Damage Prevention Technician

Atmos Energy•Natchitoches, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for accurately locating and marking company facilities, interpreting system maps, and working with crews and contractors to prevent damage. The technician will conduct investigations of natural gas facility damages, maintain relationships with excavators and municipalities, and ensure the accuracy of company maps and records. This role also involves completing records and reports, assisting with other operations functions, and potentially performing C&M and Service work. The position may require stand-by duty, working shifts, holidays, weekends, emergency call-outs, and occasional extensive hours, and may involve reporting outside the regular work area. The technician will identify, address, and report safety and encroachment issues, and is responsible for the safe operation and inspection of assigned vehicles and equipment. A strong adherence to company values, strategies, policies, and procedures, as well as safety standards, is expected. This includes familiarizing oneself with the Safety Manual, living by its intent, and contributing to a safe working environment by completing all required safety training.

Requirements

General educational knowledge acquired through a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
Two years experience in natural gas, damage prevention activities, service, construction and maintenance, and/or pipeline operations.
Thorough understanding of Company operations.
Must obtain and maintain minimum Operator Qualifications (OQs) and classroom training for position and any other required OQs and classroom training or certifications within six months.
Requires valid driver's license in accordance with Company standards.
Requires the ability to communicate, persuade and/or influence internal and/or external customers.
Must have strong interpersonal skills.
Requires ability to utilize the Company's internet/intranet web site, take and upload digital photos of marking activity to each line locate ticket, and utilize all available systems for data entry, reference and/or retrieval tasks.
Requires occasionally performing activities including, but not limited to, bending, stooping, grasping, reaching, twisting, turning and/or lifting.
Requires an acute sense of sight and hearing (corrected or uncorrected) and strong sense of smell.
Must be able to lift tools, equipment and materials up to and including 45 pounds.
As a Safety-Sensitive position, pre and post-employment screenings, including but not limited to drug testing as outlined by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and motor vehicle record (MVR) background checks are required.

Responsibilities

Accurately locates and marks company facilities (transmission & distribution systems, service lines, & other facilities).
Reads and interprets system maps.
Works with Company crews and outside contractors to be available for any needed re-marking to prevent damage.
Conducts investigations of natural gas facility damages to determine root causes.
Maintains working relationship with area excavators, municipalities, and Company personnel responsible for excavation activities.
Reports any suspected damages to our system.
Assures the accuracy of Company maps and records as they relate to damage prevention.
Completes and maintains accurate records and reports to comply with Company and regulatory requirements.
Assists other operations functions as needed and may perform C&M and Service work when not performing damage prevention duties.
May be required to hold stand-by duty, work shifts, holidays, weekends, emergency call outs, and occasional extensive hours.
Is subject to reporting outside regular work area.
Identifies, addresses, and reports safety and encroachment issues to their resolution and completion.
Is responsible for the safe operation and inspection of assigned Company vehicles and equipment.
Demonstrates support for and adheres to the Company values, strategies, policies and procedures and exhibits the core values of AtmoSpirit, Customer Service, Safety and the Code of Conduct both as an individual contributor, team member and/or leader of others.
Must become familiar with the contents of the Safety Manual, live by the spirit of its intent and become involved in creating and maintaining a safe working environment.
Must complete all required safety training.