Organisation: Sydney Trains
Job Title: Train Technician
Word Limit: 2000 to 4000 characters maximum per criterion
Location: Sydney Region/Sydney City
Trade qualification in an electrical or mechanical fitting trade
As a professional electrical and mechanical fitter for twenty years I hold the following
qualifications:
Fitter and First Class Machinist awarded by Trades Recognition Australia
Diploma in Tool and Die Making, NTTF, Bangalore
Certificate in Tool and Die Making, NTTF, Bangalore
Operate Breathing Apparatus Including SCBA
Occupational Health and Safety (White card)
Fire Safety and First Aid training
Restricted Electrical Licence
Confined Space training
Forklift Licence
In addition I have:
Experience working on large scale projects as part of a team and also in an independent
capacity, with the ability to identify and resolve issues as they arise
20 years of experience within the electrical and mechanical industries working on
everything from electrical construction through to maintenance
A thorough knowledge of Australian electrical standards and legislation, as well as an
understanding of electrical systems and equipment
An excellent knowledge of site health and safety procedures, including risk assessments
and Job Safety Analyses (JSAs)
Extensive plant and equipment maintenance, including forklifts, tractors, welders, roller
doors and air conditioners
Working knowledge of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and their use for fault-
finding and repairing
Ability to work competently and safely with HV and LV switchgear, cabling and power
generation systems
Document service and installation actions by completing forms, reports and logs
Capacity to work comfortably in confined spaces for extended periods
Ability to work on a variety of system voltages, including 120v, 50v
AC and DC motor maintenance and repair
In all tasks I demonstrate my ability to follow directions and procedures, achieving deadlines and
high levels of productivity. My knowledge of systems, protocols, policies and procedures ensures I
am meticulous in all tasks that I undertake. I see all jobs through to completion, and can adapt
quickly to new environments and team dynamics.
Previous experience in conducting inspections, services, maintenance, component changes and
repairs to mechanical and electrical control systems and equipment
My previous and current experience includes the installation, maintenance and running of
electrical and mechanical plant and equipment. In my current position at Zammit Ham & Bacon
Pty Ltd I conduct inspections of all the plant equipment on a routine basis ensuring the equipment
is running smoothly with no loss of production. I am always aware of any mechanical or electrical
faults and attend to them on an immediate basis. It is important that down time is kept to a
minimum during production times so I am constantly on the alert for any slowing down due to
mechanical or electrical failure. Carrying out preventative maintenance is also a high priority in
order to ensure faults do not develop that could impede production. This includes checking the
electrical equipment, lines and cables, motors, insulation and safety aspects of the equipment and
making modifications to improve the safety and smooth running of the equipment.
My experience includes working with food processing machinery and production lines where
goods manufacturing practices, Occupational Health and Safety, Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Points (HACCP), and meeting the Food industry standards are paramount. My experience
also includes erecting, commissioning and maintaining heavy equipment such as feed bins,
conveyers, magnetic separators, shredders, a rotary treatment chamber, high volume gas burners
and other dangerous equipment. I also repair faults in production that are due to servo drives,
mechanical breakdown, cam misalignments, electrical parts failure, electronic sensors, pneumatic
controllers or valves. Additionally, I have an excellent knowledge of the working principles of, and
hands on experience with, pneumatics and hydraulic cylinders, vacuum systems and pumps, and
servo motors.
My extensive training in Thiess Comprehensive Isolation Procedures ensures I follow safe work
practices when maintaining and repairing electrical and mechanical equipment. The Isolation and
Starter Protection Electrical Upgrade (ISPU) is one such example. This system simplifies the
isolation process and prevents electrical component damage as a result of improper machine
operation automatically isolating the starter circuits during operation and the entire machine after
a period of inactivity. As a result, the ISPU reduces the potential for electrical faults, and improves
operator safety and equipment protection.
Demonstrated ability to analyse and rectify problems on mechanical and electrical equipment
With 20 years of experience, my ability to analyse and rectify problems on mechanical and
electrical equipment is well illustrated by the following example.
