Measuring the weight of his job in tons.
Jeff has been lifting the heaviest loads for EBMUD for 20 years.
Every day, EBMUD’s dozens of Heavy Equipment Operators move large pieces of equipment, materials and tools safely using bulldozers, backhoes and knuckle booms. But when the load weighs as much as 30,000 pounds – the weight of 10 Toyota Prius’ – and it needs to go high – up to 150 feet in the air – we call in the big cranes.
Jeff’s unique skills support EBMUD’s work to maintain our dams that reach up to 345-feet tall, our aqueducts that measure up to 7-feet-tall, and everything in between that brings fresh mountain water to the East Bay.
“The main thing about being around really heavy equipment is that you can hurt people, even kill them,” Jeff said. “When I’ve got guys all around me, I have to be very aware. I must always take operating cranes extremely seriously.”
Jeff, who recently completed 20 years with EBMUD, said the District has proved to be an ideal place to explore his passion for machinery and physics, and weights and balances.
“It’s fun,” Jeff said. “I love the view from the crane seat, the size of it, and what it’s capable of. Since I was a little boy I liked equipment and technology. Though I worked at a lot of different places to make some money, EBMUD is the best place I’ve ever worked because it’s stable, secure and safety-oriented.”
“Time flies if you love what you’re doing."