Outside Plant Staff

Vantage Point Solutions•Billings, MT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outside Plant (OSP) Inspector plays a critical role in the success of construction projects at Vantage Point Solutions. Inspectors serve as the on-site representatives of both Vantage Point and our clients, ensuring that all work is completed according to plans, specifications, and permitting requirements. Inspectors are responsible for monitoring contractor performance, keeping accurate records, and maintaining strong communication with the assigned Resident. All OSP employees begin as Inspectors and are eligible to move into the Resident after demonstrating strong performance and mastering the responsibilities of inspection.

Requirements

Fieldmap Access
Overall Construction Schematics
Rock Form
Depth Check Form
Smartsheet – Main Project Sheet (Executed Contract, Unit Pricing / Descriptions, Guide Drawings, Construction Meeting Notes, Pre-Bid Notes (if applicable), Pre-Con Notes)
Smartsheet – Vantage360 (ALL Private easements, All Permit (ROW & Environmental))
Smartsheet - Forms / Reports (Final Inspection Form – Fieldmaps, OSP Incident Report, Vehicle Incident Report, Megger Form)
If Applicable, Old Staking Sheets, Existing Plant Maps
Mobile Phone
Tablet
Pink & White Flags
Safety Vest
Hard Hat
Measuring Wheel
Probe Rod
Pedestal/ONT wrench
ONT Security Driver
Handhole Hook
Ped Book
Cable Sheild Megger
Hot Stick (aerial projects)
Work Boots
Vehicle Equipped with: Safety Light, VPS Magnetic Signs (unless decaled)
Present yourself professionally at all times.
Work boots are required.
Clothing should either be VPS or unmarked (ex. Carhartt coat with no other etchings or advertisements).
Clothing should be clean.
Make yourself identifiable as the project leads — you should be recognizable as the main point of contact on-site.
All instruction or clarifications must go through the contractor’s foreman or superintendent through the VPS resident.

Nice To Haves

Jeans with no holes.
Vantage Point T-shirt, Collard Button Up, or Polo.
If hats are worn, they should be VPS hats or unmarked.
Coats or jackets are often worn by OSP staff.

Responsibilities

Review the proposed route with the customer (if the customer contract sheet is provided, follow it).
Verify you are on the correct property before work begins and take the best route possible to the house. Do not place a drop to a subscriber on someone else’s property.
Inspect cable type, duct, riser guard, and grounding material – ensure correct size and type.
Ensure that cable depth meets required standards; contact the Resident if there are any questions.
Ensure proper grounding and bonding per contract.
Confirm that existing facilities (phone, electric, propane, etc.) are located and exposed before crossing.
Ensure that the BM83 and enclosure are installed correctly (neat, with the correct # of clamps).
Place and complete the decal inside the enclosure (Note: Sharpie can be used for any needed information if client doesn’t require a decal).
Confirm all clean-up is completed before leaving the property: All holes filled. Yard raked and seeded.
Notify the Resident immediately of: Any and all damages to facilities or property (incident report filled out same day). Any new crew, not of the same company name as the general contractor.
Be sure not to sit in vehicle while construction is ongoing.
Record all cable sequentials, start/end points, and reel numbers into Fieldmaps and your ped book daily.
In Fieldmaps, update your cable sequentials and unit installs by clicking on the house daily.
Update FiberView (Fieldmaps) to reflect progress – this provides real-time visibility to the client in Vantage360 daily.
Complete your daily log and sync Fieldmaps daily.
Update cable route daily.
Submit a progress report to the Resident before ending your work week weekly.
Turn in ped/plow books to the Resident weekly.
Follow up on partially completed drops to ensure they are finished in a timely manner as needed.
Be Present with the plow crew at all times during construction. Do not sit in vehicle.
Ensure that correct materials are being used (cable, warning tape, duct, pedestals, handholes, ground rods, splice cases, etc.).
Verify that cable is placed with slack. When pulling cable, use a 600 pounds breakaway.
Use probe rod to confirm proper cable depth.
Record all cable sequentials, start/end points, and reel numbers in Fieldmaps and your ped book daily.
In Fieldmaps, record all installed units by clicking on the enclosures (pedestals and handhold) daily.
Complete your daily log and sync Fieldmaps daily.
Perform Depth Checks (2-3 checks per rural mile, 2 checks per city block) daily.
Revise any route changes or facility changes from as staked daily.
Submit a progress report to the Resident before ending your work week weekly.
Turn in ped/plow books to the Resident weekly.
Obtain and review all public ROW permits before construction begins.
Understand placement requirements, depths, and restoration guidelines.
Confirm all private easements are signed and easily accessible.
Review staking sheets and easements for landowner-specific requests/instructions.
Verify that landowners have been notified before entering their property.
Monitor that all construction is complying with ROW permit requirements, and all other requirements are being followed daily.
Confirm that cable placement follows the requirements (correct location, depth, offset, etc.) daily.
Double-check route changes or deviations with the Resident before construction proceeds daily.
Coordinate with the Resident and ROW officials ahead of time if there are any permit concerns, route changes, or potential violations as needed.
Allow time for landowners to remove crops if it is during harvest season as needed.
Track crop damage on the fielding sheets and clarify the tracking method with the Resident at the start of the project as needed.
Document fence cuts and ensure they are repaired immediately after installation as needed.
NEVER EVER direct the contractor or their crews. All instruction or clarifications must go through the contractor’s foreman or superintendent through the VPS resident.
Be proactive in identifying issues and work collaboratively with the VPS resident to resolve them.
Ensure all records and reports are accurate and up to date at the end of each day.
Keep the resident in the loop on any field changes and challenges.