7K45
PAY RANGE 15
PUBLIC WORKS ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN
(Street Lighting)
(Traffic Signal Systems)
This is full performance level electrical work in the installation, maintenance, repair and inspection of all aspects of the City’s street lighting and alley lighting systems OR in the installation, maintenance, repair and inspection of all aspects of the City’s traffic signal systems. This is physically demanding work and includes adverse indoor and outdoor work conditions (e.g. working on high voltage electrical wires/cables at a high altitude or underground) and driving and operating a vehicle.
The employees may direct the activities of trades helpers, semi-skilled laborers and other support staff as required. Work is performed under the supervision of a group leader and/or technical supervisor.
ALLOCATING FACTORS
· Contingent on the desired specialty area within this class, the position must perform full performance level electrical wire and cable work in the installation, maintenance, repair and inspection of the City's street lightening and alley lighting infrastructure OR in the installation, maintenance, repair and inspection of the City's traffic signal systems.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
STREET LIGHTING SPECIALTY
Proceeds to assigned locations to repair or replace luminaires and ballast assembly; installs mounting bracket, hardware and electrical service wire; uses ladder or bucket to complete work assignment.
Strips poles of mast arms, luminaires, and all connecting wires; bolts new bracket and luminaire to poles; tapes street light wires to the electric company’s secondary power lines; trouble-shoots faulty street lights using the appropriate instruments; replaces defective street light wires, lighthead fixtures and ballasts; replaces alley light fixtures and poles with new units; removes damaged street light poles and installs new poles; performs such duties together with unskilled and semi-skilled workers.
May repair or replace underground cable\lines incidental to the repair of the city’s lighting system; climbs poles; operates a truck bucket attachment to reach lighting fixtures.
May assign trades helpers to perform routine tasks such as: cutting and pulling wire and cables, replacing fixtures, digging trenches and carrying tools and parts; instructs helpers to perform various routine repair tasks such as: heating solder, cleaning lead sleeves and obtaining tools required to perform the task at hand; reviews the work of trade helpers for conformance to instructions; tests completed work for proper connection and operating efficiency.
Investigates alley lighting complaints; refers complaints to maintenance contractor for repairs; climbs ladders or operates lifting equipment; inspects contractors' work; repairs or replaces defective luminaires, electrical wiring and poles.
Receives assignments of installations and complaints to be checked; gets daily schedule of contractors’ working routes; plots a route to cover assignments; drives to inspection sites; inspects street lighting and alley lighting for extent of illumination and proper operation.
Investigates complaints of inadequate or deficient street lighting; takes measurements; prepares a schematic drawing showing existing street conditions such as, location of streets, types and sizes of lights, location of poles, trees and adjacent property; and recommends type of corrective lighting.
On an assigned shift, proceeds to all street lighting emergency calls; notifies utility representatives, the police and other city departments of street lighting emergencies; directs or reroutes traffic around the knockdowns; supports leaning poles by tying poles to solid objects; uses ladder or bucket lift to repair luminaires; makes lights safe by cutting, bending and taping the wires; removes pole, metal fragments and glass from the roadway; calls out repair crews when extensive damage has been done and assigns the crew work; participates in the work; releases the crew when work is completed satisfactorily.
Performs work as required to maintain and operate all aspects of a street lighting system.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS SPECIALTY
Inspects timing mechanisms, motors, flasher units and wiring systems for evidence of blown fuses, short circuits and loose wires; replaces blown fuses, re-splices burnt wires or splices into spare conductors; at knockdowns and in other emergencies may place system on flash, and secure loose wires or erect regulatory signs.
Removes and replaces damaged, malfunctioning and non-functioning electrical and electronic traffic signal control and sensing units; replaces sockets and bulbs in traffic lights; cleans and replaces lenses and visors.
Disassembles electrical control and sensing units; uses ammeters, voltmeters, test lamps and other testing devices to locate the causes of malfunctioning and non-functioning units; rewires and repairs or replaces worn or damaged parts; reassembles and tests repaired units.
Lays out, assembles, set up, installs and tests new electrical signal and control apparatus and wiring for power and lighting; connects wiring to switches and controls; oils and adjusts timing devices; uses a stop watch to check signal operation and to synchronize individually timed and operated signal installations.
