Damage Prevention Technician

Atmos Energy•Columbus, MS

About The Position

The Damage Prevention Technician locates and marks company facilities, including transmission and distribution systems, service lines, and other facilities. The role interprets system maps, coordinates with company crews and outside contractors on re-marking needs, investigates natural gas facility damage to determine root causes, and maintains working relationships with excavators, municipalities, and company personnel involved in excavation activities. The technician reports suspected damage and safety or encroachment issues, and helps ensure company maps, records, reports, and documentation meet company and regulatory requirements. The position may assist other operations functions and perform C&M and service work when not conducting damage-prevention duties. It requires safe operation and inspection of assigned company vehicles and equipment, adherence to company policies and values, and participation in required safety training. The technician may be assigned stand-by duty, shifts, holidays, weekends, emergency call-outs, extensive hours, and work outside the regular work area. Overnight travel or a residence requirement based on call-out response time may apply. Work is performed outdoors in varied weather and may involve extreme temperatures, high noise levels, and rough terrain. This safety-sensitive position requires pre- and post-employment screenings, including applicable drug testing and motor vehicle record checks.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of experience in natural gas, damage prevention activities, service, construction and maintenance, and/or pipeline operations.
Thorough understanding of company operations.
Obtain and maintain the minimum Operator Qualifications (OQs), classroom training, and other required OQs, training, or certifications within six months.
Valid driver's license in accordance with company standards.
Ability to communicate, persuade, and/or influence internal and external customers; strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to use the company internet/intranet, take and upload digital photos of marking activity to each line locate ticket, and use available systems for data entry, reference, and retrieval.
Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather and potentially in extreme temperatures, high noise levels, and rough terrain.
Ability to meet the physical demands of occasional bending, stooping, grasping, reaching, twisting, turning, and lifting; ability to lift tools, equipment, and materials up to 45 pounds.
Acute sense of sight and hearing, corrected or uncorrected, and a strong sense of smell.
Ability to meet applicable pre- and post-employment screenings, including DOT and PHMSA drug testing as outlined and motor vehicle record background checks.

Responsibilities

Accurately locate and mark company facilities, including transmission and distribution systems, service lines, and other facilities.
Read and interpret system maps.
Coordinate with company crews and outside contractors to provide re-marking as needed to prevent damage.
Investigate damage to natural gas facilities and determine root causes.
Maintain working relationships with area excavators, municipalities, and company personnel responsible for excavation activities.
Report suspected damage to company systems.
Help ensure the accuracy of company maps and records related to damage prevention.
Complete and maintain accurate records and reports to meet company and regulatory requirements.
Assist other operations functions and, when not performing damage-prevention duties, may perform C&M and service work.
Identify, address, and report safety and encroachment issues through resolution and completion.
Safely operate and inspect assigned company vehicles and equipment.
Adhere to company values, strategies, policies, procedures, the Code of Conduct, and safety requirements; complete required safety training.