Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Facilities Operations

Level 4453 of 1200 points

Job description

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Job purpose

To keep machines, mechanical equipment and building structures in working order by carrying out preventive maintenance, diagnosing faults and effecting repairs across several trades — mechanical, electrical, plumbing, carpentry and welding — so that plant and premises remain safe, efficient and available for use.

Skills

Skilled knowledge across two or more maintenance trades: machines and tools and their repair, building materials and methods, and applied measurement for setting out and dimensional checks. Reads blueprints, schematic diagrams, repair manuals and parts catalogues. A post-secondary certificate is held by most incumbents and a quarter are educated to secondary level, with one to two years of training alongside experienced workers, often through a recognised apprenticeship.
Works face to face and by telephone with supervisors, colleagues, equipment users, suppliers and contractors, establishing what has gone wrong, explaining what a repair requires and will cost, and negotiating access and downtime. Trains maintenance staff and subcontractors in methods and safe working, and handles disagreements about delay or standards.
Diagnoses mechanical, electrical and structural malfunctions by inspecting, operating and testing equipment and by working through drawings and manuals, then determines whether to repair, replace or fabricate a part. Judgements are made under time pressure with equipment out of service, and an incorrect diagnosis has consequences for plant and for the people using it.
Plans and lays out repair work from drawings, estimates the cost and materials for a job, and schedules preventive maintenance around operational demand while responding to breakdowns. Determines tasks and priorities largely without direction.
A skilled manual role calling for dexterity and tool sense: dismantling and reassembling machines with hoists, cranes and hand and power tools, aligning and balancing installed equipment, fitting pipework, wiring and electronic components, operating machine tools and welding equipment, repairing roofs, floors and woodwork, and driving vehicles and mechanised equipment.

Responsibilities

No formal line management, but trains and manages maintenance personnel and subcontractors on the work in hand, and is answerable for their working practices and for the safety of workers and building users affected by the plant maintained.
Orders parts, supplies and equipment from catalogues and suppliers, estimates the cost of repairs, and records the cost of work done. Commits expenditure within limits set by others and holds no budget.
Substantial responsibility for the condition and availability of production and building plant — motors, drives, boilers, heating and ventilation systems, pipework, wiring and fabric — and for a stock of tools, testing instruments and spare parts.
Keeps maintenance records of work carried out, parts used and costs, and produces specifications telling others how equipment and structures are to be assembled, modified or maintained. Accuracy supports the maintenance history later decisions rest on; the format is set by others.

Effort required

Concentrated diagnostic attention on faults whose cause is not apparent, combined with exact working to specification, frequent decisions during a job, and the pressure of returning equipment to service. Pace is partly set by the equipment itself.
Accountability for the safety of others and for plant that must not fail is a steady pressure, and there is periodic friction with users and contractors over delay and access, some of it with angry people.
Physically demanding throughout: standing and walking for most of the working day, with bending, twisting, kneeling, crouching and stooping to reach equipment, sustained hand and arm work with tools, repetitive movement, and manual handling of parts and materials.

Working conditions

Work moves between environmentally controlled interiors, unheated plant and workshop areas, and outdoors in all weather, with periods in enclosed vehicles or equipment. Exposure includes hazardous equipment and conditions, contaminants, very hot and cold temperatures, distracting noise, cramped spaces and awkward positions, work at height, and minor burns and cuts; common protective equipment such as safety footwear, gloves and eye and hearing protection is worn. Much of the work is done in close proximity to others.
Most incumbents work a regular established schedule, but a quarter are on irregular patterns that shift with production demands, weather or contract, and working weeks beyond the standard are the majority experience. The postholder decides how the work is done and in what order to a considerable degree, within safety rules, manufacturers' specifications and the priorities of the operation.

Skills

40% · 206 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 4 of 8
72 of 144 points
Factual and theoretical knowledge in broad contexts within a field of work. The job requires a range of thinking and practical knowledge to find solutions to specific problems in the job or study area.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Standard communication and interaction with others. The job holder is required to communicate with colleagues or customers in structured settings. Tact, empathy and basic relationship building are required.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Standard problems. The job involves solving problems with defined alternatives. Some judgement is needed, but help is usually available.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 2 of 5
29 of 72 points
Basic organisational skills required. The job involves planning and organising one's own work within set deadlines. Some input into scheduling and prioritisation of tasks.
Physical skillsLevel 2 of 5
29 of 72 points
Basic physical skills required. The job requires some physical skills that involve light to moderate physical effort. There is some requirement for dexterity beyond the everyday needs of life. Manipulation may be required, but precision is not necessary.

Responsibility

35% · 101 points▾

PeopleLevel 1 of 5
29 of 144 points
Very limited. Not required to supervise or perform a caregiving role. The job may involve providing basic guidance to or orientation for others, such as helping new colleagues settle in.
Goods and equipmentLevel 2 of 5
34 of 84 points
Some responsibility for goods or equipment. The job involves the use and maintenance of equipment or stock, and the job holder is responsible for ensuring resources are used appropriately and safely.
InformationLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Limited responsibility for information. The job requires the individual to gather, process or share information in a controlled way, following guidelines or predefined procedures.
Financial resourcesLevel 0 of 5
0 of 96 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any responsibility for financial resources.

Effort

15% · 82 points▾

Mental effortLevel 2 of 5
24 of 60 points
Moderate mental effort. The job involves tasks that require focus, such as analysing straightforward information or performing repetitive tasks that require attention to detail.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 2 of 5
29 of 72 points
Occasional psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires occasional involvement in emotionally demanding situations, such as handling minor conflicts or dealing with upset individuals.
Physical effortLevel 3 of 5
29 of 48 points
Moderate physical effort. The job requires consistent physical effort, such as regular lifting of moderate weight, manual handling of materials, prolonged standing or walking or monotonous or repetitive hand/arm movements.

Working Conditions

10% · 64 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 3 of 5
50 of 84 points
Regular exposure to hazards or stress. The job requires regular exposure to physical hazards (e.g. exposure to chemicals, temperature extremes or minor risk of injury) or moderate psychological risks (e.g. isolation, repetitive tasks or occasional threats of violence). It may occur monthly or as a build-up of milder hazards.
Organisational environmentLevel 2 of 5
14 of 36 points
Occasional organisational demands. The job may involve occasional irregular hours (e.g. the requirement to work weekends or holidays), minimal travel or limited digital connectivity outside normal working hours.