Enters manhole to locate trouble in multi-conductor cable, electric service cable, and communication cable; uses various testing devices such as multi-meters, amprobes, test lights and test wires to locate open circuitry, shorts, grounds and cross circuits.
Makes spot openings into the electrical company’s cables and conducts amprobe tests to locate secondary power lines to be tapped to obtain a power supply for the traffic signal system; splices various multi-conductor cables into traffic signal system.
Inspects and troubleshoots traffic signal communication wiring, communication wiring may consist of 120 V interconnect, 12V telephone wiring or optical fiber cable (multimode and singlemode); performs work inside a manhole, overhead or at street level.
Uses the proper tools to correct problems in communication wiring or fiber optic cable to ensure the quality of the correction; makes necessary documentation for future reference.
Installs and repairs optical fiber cable with the installation of connectors, splices and terminations; completes mechanical and fusion splices to ensure minimum dB loss; waterproofs splices by using splice kit; inspects installation of optical fiber to ensure proper installation.
Performs preventive maintenance on all traffic control cables by remaking original splices.
Tests completed work for proper connection and operating efficiency.
Assists and participates in the removal of traffic signal standards and sets new standards with the assistance of trades helpers and unskilled workers; taps traffic signal lights into the electric company’s secondary power line; taps traffic signal head into traffic signal standard.
BOTH SPECIALTIES
Performs year round indoor and outdoor work in varying conditions; uses step or extension ladders, scaffolds, lift platforms, bucket trucks; climbs poles; performs work on high catwalks and poles, in crawl spaces and underground, on rooftops, on bridge cranes and other varied environments; may operate equipment and drive motor vehicles such as a three quarter ton panel and/or bucket truck to and from work assignments; uses bucket truck to maintain and repair overhead cables.
Maintains records related to repair assignments and day to day maintenance work.
May remove branches and leaves obstructing the maintenance of luminaires (Street Lighting) OR traffic signals (Traffic Signal Systems) and their associated overhead cable\lines.
Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
BOTH SPECIALTIES:
The principles and theory of electricity.
The methods, practices, materials, tools and equipment used in the electrical wiring and cable\line work trades.
The occupational hazards of, and safety precautions required in, the electrical wiring and cable\line work trades, including work near high voltages, working at heights and working in underground spaces.
STREET LIGHTING SPECIALTY
The installation, repair and maintenance of street and alley lights.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS SPECIALTY
The methods, practices, materials, tools and equipment used in the fiber optic work trades.
The mechanical and electrical operation of synchronous motors and relays.
The types of cable such as: high voltage, primary, secondary, communication and fiber optic.
The fundamentals of programming electronic controllers.
SKILL IN:
The care and use of tools, testing devices and other equipment related to the electrical, cable/line and fiber optic work trades as determined by assignment.
The diagnosis of problems in electrical systems and equipment.
The use of aerial lift equipment and vehicles.
ABILITY TO:
Use the proper tools and materials in the installation, alteration, repair, and maintenance of street lights and appurtenances (STREET LIGHTING) OR traffic signal equipment and appurtenances (TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS).
Learn and use the appropriate safety precautions necessary when working with electrical connections.
Test repairs of wires for electrical continuity and effectiveness of insulation.
Operate aerial lift equipment and vehicles.
Work at considerable heights and/or in underground spaces on electrical wires and/or cable/lines.
Read and interpret design plans and/or technical sketches/diagrams.
Recognize blueprint and specification deviations, improper or faulty installation, maintenance and repair needs etc. and recommend corrective action.
Explain and enforce compliance with contract specifications firmly and tactfully.
Keep detailed records and make reports.
Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS SPECIALTY
Identify high voltage, primary, secondary, communication and fiber optic cables.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 11/12.)
EDUCATION:
Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience learning the electrical trade as a helper or apprentice.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE – (STREET LIGHTING SPECIALTY)
Two years of helper or apprentice experience learning to install and repair street lighting equipment.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE – (TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS SPECIALTY)
Two years of experience in traffic signal operations performing maintenance or construction functions.
BOTH SPECIALTIES:
Completion of an electrical apprenticeship program at a technical trade school or similar institution such as IBEW may be substituted for up to two years of general or specific experience
OR
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included the specific experience described above.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator’s license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment.
Class Established: 1/53
Latest Spec Revision:
CSC – 10/12
Ad. Board – 11/12
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