Job Description

Shift Electrician Technician

Job Purpose

To provide electrical maintenance and troubleshooting support on a shift basis, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all plant electrical equipment. The Shift Electrician responds to breakdowns, performs inspections and preventative maintenance, ensures compliance with MHSA standards, and supports production in achieving uptime and performance targets.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical Maintenance & Repairs

Perform electrical maintenance on:

• Motors (LV), pumps, fans, crushers, mills
• MCCs, VSDs, soft starters, and switchgear
• Conveyors, feeders, and screening equipment
• Lighting circuits, distribution boards, transformers
• Process instrumentation support where required
• Conduct fault-finding using:
• Multimeters
• Insulation testers (megger)
• Loop testers
• Diagnostic software for VSDs/soft starters

Breakdown Response & Plant Support

• Attend to electrical breakdowns across the entire processing plant.
• Identify root cause and restore equipment safely and efficiently.
• Provide real-time feedback to operators and control room teams.
• Assist with safe plant restarts after power interruptions or trips.

Preventative Maintenance

• Perform shift-based inspections and PM tasks on:
• Motors, MCC components
• Electrical panels & enclosures
• Cable terminations, glands, and connections
• Protection devices (overloads, earth leakage, relays)
• Identify deteriorating conditions and report follow-up work.

Safety, Legal & Compliance

Ensure compliance with:

• Mine Health & Safety Act (MHSA)
• Electrical regulations and SANS standards
• Lock-out/Tag-out procedures
• Permit-to-work systems
• Hazard identification (SLAM/HIRA)
• Maintain clean, secure MCC and switchgear rooms.
• Ensure all electrical work is legally compliant and safely executed.

Electrical Switching & Isolation

• Perform low-voltage switching according to competency and site rules.
• Prepare and verify isolations for maintenance activities.
• Install locks, tags, and ensure correct energy isolation.

Equipment Condition Monitoring

Inspect and monitor:

• Overheating cables and connections
• VSD parameter alarms
• MCC cleanliness and moisture intrusion
• Earth continuity and bonding
• Panel ventilation & cooling systems
• Report deviations immediately.

Documentation & Reporting

Complete:

• Shift maintenance logs
• Breakdown reports
• PM checklists and job cards
• Follow-up notifications in CMMS (SAP/Pragma/OnKey)
• Provide accurate shift handover notes.

Collaboration & Communication

Work closely with:

• Control room operators
• Mechanical & instrumentation shift technicians
• Production shift supervisors
• Engineering planners and foremen
• Communicate clearly during breakdowns and high-risk work.

Required Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

Strong understanding of:

• LV electrical systems
• MCCs, VSDs, soft starters & protection relays
• Motor control circuits (DOL, star–delta, VSD control)
• Industrial field equipment used in crushing & milling plants

Ability to read:

• Electrical schematics
• Wiring diagrams
• SLDs (single line diagrams)
• Competent in electrical troubleshooting and diagnostics.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong situational awareness and safety culture.
• Ability to work under pressure during breakdowns.
• Effective communication and teamwork.
• Self-management and problem-solving reliability.
• Discipline in documentation and handovers.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Trade Test: Electrician (Red Seal).
• 3–5 years' experience in mining or heavy industrial electrical maintenance.
• Experience with MCCs, motors, and VSD-based systems.
• Ability to work shifts, overtime, standby, and callouts.

Preferred

• Exposure to zinc, lead, copper, or base metal processing.
• VSD and soft-starter OEM training (e.g., Danfoss, ABB, Siemens).
• Experience with SCADA/PLC interfaces (basic understanding).
• SAP/Pragma/OnKey CMMS experience.
• Medium-voltage switching training (advantage).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Breakdown response time.
• Electrical equipment uptime and reliability.
• Accuracy and quality of maintenance reporting.
• PM task completion and backlog control.
• Compliance with safety and MHSA electrical standards.
• Team communication and operational support effectiveness.