Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Groundman

🎯 Role Definition

The Groundman is the essential field support role on construction, utility, telecom and civil works crews. A Groundman performs physically demanding tasks to prepare job sites, assist equipment operators and tradespeople, maintain tools and materials, enforce safety procedures, and ensure efficient crew operations. This role emphasizes hands-on labor, traffic control, rigging/spotting, trenching, cable and conduit handling, grounding, cleanup, and clear communication with crew leads and supervisors. Ideal candidates are safety-focused, reliable, and ready to learn technical trade tasks on the job.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

General Laborer or Construction Laborer
Utility Apprentice or Cable Technician Trainee
High-school graduate with hands-on trade experience or vocational training

Advancement To:

Journeyman Lineman or Cable Splicer
Equipment Operator (e.g., backhoe, excavator, loader)
Crew Lead / Foreman
Safety Coordinator or Field Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Traffic Control Technician / Flagging Specialist
Rigger / Crane Signal Person
Utility Locator / Line Locator Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Prepare, maintain and secure the worksite by unloading, staging and distributing construction materials, tools, and equipment in support of linemen, cable technicians, excavators, and heavy equipment operators, ensuring materials are staged to minimize downtime.
Assist operators and tradespeople by signaling, spotting and rigging equipment during lifts, boom operations, and heavy-material placement to protect personnel, equipment, and adjacent property.
Perform trenching, digging, and backfilling for conduit, ductbanks, handholes and pole foundations using shovels, trenchers and powered diggers while following trench safety protocols and shoring requirements.
Install, remove and splice underground and aerial cable under the direction of senior technicians, including pulling, dressing, securing, coiling, and preparing cable for termination and testing.
Set traffic control, barricades, cones, signage and temporary pedestrian detours for safe work zone operations, and act as flagger when certified to maintain safe vehicle and pedestrian flow.
Install grounding systems, drive ground rods, and assist with bonding/grounding connections to ensure system safety during installation and commissioning.
Assist with pole, anchor and guy-wire installation, including measuring, hole preparation, material staging, and installation of hardware per specifications and utility standards.
Operate small mechanized equipment (e.g., skid-steer, compact loader, trencher, tamper) and hand tools safely to complete earthwork, compact backfill, and site prep; maintain machine logs and report defects immediately.
Maintain and inspect hand and power tools, PPE, rigging gear, slings and lifting accessories for safety compliance; tag and remove defective equipment from service and notify supervisor.
Perform cleanup and site restoration tasks including debris removal, sweep-up, soil re-compaction, seeding or temporary erosion control to ensure sites are returned to safe and tidy condition at job completion.
Load and unload trucks and trailers, secure materials for transport, perform inventory checks and organize stock to support just-in-time delivery of critical items to the crew.
Assist with installation and backfill of conduit, ductbanks, manholes, vaults and handholes; ensure proper conduit alignment, slope, and access for future maintenance.
Perform basic concrete work such as forming, pouring, finishing and curing small concrete pads or pole foundation pours under lead oversight to industry standards and specifications.
Conduct visual inspections of work areas and equipment, report hazards, near misses and incidents immediately, and participate in daily tailgate safety meetings to reinforce safe work practices.
Follow written work orders, site plans, blueprints and verbal instructions from foremen and technicians to carry out assigned tasks with accuracy and efficiency.
Perform pre-job and post-job vehicle and equipment safety checks, maintain clean fuel and lubricants levels, and ensure vehicles are stocked with basic field supplies and safety equipment.
Assist with utility locating, marking and verification tasks by using locators, flags and communication with subcontractors and public agencies to avoid underground conflicts.
Support emergency response and outage restoration efforts by working extended hours, responding to on-call requests, and performing high-priority restoration tasks under pressure.
Record basic field data such as daily time sheets, material usage, and worksite conditions, and provide accurate, timely input to superiors for project tracking and billing.
Participate in on-the-job training and cross-training opportunities to acquire new technical competencies (e.g., cable splicing, pole climbing prep, confined space procedures) and improve versatility.
Adhere strictly to OSHA, company safety programs, local regulations and client-specific safety plans, including the use of required PPE, lockout/tagout procedures and confined-space entry protocols.
Apply basic hand-level surveying and layout skills, measure offsets and string lines for conduit, poles and footings, and verify locations to avoid rework or noncompliance with site plans.
Support environmental protection measures, including proper disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, erosion control, and spill prevention practices at the worksite.
Provide courteous, professional interaction with customers, tenants and the public when work occurs in occupied or public areas; de-escalate concerns and report customer issues to the supervisor.

Secondary Functions

Participate in equipment and safety training sessions to maintain certifications and keep up to date with changing site protocols.
Assist with inventory management by tagging, reporting shortages, and organizing storeroom stock for crew efficiency.
Help prepare materials lists and worksite layouts for daily assignments in collaboration with the foreman or project lead.
Provide input during toolbox talks and post-job debriefs to help identify process improvements and reduce recurring issues.
Support quality assurance checks by verifying workmanship, clearances and alignment prior to final sign-off or passing to the skilled tradesperson.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient with common hand tools (wrenches, hammers, shovels, pry bars), power tools (drills, saws, compactors) and small mechanized equipment (skid-steer, trencher, compact loader).
Experience with trenching, conduit and ductbank installation, backfill, compaction and basic concrete forming and pouring.
Knowledge of cable handling: pulling, dressing, securing, coiling and preparing cable for splicing or termination.
Rigging and signaling knowledge, including proper sling selection, hand signals and tag line control for lifts.
Traffic control and flagging skills, including setup of work zone protections, cones, signs and pedestrian controls (flagger certification preferred).
Grounding and bonding procedures for temporary and permanent electrical systems; ability to drive and connect ground rods.
Basic equipment inspection and maintenance: pre-use checks, simple troubleshooting, and routine servicing.
Familiarity with OSHA construction regulations, confined-space awareness, lockout/tagout basics and PPE best practices.
Ability to read and follow site drawings, work orders, simple blueprints and layout instructions.
Radio and clear field communication skills (2-way radio operation, hand signals and crew coordination).
Basic surveying/layout skills for stakeout, stringline work and verifying elevations and offsets.
Knowledge of waste handling and environmental, erosion control practices (silt fencing, spill kits, clean-up protocols).

Soft Skills

Strong attention to safety, detail, and following protocols consistently.
Reliable, punctual, and able to work outdoors in varied weather and physically demanding conditions.
Strong teamwork orientation and willingness to take direction from senior crew members.
Good verbal communication and the ability to provide clear, concise status updates to supervisors.
Problem-solving mindset and ability to anticipate crew needs and material shortages.
Adaptability to changing priorities and readiness to work overtime or on-call during emergencies.
Professional demeanor when interacting with clients, inspectors and the public.
Time management and basic organizational skills to keep tools, materials and workspace orderly.
Willingness to learn technical tasks and apply feedback from training and coaching.
Resilience and physical stamina, including lifting, climbing and working in confined or elevated spaces.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; equivalent combination of education and field experience accepted.

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate or technical coursework in construction trades, electrical technology, or utility mechanics.
Additional safety certifications (OSHA 10/30, Flagging/Traffic Control, First Aid/CPR).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Technology / Trades
Electrical Technology / Power Line Technology
Civil Engineering Technology / Utility Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–3 years of related field experience; entry-level applicants with internship, vocational coursework or demonstrated physical labor experience are considered.

Preferred: 1–2 years supporting utility, telecom or construction crews, experience with trenching and cable handling, and possession of certifications such as OSHA 10, Flagging, First Aid/CPR, or a valid CDL for certain roles.