During my current tenure with Zammit, at one time one of the ovens was taking twice as long as
normal to cook the ingredients. No alarms were evident and an initial investigation did not show
any faults so I proceeded to carry out a series of checks. I discovered there was a lack of steam
pressure and the steam valve had ceased to operate. Tracking this fault down, I discovered a lack
of air pressure and the failure of a pneumatic valve. It seemed the pneumatic valve was not
getting the appropriate signals from the programmable logic controller (PLC) used for automating
the cooking process. This meant the fan motor may have been faulty, not switching from low to
high speed as required. This in turn indicated a potential electronic fault in the electrical board,
such as a relay or bad connection. Checking other areas such as energy sources, power steam etc.
showed they were operating effectively, which meant the problem was with the control sector in
the electrical board.
I went through the board, checking the sequence of operations performed by the PLC and looking
for any connections that had come loose. Continuing to trace this fault down, I eventually
discovered a faulty contactor auxiliary was sticking and not operating correctly as a result. All it
required was a simple tap on the auxiliary and the contactor was released – everything then
returned to normal operation. My experience, knowledge and expertise enabled me to correctly
track down the fault and apply the correct action to restore production. To prevent further issues I
obtained a new auxiliary part and, at the first opportunity, replaced it.
Proven ability to work with minimum supervision and meet tight deadlines
Often called upon to work varying shifts with little or no supervision, I am used to working alone
and to tight deadlines. An example is my current position with Zammit, a food processing company
that processes 40 to 50 tonnes of meat each day. It is important that the processing line runs
smoothly and with minimal downtime. The operation includes freezers, thawing rooms, pumping
stations, filling stations, tumbling, cooking, refrigeration, slicing, gas flushing, cryovac or vacuum
packaging and dispatch; all of which must be working smoothly and in coordination. If there is a
hold up at any step of the process it holds up the entire production line and costs money in terms
of time, labour, spoiled meat and health and safety issues. In all, there are around 200 machines
involved in the process from start to finish, many imported from various parts of the world such as
Germany and Austria. This does not include the various boilers, air compressor vacuum pumps,
forklifts, electric pallet jacks and other ancillary equipment, all of which must be maintained in
good order.
Working autonomously, I do a routine check each day of all the major equipment to identify and
note any service and maintenance requirements, as well as attending to breakdowns in a swift and
effective manner. This means I manage my time to ensure I carry out all the required inspections.
Over the busy holiday period, I discovered a tumbler, which normally tumbles around five tonnes
of meat at a time and does three tumbles a day, producing a strange noise. As that could have
been the signal of a potential breakdown, and it was also the busiest time of the year, I had to
come up with a fast but effective solution to ensure the machine was able to continue operating
and there was no loss of production. Checking the fault, I discovered the main motor was
developing a major fault and needed to be pulled out for rebuilding. This meant the tumbler
would need to be stopped for 24 to 48 hours – reducing production by around 30 tonnes.
Quickly, I came up with a plan to minimise the downtime and loss of production, and discussed
this with the production team to work out the best time to stop the machine for repairs. I also
negotiated with management to purchase a spare motor to cater for any future emergencies and
they obtained one almost immediately.
To reduce the downtime I stayed back after production so I could work on the machine overnight
and ensure the tumbler was ready for production first thing the next day. I successfully completed
this task and the tumbler was ready for operation at the commencement of the work day. This
demonstrates my ability to work without supervision and achieve the required result under a tight
deadline.
Ability to interact with other trades/disciplines within the overall context of a maintenance
environment
Being flexible and adapting my communication methods for different audiences has proven
effective in ensuring my directions are understood and executed. Showing respect to all other
persons regardless of background, skill level or experience is important to me, and this contributes
to my ability to collaborate effectively with others. Appreciating the efforts others put in, as well
as genuinely listening to them, builds and maintains effective relationships, facilitating positive
influence and productive outcomes.
As my boss is responsible for the overall administration of the factory, he has instructed me, as the
maintenance technician for the factory, to liaise and interact with other tradespeople as required
when it comes to maintenance matters. This includes various plumbers, service technicians,
electricians, building contractors and other tradespeople.
My ability to interact effectively with other tradespeople in relation to the maintenance of plant
and equipment is expressed through the following experience. A new pumping machine from
Austria was being installed and a service technician had flown over from Austria to commission
and provide training on the machine. This went well and the machine began operating. However,
after a month, faults with the injection head began to develop and we were not able to resolve
the problem with the company’s local technician who installed the machine as it involved a
complex operation of changing the software on the drives and synchronising with the other heads.
