NF Baler Operator

Radius Recycling•Elizabethtown, KY

About The Position

The Baler Operator reports to the Facilities & Operations Supervisor or the Terminal Operations Manager. The role is responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining the baler in compliance with company Health, Safety, and Environmental standards. Duties may include processing materials through the baler to shape, form, and compress them. The operator uses knowledge of machines, tools, raw materials, and quality control to support effective production. The position operates under flexible parameters, with the goal of providing a high-quality product safely, effectively, and efficiently while reducing accidents and errors and increasing profits. The role requires adherence to Metals Recycling Business Health, Safety, and Environmental standards and helping provide a safe environment for employees, customers, and visitors. The operator performs production and equipment inspections, completes required documentation, reports equipment problems, and may provide backup or assistance elsewhere in the yard. The position is regularly exposed to all weather conditions and to noise, fumes, and dirt from equipment, machinery, and scrap-yard operations. Required personal protective equipment may include safety shoes, hearing protection, respirators, and face shields. Travel is not required. Workload and pressure can be unpredictable, particularly during peak periods; deadlines require adaptability, and workflow or schedule irregularities occur intermittently. Extra hours may be required, including weekends, weekdays, and holidays. The role involves frequent standing and walking on uneven ground, consistently lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, and other physical activities described below. Applicants must be at least 18 years old in the U.S. or 16 years old in Canada. U.S. employment offers are contingent on satisfactory completion of a post-offer drug screen and background check. New hires must review and sign an Arbitration Agreement; this applies to U.S. non-union employees. Radius Recycling is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Knowledge of raw materials and quality control.
Ability to work independently with attention to detail and continuous awareness.
Ability to stand and walk frequently on uneven ground and throughout the yard.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds consistently; push and pull occasionally; crouch or bend at the knees and stoop or bend at the waist consistently; reach at arm’s length and overhead frequently; twist and turn at the neck and trunk continually; and climb occasionally.
Constant manual dexterity to handle, grasp, and manipulate materials and constant arm-hand steadiness for precision work.
Ability to communicate through speech and hearing continually and visual acuity for close detail work.
Must be at least 18 years old for U.S. applicants or at least 16 years old for Canadian applicants.
U.S. employment offer is contingent on satisfactory completion of a post-offer drug screen and background check; new hires must review and sign an Arbitration Agreement, which applies to U.S. non-union employees.

Responsibilities

Set up, operate, and maintain the baler while complying with company Health, Safety, and Environmental standards.
Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, temperatures, amounts, dimensions, and material flow.
Inspect equipment and submit related reports to the appropriate supervisor.
Inspect materials before and after processing to verify conformance with company and industry standards.
Complete documentation required to maintain production data.
Select and install machine components, including dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications using hand tools and measuring devices.
Report equipment deficiencies or malfunctions requiring maintenance or repair to the proper supervisor.
Provide backup or assistance throughout the yard as needed or assigned.
Support the Company’s Internal Control process by understanding, communicating, and complying with defined controls and suggesting or making modifications to policies, procedures, and controls.
Communicate operational problems, code-of-conduct noncompliance, policy violations, or illegal actions upward.
Follow required safety practices and use personal protective equipment to help provide a safe environment for employees, customers, and visitors.