Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Crew Worker

🎯 Role Definition

A Utility Crew Worker is a field-focused technician responsible for the construction, inspection, maintenance, and emergency repair of public utility infrastructure including water mains, sewer lines, storm drains, hydrants, valves, manholes, and associated roadway restoration. The role requires safe operation of trucks and light-to-heavy equipment, adherence to confined-space and traffic-control regulations, clear communication with supervisors and residents, and reliable documentation of work performed. Utility Crew Workers support preventive maintenance programs, respond to service outages, and help maintain continuous utility service while minimizing community disruption.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Grounds maintenance worker, landscaper, or general laborer transitioning into utilities
Construction laborer or pavement/road maintenance technician
Apprentice or trainee from vocational heavy-equipment programs

Advancement To:

Utility Crew Lead / Senior Utility Technician
Equipment Operator / Heavy Equipment Technician
Maintenance Supervisor or Public Works Crew Supervisor
Pipeline Technician, Distribution System Operator, or Utilities Foreperson

Lateral Moves:

Traffic Control Technician / Flagging Specialist
Stormwater Technician / Drainage Specialist
Water Distribution Operator / Wastewater Collections Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform routine and emergency maintenance, repair, and replacement of water mains, sewer lines, service laterals, hydrants, valves, and manholes using hand tools, trenching equipment, pipe cutters, and fittings while following manufacturer guidelines and municipal standards.
Operate and maintain light and heavy equipment such as dump trucks, backhoes, skid steers, jetters, vacuum trucks, compressors, and trenchers to excavate, backfill, and restore utility trenches and service connections safely and efficiently.
Conduct routine inspections of utility infrastructure (manholes, catch basins, culverts, hydrants, valve boxes) to identify structural issues, blockages, leaks, corrosion, or safety hazards and report findings to supervisors with recommended remediation actions.
Respond to after-hours emergency calls for sewer backups, main breaks, storm damage, and service outages; stabilize incidents, perform temporary repairs, coordinate with emergency crews, and document response actions for follow-up permanent repairs.
Install and repair pavement cuts, asphalt and concrete patches, curb and gutter repairs, compact backfill to specifications, and perform final surface restoration to ensure compliance with roadway and municipality repair standards.
Execute confined-space entry tasks (manholes, vaults) in accordance with permit and atmospheric testing procedures, including gas monitoring, ventilation, lockout/tagout, and use of retrieval systems when required.
Set up, maintain, and enforce traffic control plans and work zones including signing, barricading, cones, arrow boards, and flagging to protect crew members and the traveling public, following MUTCD and municipal guidelines.
Perform preventive maintenance programs including hydrant exercising, valve turning and lubrication, catch basin cleaning, root cutting, and scheduled jetting to reduce blockages and improve system reliability.
Read and interpret utility maps, as-built drawings, alignment sheets, and work orders to locate underground utilities, service connections, and identify required materials and excavation limits prior to digging.
Excavate trenches using hand digging and mechanical methods while exercising utility-locate safety procedures, potholing techniques, and using shoring or trench boxes when necessary to prevent cave-ins.
Operate sewer cleaning equipment such as high-pressure jetters and vacuum units to remove obstructions, grease, and debris from lines, and perform CCTV camera inspections to verify pipe condition and repair needs.
Assemble, install, and repair valves, pipe couplings, clamps, pressure fittings, and service saddles ensuring proper torqueing, sealing and testing to prevent leaks and meet system pressure standards.
Load, unload, and transport materials, piping, fittings, and equipment to and from jobsites safely; maintain accurate material usage logs and request replenishment per inventory procedures.
Adhere to all safety policies including PPE usage, hazard communication, confined-space entry, lockout/tagout, fall protection, and timely reporting of near-misses, incidents, or unsafe conditions.
Coordinate with utilities locating services, contractors, and other public-works crews to avoid conflicts with gas, electric, telecommunications lines and to sequence work for efficient project completion.
Maintain daily work records, time sheets, work-order completion notes, and basic asset maintenance logs using paper forms or mobile work-order systems to support billing, regulatory reporting, and historic maintenance tracking.
Implement erosion and sediment control measures at excavation sites, such as silt fencing, inlet protection, and temporary stabilization, to comply with environmental and local stormwater ordinances.
Perform snow removal, de-icing operations, and winter maintenance of access roads, driveways, and utility infrastructure as required during inclement weather to maintain safe access and minimize service interruptions.
Support meter reading, valve exercising, hydrant flushing and seasonal system turn-on/turn-off operations that require planned coordination and customer notifications to maintain service continuity.
Follow proper hazardous materials handling and disposal procedures when dealing with contaminated soils, grease, or oily residues; use spill kits and report environmental incidents per policy.
Train and mentor junior crew members on safe work practices, equipment operation, and municipal standards, ensuring consistent team performance and knowledge transfer.
Conduct basic troubleshooting of pump stations, lift stations, alarms, and control panels and escalate electrical or complex mechanical failures to licensed technicians when needed.
Ensure all tools, vehicles, and equipment are inspected, maintained, and cleaned after use; report defects and coordinate with fleet maintenance for repairs to minimize downtime.
Perform customer-facing tasks such as addressing resident concerns, explaining scheduled work or outages, and coordinating access with property owners while maintaining professionalism and clear communication.