I then contacted the manufacturer in Austria and explained the problem, pointing out we were
losing production due to the machine being unable to operate at full capacity. The technicians in
Austria asked for the machine to go online so they could check the software and I organised the
machine to be connected to our server and be made available online to the technicians in Austria.
They then collected the information required and located the problem, which was faulty encoders.
They quickly had replacement parts shipped to us by courier and I then manually installed the
parts and got the machine running at 100% efficiency.
This demonstrates my ability to effectively interact with other trades, in this case IT personnel
overseas, in order to ensure a job gets done with minimal loss of production.
Demonstrated knowledge and awareness of Sydney Trains' probity and ethical standards
As a hard working mechanically-minded manufacturing and maintenance professional, I maintain
a high level of responsibility and ethical standards whilst maintaining a high standard and quality
of work.
My understanding of Sydney Trains is that it is important to be customer-centric; responsive to,
and proactively seek to address, the needs of customers; and in all my work to be dedicated to the
improvement and delivery of customer focused services. Safety is a key issue and I am committed
to the health, wellbeing and security of Sydney Train’s customers and employees. My integrity is
aligned to Sydney Trains and I am committed to working honestly, ethically, transparently and
fairly. This means I am responsible and accountable for my decisions and actions and will seek to
use the best possible resources. I have considerable experience in working cooperatively and will
work together in a dynamic, integrated team and partnerships to deliver high quality transport
results for NSW.
My understanding of Sydney Trains and the Transit system is that it is paramount to respect the
Code of Conduct, and the obligations placed upon State Transit staff to comply with procurement
policies and procedures. I will:
Refrain from accepting State Transit staff inducements, incentives, gifts or other benefits
that may lead to, or may be seen as leading to, an unfair advantage in dealings with State
Transit
Declare any actual or perceived conflicts of interests as soon as I become aware of them
Prevent the unauthorised disclosure of State Transit confidential information
Provide accurate, concise and reliable information when required
Comply with State Transit’s procurement policies and procedures
Be honest, fair and dependable in all dealings with State Transit
Ensure I do not discuss State Transit business in the media
Ensure I do not engage in any form of collusive practices
Additionally, I will assist State Transit to identify and eradicate unethical practices in our business
relationships and to report to State Transit as soon as practicable any serious wrongdoing related
to State Transit’s work, e.g. corruption, fraud, maladministration, serious and substantial waste, or
breaches of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.
Knowledge and understanding EEO, OHS, Environmental, Bullying and Harassment (including
Ethnic Affairs Statement), policies and procedures and committed to ethical practices
As an electrical and mechanical professional who has worked in the food industry for many years, I
am extremely aware of the vital importance of Health and Safety. I am aware of the Equal
Opportunity Act that provides for equal treatment irrespective of a person’s disability, race,
colour, descent, nationality, culture, age, religion, ancestry or ethnic background, and pride myself
on treating all people as equals. I do not participate in, or condone, discrimination or harassment
of any sort.
The new work health and safety (WHS) laws commenced on 1 January 2012 in many states and
territories to harmonise Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws across Australia and
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) legislation includes a model WHS Act, regulations, Codes of
Practice and a national compliance and enforcement policy. I take OHS and WHS very seriously
and when working on electrical and dangerous equipment, I take all appropriate measures to
ensure the safety of myself and others from hazards such as electric shock, damage to life and
limbs etc. This includes keeping a watch to ensure others are applying the same safety protocols,
and acting swiftly if a violation is observed.
I am fully aware of the Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement (EAPS) and apply this in my interactions
with others including peers, other employees, managers, clients, tradespeople and other
stakeholders. I follow the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act
2000 which states that all individuals in NSW should have the greatest possible opportunity to
contribute to, and participate in, all aspects of public life in which they may legally participate and
all individuals and institutions should respect and make provision for the culture, language and
religion of others within an Australian legal and institutional framework where English is the
common language. It also states that all individuals should have the greatest possible opportunity
to make use of and participate in relevant activities and programs provided or administered by the
Government of NSW and all institutions of NSW should recognise the linguistic and cultural assets
in the population of NSW as a valuable resource and promote this resource to maximise the
development of the State.
As such I am bound by and committed to the ethical practices as outlined in the various Acts and
legislation that covers EEO, OHS, WHS, bullying and harassment policies and procedures, including
the EAPS.
