Occupational profile - plant equipment

Plant equipment

An occupation in plant equipment involves carrying out advanced skilled work.

The level 3 plant mechanic can do complex job tasks, requiring high levels of practical skills and knowledge, as well as managing their own work and leading small teams.

The main differences between a level 2 plant mechanic are that the level 3 plant mechanic has responsibility for managing their own and other people’s work, as well as being required to complete complex and non-standard work.

This apprenticeship involves:

• completing mandatory and optional units
• working on a construction site or in a workshop, to given specifications, repairing and servicing vehicles and machines for various construction operations, such as excavators, earth movers, forklifts, telescopic handlers, dumper trucks
• regularly inspecting engines, gearboxes and hydraulics
• identifying faults and repairing or replacing faulty parts
• reassembling parts and testing them
• arranging for machinery to be moved to the repair workshop
• carrying out routine servicing of plant and equipment
• using hand and power tools and specialist equipment
• having excellent mechanical maintenance skills
• communication skills for working with clients and other operators
• problem-solving skills
• being able to work alone without direct supervision

Plant and equipment mechanics need to:

• work safely and be aware of key health, safety and welfare issues
• plan and carry out their work to commercial standards of quality and speed
• move, handle and store resources, complying with relevant legislation and guidance
• interpret and follow verbal and written work instructions from trade supervisors and site managers
• select the required materials and resources to carry out the work
• install related materials and components as appropriate to the specification
• use maintain and store hand tools, power tools and associated equipment
• access, interpret and use drawings and specifications to carry out their work

On completion of this apprenticeship, level 3 plant mechanics will have the same occupational skills as a level 2 plant mechanic but will also be able to understand the advanced technical principles and utilise a range of skills which allow them to carry out complex work to highly skilled standards and tolerances.

Progression

This apprenticeship will enable progression to:

• occupational work supervision
• depot management
• sales
• technical support areas
• HNC/ HND civil engineering (plant operations), construction site management (plant operations)
• foundation degree

National occupational standards (NOS)

Every framework must be underpinned by national occupational standards (NOS) which sets out the standards of performance you must achieve when carrying out functions in the workplace, together with specifications of the underpinning knowledge and understanding.

Behaviours may be detailed within or alongside the NOS.

Core NOS

Available NOS

• Level 3 apprenticeship framework - construction crafts