Secondary Functions

Assist supervisors with materials ordering, inventory counts, and staging of supplies for upcoming projects to maintain continuous workflow.
Participate in continuous improvement efforts by suggesting process upgrades, safety enhancements, and equipment needs based on field observations.
Support GIS data collection and update asset locations, condition assessments, and photo documentation to improve system mapping and maintenance planning.
Help coordinate contractor activities on shared sites to ensure compliance with municipal standards and timelines.
Attend and contribute to safety meetings, training sessions and emergency preparedness drills to improve crew readiness and regulatory compliance.
Provide backup support on related public-works tasks including pothole patching, roadside vegetation control, and storm debris removal during peak demand periods.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Heavy equipment operation: proven ability to safely operate backhoes, skid steers, excavators, loaders, dump trucks and compactors.
Truck driving and vehicle operation: clean driving record and experience operating commercial vehicles; CDL Class B preferred or required depending on employer.
Confined-space entry and rescue procedures, including atmospheric testing and use of tripods, winches, and retrieval systems.
Traffic control and flagging: set up work zones, signs, arrow boards, and perform flagging in accordance with MUTCD or local standards; flagger certification often required.
Pipefitting and plumbing basics: cutting, joining, sealing and pressure-testing of water and sewer piping using mechanical and joining methods.
Sewer cleaning and inspection: operation of jetters, vacuum trucks, and CCTV inspection cameras; interpretation of CCTV findings.
Trenching and shoring: safe trench excavation, use of shoring/trench shields, sloping, and soil classification awareness.
Asphalt and concrete patching: cutting, mixing, compacting, and finishing techniques for roadway and sidewalk repair.
Basic electrical/mechanical troubleshooting of pumps, motors, and control panels and ability to escalate to licensed trades when needed.
Utilization of mobile work-order systems, basic GIS/GPS data collection, and digital documentation tools for field reporting.
Knowledge of OSHA regulations, confined-space standards, hazard communication, and environmental compliance.
Use and maintenance of common hand and power tools: saws, grinders, pneumatic tools, compactors, and concrete finishing tools.

Soft Skills

Strong commitment to safety with the ability to follow and enforce safety protocols consistently.
Clear verbal communication to coordinate with team members, supervisors, residents, and contractors.
Problem-solving orientation and ability to assess field conditions quickly to determine safe, effective repair approaches.
Physical stamina and manual dexterity: comfortable with repetitive physical labor, lifting, bending, and working in varied weather conditions.
Time-management and reliability: punctuality and ability to follow assigned schedules and complete work orders on time.
Team player mindset with willingness to mentor less-experienced crew members and accept direction.
Customer-service focus when interacting with the public regarding service disruptions or on-site work.
Attention to detail for accurate documentation, measurements, and material reconciliation.
Adaptability to changing priorities during emergency responses and storm events.
Initiative to identify preventive maintenance opportunities and suggest efficiency improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Education:

Trade certificate, vocational school credential, or technical diploma in construction, heavy equipment operation, or public works technology
Apprenticeship completion or formal on-the-job training in utility maintenance

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Technology
Civil or Environmental Technology
Heavy Equipment Operation / Diesel Mechanics
Public Works / Infrastructure Maintenance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0 to 5 years of hands-on experience in utilities, public works, or heavy-construction environments (entry-level to intermediate)

Preferred:

1–3 years of relevant experience in water distribution, sewer collections, stormwater maintenance, or municipal/public-works operations; demonstrated equipment operation experience and safety training/certifications such as CDL, OSHA 10, flagger certification, or confined-space permit training.