Forklift Operator

Description

Department: Operations
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
Salary/Wage Range: $21-25 per hour, rate based on experience
Reports to: Operations Manager

The Forklift Operator is responsible for safely and efficiently operating forklifts and other material-handling equipment to support the daily activities of the Operations department. This position plays an important role in keeping production, pressing, cellar, packaging, and warehouse activities supplied with the materials, ingredients, containers, and equipment needed to meet production schedules.

The Forklift Operator is expected to maintain a strong focus on safety, organization, cleanliness, and product protection while moving materials throughout the facility. The position will work closely with Press Operators, Cellar Operators, Packaging personnel, and other members of the Operations team.

The ideal candidate is dependable, safety-minded, mechanically inclined, and comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment. The employee will be trained on company equipment, traffic patterns, material-handling procedures, and applicable safety requirements.

As experience and proficiency increase, the employee may be trained in additional Operations functions and take on greater responsibility within the department.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Safely operate forklifts and other powered material-handling equipment as authorized and trained.
• Move apples, juice, pallets, packaging materials, ingredients, finished product, waste, and other materials throughout the facility.
• Load and unload trucks and trailers safely and efficiently.
• Stage materials for pressing, production, cellar, packaging, and other Operations activities.
• Maintain proper organization of materials in designated storage areas.
• Inspect loads and pallets before moving and ensure materials are properly secured.
• Operate equipment at safe speeds and maintain awareness of pedestrians, vehicles, and other equipment.
• Follow established forklift traffic patterns and facility safety procedures.
• Communicate with team members to coordinate movement and staging of materials.

• Support the Press Operator by moving apples, bins, pallets, totes, and other materials as needed.
• Keep pressing operations supplied with fruit and necessary production materials.
• Remove pomace and production waste from the pressing area as directed.
• Assist with staging and moving equipment used during pressing operations.
• Maintain clear access around presses, conveyors, production equipment, and emergency exits.
• Assist with seasonal fruit receiving and storage activities.

• Move juice, product, tanks, totes, pallets, and other materials as directed.
• Assist Cellar and Operations personnel with material movement and production setup.
• Safely position and relocate tanks, totes, and other equipment when trained and authorized.
• Support production transfers and staging activities as directed by Operations leadership.

• Deliver cans, bottles, cartons, labels, pallets, and other packaging materials to the packaging area.
• Remove finished product from packaging lines and move it to designated storage locations.
• Stage empty pallets and packaging materials for production.
• Maintain organized and accessible packaging material storage areas.

• Receive and put away incoming materials and supplies.
• Maintain accurate organization of warehouse and production storage areas.
• Assist with inventory counts and material identification as requested.
• Identify damaged, missing, or incorrectly stored materials and report them to management.
• Assist with loading customer, distributor, or company vehicles as directed.
• Remove waste, recycling, and production byproducts from designated areas.
• Assist with general facility organization and housekeeping.

• Complete required pre-operation forklift inspections before use.
• Report equipment damage, mechanical issues, leaks, or unsafe conditions immediately.
• Keep forklifts clean and properly parked when not in use.
• Follow all OSHA, company, and equipment safety requirements.
• Use required PPE and follow chemical, food safety, and sanitation procedures.
• Maintain awareness of pedestrians and other employees while operating equipment.
• Never operate equipment outside of…