Plant & Equipment Mechanic / Plant Fitter
Plant and equipment mechanics service and repair machinery used in construction and other industries. This can include diggers, forklift trucks and cranes, alongside site equipment such as generators and compressors.
Also known as plant fitters or mobile service engineers, they may work in a workshop or visit construction sites to maintain equipment and deal with breakdowns.
The work is practical and can be physically demanding, involving noisy or dirty conditions and the use of protective clothing.
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could:
- Visit customers to carry out routine servicing and attend breakdowns
- Identify faults using tools and digital diagnostic equipment
- Service and repair construction machinery, forklift trucks, generators, compressors and other site equipment
- Inspect engines, gearboxes, electrical systems and hydraulics
- Take components apart, repair or replace damaged parts and reassemble them
- Carry out tests and safety checks before signing off completed work
- Keep accurate records of servicing and repairs
Skills & knowledge
You'll need:
- The ability to use, repair and maintain machinery, equipment and tools
- Good problem-solving skills
- A thorough approach and attention to detail
- The ability to work well with your hands
- The ability to use your initiative
- The ability to assess the quality and performance of equipment
- Good customer service skills
- Accurate observation and record-keeping skills
- The ability to complete basic tasks on a computer or handheld device
- A full driving licence is also required.
Industry Qualifications
On the Isle of Man, the training route is a general vehicle mechanics apprenticeship, with the same college course for those working with cars, construction plant or heavy goods vehicles.
The apprenticeship usually takes four years, combining employment and practical training with one day a week studying at University College Isle of Man (UCM).
Your employer provides practical training on the machinery and equipment you work with. Further specialist industry or manufacturer training can help you develop your knowledge of particular equipment and systems.
For work on construction sites, you may also complete CSCS site safety training and obtain the relevant cards or certificates, often referred to as “tickets”.