Plant operator job description

Mandatory requirements usually include site and safety inductions, working rights in Australia, and passing a pre-employment medical and drug and alcohol screen. Depending on the role, working at heights and confined-space tickets may be required. A Certificate II/III in Process Plant Operations, or relevant RII/PMC units of competency, is desirable but often gained on the job.

Yes. Many operations hire and train operators without prior processing experience, especially for entry-level positions. Focus on mechanical aptitude, safety attitude, reliability across rotating shifts and willingness to complete tickets and site training. Clear job descriptions help candidates understand the FIFO and shift commitment and self-select appropriately.

A Certificate II or III in Process Plant Operations (or relevant RII/PMC units) is highly regarded but not always mandatory. Many employers list it as a preferred qualification and support operators to complete it on the job through a traineeship, while entry-level candidates start with site inductions and structured training.

Mine-site roles almost always require a pre-employment medical and a drug and alcohol screen, with ongoing random testing on site. Some roles also require specific fitness assessments given the physical nature of clearing blockages, climbing and working long shifts. Confirm your site’s requirements and note them clearly in the job description.

This depends on your operation. Permanent operators suit continuous plants that need stable, trained crews on set roster swings. Casual employees offer flexibility for cover and peaks but attract a 25% loading. Many sites run a permanent core crew with casual or contract operators for leave cover and shutdowns.

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

Fly-in fly-out work is worked on set roster swings (for example 2:1 or 8:6) with employer-provided flights, accommodation and meals, and rosters built around continuous 12-hour shifts. Pay is often set by an enterprise agreement above award minimums, and fatigue management is a core condition. See FIFO roster patterns explained and mining and FIFO worker pay for detail.

Key elements include position title and classification level, employment type (casual, part-time or full-time), the applicable award or enterprise agreement, hourly rate and shift loadings, roster pattern, site location and FIFO arrangements, required tickets, and WHS obligations. Use our digital employment contracts to simplify this process.

Continuous plants need a panel of shift crews covering rotating day and night shifts so the plant is never unattended. Balance coverage with fair rotation, adequate breaks between swings and clear handovers. Mining rostering software helps build compliant rotating rosters and gives crews visibility of upcoming shifts. See our guide on how to roster mining staff.

Fatigue is a major safety risk on continuous 12-hour rosters and long FIFO swings. Limit consecutive shifts, allow adequate rest between day and night rotations, and monitor overtime and hours worked. Read managing fatigue on mining FIFO rosters and use time and attendance tools to track actual hours worked.

Rotating rosters mix ordinary hours, night loadings, weekend penalties and overtime, so labour cost varies a lot between shifts. Model different roster patterns before you commit using the overtime and penalty rate calculator and the shift cost calculator, then apply rates automatically with award interpretation.

Operators must follow isolation and permit-to-work procedures, wear required PPE, complete pre-starts, report hazards and manage their own fatigue. Employers have parallel duties to provide safe systems of work and training. See mining WHS employer obligations for a fuller overview of duties on a mine site.