Mining maintenance fitter job description

A completed mechanical trade qualification — usually a Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade or recognised equivalent — is essential. Candidates also need working rights in Australia and the relevant site inductions. Depending on the tasks, working at heights, confined space and EWP tickets are often required, and an HR driver licence is desirable.

A dual trade is not mandatory but is highly valued. Fitters who hold a second trade — such as fitter/boilermaker or fitter/electrical — sit at the top of the maintenance-trades classification (Levels 6–7 under the Mining Industry Award) and can cover a wider range of maintenance work, which is attractive on remote sites where crew size is limited.

Beyond a standard site induction, maintenance fitters commonly need working at heights, confined space entry and elevated work platform (EWP) tickets, plus training in the site’s isolation and lock-out-tag-out procedures. Requirements vary by state and by operator, so confirm the specific tickets your site mandates before hiring.

Yes. A trade-qualified fitter from construction, manufacturing or another heavy industry can transition into mining with the right site inductions and safety training. Prioritise a recognised mechanical trade qualification, strong fault-finding ability and a disciplined safety mindset — mining-specific knowledge can be built on site.

This depends on your operation. Permanent fitters provide continuity across swing rosters and are common for core maintenance crews. Casual employees offer flexibility for shutdowns and peak workloads but attract a 25% loading. Many sites use a mix of permanent crew plus casual or contract trades for major maintenance events.

Under the Mining Industry Award, Saturday work is paid at 150% for the first three hours and 200% after that, Sunday at 200% and public holidays at 250%. Afternoon and night shifts attract a 15% loading, rising to 30% for permanent night shift, and an underground allowance of $2.06 per hour applies where relevant. Use award interpretation software to calculate rates accurately, or estimate with the overtime and penalty rate calculator.

FIFO roles typically run continuous 12-hour day and night shifts across a swing (for example two weeks on, one week off). Rosters must account for penalty rates, overtime and fatigue management. Many operators use an enterprise agreement to package these arrangements. Our guide on FIFO roster patterns explains the common swing structures.

Key elements include the position title and classification level, employment type, hourly rate or salary, applicable award or enterprise agreement, roster pattern, main duties, site location and required trade qualifications and tickets. For casuals, include the casual loading. Use our digital employment contracts to simplify this process.

Balance planned maintenance windows with breakdown cover across both day and night crews, ensuring adequate rest between shifts. Rostering software lets you build swing patterns, see coverage at a glance and apply the correct penalty rates automatically. See our how-to guide on rostering mining staff.

Fatigue management is a core WHS obligation on mine sites. Limit consecutive long shifts, provide adequate rest breaks and recovery time between swings, and monitor total hours worked. Our guide on managing fatigue on FIFO rosters covers practical steps, and time and attendance tracking helps you monitor actual hours worked.

Use time and attendance tools with clock-in and clock-out records to capture actual hours across long shifts, then feed them into payroll. Accurate records support correct penalty rate and overtime calculations and provide an audit trail for compliance on remote operations.

Swing rosters are usually published well in advance so FIFO workers can plan travel and time at home. Confirm the notice period in the applicable award or enterprise agreement, and give as much certainty as possible. Using rostering software makes it easy to share upcoming shifts and manage change requests.