backhoe, mini-excavator, skid steer) to dig trenches, expose utilities and safely backfill and compact trenches to grade while implementing proper shoring and sloping techniques.
Install and remove shoring, trench boxes and cribbing to prevent collapses and to protect personnel during open-cut excavation and repair operations.
Respond to utility emergencies including main breaks, sewer overflows, sinkholes and collapsed piping; provide immediate temporary repairs, bypass pumping, isolation of lines, and coordinate permanent restoration work.
Set up and manage bypass pumping systems and dewatering operations to maintain service continuity during repairs, including pump sizing, hose routing, and monitoring flows and discharge points.
Perform preventive maintenance tasks such as root cutting, jetting, flushing, and debris removal to reduce blockages and maintain flow capacity in sewer and storm systems.
Conduct in-field testing and monitoring of atmospheric conditions, combustible gas, oxygen and toxic gases with calibrated gas monitors prior to and during work in confined spaces and trenches.
Read, interpret and work from utility maps, blueprints, as-built drawings, and GIS records to locate underground assets and plan safe excavation and repair strategies.
Coordinate with utility locate services, 811 calls and private locators to verify and protect existing underground utilities before digging; use electronic locators and potholing techniques to confirm line positions.
Perform cable and fiber conduit maintenance tasks including seal replacement, conduit cleaning, inner duct inspection, and assisting splicing crews as required.
Conduct concrete and masonry repair for vaults, headwalls, manhole frames, and channel surfaces, including forming, pouring, finishing and patching to restore structural integrity.
Maintain accurate daily logs, work orders, asset maintenance records and incident reports in CMMS or dispatch systems; document photos, materials used and time on site for audit and billing purposes.
Coordinate traffic control, barricades, signage and pedestrian access around work sites to ensure public safety and compliance with municipal or DOT standards during repairs and excavations.
Operate vacuum trucks (hydro-vac) for soft excavation and debris removal when exposing sensitive utilities, ensuring precise and non-destructive digging around cables and pipelines.
Perform routine maintenance on tools and equipment (generators, pumps, compressors, saws, cutters) and report or perform minor repairs to maintain a safe, serviceable fleet.
Apply corrosion control techniques, cathodic protection checks and coatings to prolong the life of metallic pipelines and vaults, and schedule follow-up inspections for treated components.
Collaborate with project managers, engineers and contractors to prepare scope-of-work estimates, material lists and timeframes for repair projects, supporting cost control and project scheduling.
Lead or mentor junior crew members and apprentices on safe excavation practices, pipe joining, confined space entry and proper documentation procedures to build team capability.
Perform emergency scene stabilization, isolate hazards, and communicate with supervisors and the public during high-visibility utility disruptions, ensuring transparent and timely updates.
Ensure proper disposal of excavated materials, contaminated soils and waste water in accordance with environmental regulations and company policies.
Install temporary and permanent restoration measures for pavement, sidewalks, landscaping and hardscape following trench repair, coordinating with vendors for asphalt or concrete patches.

Secondary Functions

Assist in planning maintenance cycles and contribute field insights to the preventive maintenance schedule for underground networks.
Enter work orders, inspection results and inventory usage into the organization's CMMS/GIS to improve asset management accuracy.
Participate in daily toolbox talks, safety briefings, and post-incident reviews to promote continuous safety improvements and hazard recognition.
Help test and evaluate new inspection technologies (e.g., robotic crawlers, high-resolution CCTV systems) and recommend tools that improve inspection quality and productivity.
Support permit applications, utility coordination packets and customer notifications for planned outages or street closures.
Train and cross-train team members on specialized tasks such as vacuum excavation, bypass pumping set-up, trench shoring installation and gas monitor calibration.
Assist environmental compliance teams with odor control, spill containment and reporting for incidents involving sewage or contaminated discharge.
Provide input to procurement on commonly used parts, fittings and specialty materials to optimize inventory levels and reduce downtime.
Engage with public works inspectors and regulatory agencies during scheduled work to verify that repaired assets meet municipal and state standards.
Perform seasonal readiness checks (freeze protection, storm preparedness) and contribute to emergency response planning and drills.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Confined space entry and rescue procedures, including permit-required entry compliance and continuous atmospheric monitoring.
Trenching and shoring expertise: safe excavation practices, use of trench boxes and compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.
Heavy equipment operation: safe operation and basic maintenance of backhoes, mini-excavators, skid steers, and loaders.
CCTV sewer inspection and interpretation of video logs to locate defects, root intrusion and structural failures.
Pipe repair and installation skills across materials (PVC, ductile iron, HDPE, concrete, clay): cutting, joining (mechanical couplings, fusion, solvent weld), lining and sealing.
Bypass pumping and dewatering system setup and monitoring, including pump selection and hose management.
Utility locating and potholing techniques: use of electromagnetic locators, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) awareness and vacuum excavation for positive identification.
Equipment maintenance and troubleshooting for pumps, generators, compressors, and hydraulic tools.
Knowledge of traffic control setup and temporary pedestrian routing for safe work zones in public right-of-way.
Welding and metal fabrication skills (where required) for frame, bracket and vault repairs — stick and MIG welding experience a plus.
Basic concrete/masonry repair skills for manhole frames, lids, channels and vault structures.
CMMS/GIS data entry and experience with work order systems, plus ability to document repairs with photos and notes.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with attention to detail and the ability to identify and mitigate workplace hazards.
Clear verbal communication for coordinating with teammates, supervisors, inspectors and the public.
Problem-solving ability and mechanical aptitude to diagnose complex underground failures and implement practical repairs.
Teamwork and leadership readiness to mentor junior staff and coordinate multi-trade crews on site.
Time management and reliability: prioritize emergency calls and scheduled work while maintaining documentation and compliance.
Customer service orientation when interacting with residents, business owners and municipal stakeholders during disruptions.
Adaptability and resilience: comfortable working in adverse weather conditions and physically demanding environments.
Situational awareness and diplomacy when managing high-visibility incidents or traffic disruptions.
Initiative to suggest process or tool improvements and participate in continuous improvement activities.
Record-keeping discipline to produce accurate logs, regulatory reports and maintenance histories.

Certifications commonly required or preferred: Confined Space Entry/Rescue, OSHA 10 or OSHA 30, HAZWOPER 8/24 (as applicable), CPR/First Aid, DOT/CDL (if operating classified vehicles), Traffic Control/Flagger certification, Vacuum Excavation Operator certification, and relevant state/local utility certifications.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED; demonstrated hands-on experience in underground utilities, construction or heavy equipment operations.

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate or technical diploma in Utility Maintenance, Construction Trades, Pipefitting, Civil Construction or a related field.
Specialized training certificates in confined space, HAZWOPER, heavy equipment operation, or wastewater/collection system maintenance.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Trades / Skilled Labor
Civil Engineering Technology or Infrastructure Maintenance
Utility Maintenance / Water & Wastewater Technology
Mechanical Technology / Pipefitting

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on experience in underground utilities, municipal/public works, or construction with proven experience in excavation, pipe repair and confined space operations.

Preferred:

3–7 years experience as an Underground Maintenance Worker, Utility Technician, Pipefitter or Sewer Maintenance Technician with documented emergency response and preventive maintenance history.
Experience operating heavy equipment, performing bypass pumping and completing CCTV inspections.
Prior work with municipal utilities, transit authorities, or large commercial sites with regulated reporting, permitting and traffic-control responsibilities.