Blaster - 1st Shift

About the role

Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Fortune Magazine and Great Place to Work, Sasser prides itself on supporting an employee-driven, opportunity-based culture that empowers, recognizes, and rewards its employees. From highly competitive benefits to exciting employee events to organic, grassroots philanthropy and volunteerism, Sasser is an awesome place to begin and grow your career.

We are a transportation asset services and management company with roots dating to 1928. Sasser's subsidiary units are leaders in providing commercial- and industrial-focused rail, automotive, and containerized shipping solutions, including asset leasing, fleet administration management, asset repair and maintenance, and innovative technology services.

Sasser family of companies includes subsidiaries Chicago Freight Car Leasing, CF Rail Services, Moventum Fleet Management, Express 4x4 Truck Rental, and Falcon Lease.

This role supports our CF Rail Services team. Delivering the highest-quality railcar repairs quickly and safely with uncompromising customer service, CF Rail Services is a leading railcar repair and maintenance provider offering quality repair work for railroads, private car owners, lessors, contracts agents, and shippers across North America.

This position is for 1st shift.

The Blaster operates blasting equipment to remove rust, scale, paint, and other foreign materials from the interior and/or exterior of railcars or equipment. The employee strives for a high level of quality and works with limited supervision.

As a Blaster, Here's What You Will Do

• Learn and adhere to all CFRS safety procedures.
• Learn the basic flow and logistics of railroad industry and repair business.
• Keep the work area clean and orderly to comply with CFRS, OSHA, and environmental regulations.
• Follow written and verbal directions and have basic math, reading, and writing skills, while effectively working in a team environment including but not limited to BRC work order understanding and execution without instructional intervention.
• Thorough understanding of railcar, components and/or shop work order.
• Blow off railcars and inspect condition. Confirm railcar is clean, dry and free from foreign objects prior to blasting.
• Cover car parts with protective materials (burlap, paper, cloth) to prevent blast media from damaging sensitive railcar components. Remove cover material after blasting.
• Operate blasting equipment, internal/external, to prepare railcar surface for coatings or surface cleanliness based on individual railcar blasting requirements.
• Surface preparation of non-railcar components using various blast media methods.
• Change various hose sizes and nozzles when necessary.
• Clean, maintain and properly store equipment. Dismantle, assemble, and adjust blasting equipment, as necessary, to ensure equipment operates per manufacturer's specifications.
• Make adjustments to equipment as is necessary to perform efficient and proper blasting, including but not limited to, grit recovery systems.
• Move and position scaffolding as necessary.
• Assist finishing department as required.
• Perform blast profile measurements by use of profile tape and dial indicator.
• Set-up and operate various hand and power tools such as, but not limited to, blasting equipment, grinders, wire and sanding discs, etc.
• Successfully complete this positions "Education/Formal Training" requirements.
• Wear PPE in appropriate areas.

Additional information

Note: Responsibilities include the expectation to always act to support the interests of the department and organization and to perform other duties as assigned to ensure the successful achievement of departmental and company objectives.

Qualifications and Experience

• High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Successfully pass the following courses with an 80% or higher score coordinated by CF Rail Management:
• Blast profile preparation; white metal, near white, etc.
• Documented training to set up and operate or drive equipment such as, but not limited to: forklift, manlift, crane, back hoe, skid loader, hoist, hydraulic boom.

Hard Skills

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Work will be performed outdoors and indoors, on and around heavy equipment. May be required to work overtime and/or varied shifts to meet the demands of the business. Work assignments involve standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, climbing, crawling, and crouching in strained and awkward positions for prolonged periods of time at various heights up to 20 feet.

• Uses hands, legs, and arms to climb vertical ladders to staging or suspended platforms.
• Lifts, carries, and sets up equipment and components that weigh up to 50 lbs.
• Employee must be medically certified to wear a respirator, as well as be able to wear respirators for prolonged periods of time.

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