Factory Electrician (pietermaritzburg)

Key Accountabilities and Outputs:

Electrical Safety and Compliance

• Apply lockout, tagout, test-for-dead and permit-to-work requirements before starting electrical work.
• Inspect the work area, identify hazards and use the prescribed personal protective equipment and test instruments.
• Stop and report unsafe equipment, damaged protection devices, exposed conductors, bypassed interlocks and other immediate risks.
• Maintain panel access, covers, labels, earthing, guarding and electrical housekeeping to the required standard.
• Complete statutory and internal electrical inspections assigned to the role and record all defects and corrective actions.
• Follow site emergency, fire prevention, environmental and incident-reporting procedures.

Planned and Preventive Maintenance

• Complete scheduled electrical maintenance on textile production machinery, motors, drives, control panels, conveyors, pumps, fans, compressors, heating systems, utility equipment and building services.
• Inspect and test cables, terminations, contactors, overloads, isolators, protective devices, sensors, switches, solenoids, power supplies and control circuits.
• Identify developing defects such as overheating, loose connections, insulation damage, nuisance tripping, abnormal current draw and deteriorating components.
• Plan work with the Electrical Foreman and production teams so that maintenance is completed during agreed stoppages and shutdowns.
• Record findings, parts used, labour time, follow-up work and equipment condition in the maintenance management system.

Breakdown Response and Fault Finding

• Respond promptly to electrical breakdowns and obtain clear information about the fault, operating conditions and production impact.
• Use electrical drawings, test equipment, alarms, drive diagnostics and programmable logic controller input and output status to locate faults systematically.
• Repair or replace defective components, complete functional and safety tests, and confirm that the equipment is safe before handover to production.
• Escalate complex control, automation or instrumentation faults to the appropriate specialist and provide accurate diagnostic information.
• Investigate recurring failures, identify the underlying cause and implement or recommend corrective action rather than relying on temporary repairs.
• Communicate progress, expected restoration time, residual risk and follow-up work to the Electrical Foreman and affected production personnel.

Electrical Installations and Improvements

• Install and modify motors, isolators, distribution equipment, cable routes, control panels, lighting, field devices and associated wiring in accordance with approved drawings and specifications.
• Support the testing and commissioning of new or modified equipment, including rotation checks, protection checks, interlock tests and safe start-up.
• Do not make unauthorized changes to programmable logic controller programs, safety circuits, protection settings or machine interlocks.
• Mark up drawings and provide accurate information for updates to schematics, cable schedules, equipment registers and maintenance plans.
• Identify practical opportunities to improve reliability, energy use, maintainability and electrical safety, and submit recommendations through the agreed change-control process.

Maintenance Control and Resources

• Create, update and close work orders with a clear description of the fault, action taken, parts used and further work required.
• Check critical electrical spares and advise the Electrical Foreman when stock levels, obsolescence or lead times could create operational risk.
• Keep tools, meters, test leads, ladders and portable equipment secure, serviceable and within required calibration or inspection dates.
• Maintain a clean work area and remove waste, redundant cables, packaging and replaced components after every task.
• Participate in maintenance planning, shift handovers, toolbox talks, risk assessments and post-breakdown reviews.

Teamwork and Technical Support

• Work constructively with production operators, artisans, technicians, contractors and engineers to diagnose and resolve equipment problems.
• Give clear shift handovers covering outstanding defects, isolated equipment, temporary controls, parts required and work still in progress.
• Provide task guidance to electrical assistants and apprentices within the limits of competence and delegated authority.
• Monitor contractors working on assigned electrical tasks and immediately report unsafe work, poor workmanship or deviation from scope.
• Share technical knowledge and lessons from failures to improve team capability and prevent recurrence.

Requirements

• Matric with Maths/Maths lit
• Recognized Electrician Trade Test certificate
• Five to ten years of post-trade industrial electrical maintenance experience in a manufacturing or process environment
• Practical experience with three-phase systems, motors, motor control, switchgear, variable speed drives, control circuits and industrial distribution
• Ability to diagnose electrical and control faults methodically using drawings, meters, alarms and equipment diagnostics
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, panel layouts, manuals and equipment specifications
• Working knowledge of maintenance management systems, electronic work orders and standard office software
• Willingness to work shifts, standby, call outs, weekends and planned shutdowns when rostered

Competencies: Individual Contributor

• Valuing Differences - Working effectively with individuals of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, abilities, motivations, or backgrounds; seeks out and uses unique abilities, insights, and ideas from diverse individuals.
• Work standards - Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.
• Initiating Action - Taking prompt action to accomplish work goals; taking action to achieve results beyond what is required; being proactive.
• Planning and Organising - Establishing an action plan for self and others to complete work efficiently and on time by setting priorities, establishing timelines, and leveraging resources.
• Continuous Learning - Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application