Closing Date: 21 January 2025
Job Title: 7 x Maintenance Handymen
Location: Carolina

Role Purpose:
The Maintenance Handyman plays a critical role in maintaining, servicing, and repairing mechanical, civil, and electrical agricultural machinery and equipment. This is a hands-on role that involves ensuring the smooth functioning of farm equipment and production systems. These systems are vital to the poultry operations and must be maintained regularly to prevent downtime. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting a variety of tasks within poultry houses, ranging from general maintenance to troubleshooting and complex repairs. The position requires a strong foundation in electrical and mechanical maintenance, a practical approach to problem-solving, and an understanding of agricultural machinery, especially in a farming environment.

The Maintenance Handyman will ensure that all machinery is serviced and repaired as needed, complying with all safety standards and manufacturer specifications. This will contribute significantly to the overall efficiency of the operations, ensuring that production goals are met without interruptions.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum Grade 12 or equivalent education, which is the foundation for understanding technical concepts.
• Technical Senior Certificate or a similar technical qualification (N3) is an advantage, providing additional expertise in handling technical issues.
• Driver’s License Code 8 is necessary for driving vehicles or machinery around the farm or site, ensuring the mobility of maintenance staff.
• Electrical Modules M0-4 are considered an advantage, especially for candidates who have training in electrical components used in agricultural systems. This helps in identifying and resolving electrical issues quickly and efficiently.

Required Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in an electrical and mechanical environment is required to ensure the candidate is capable of handling the technical complexities of the machinery and systems.
• Previous experience in a poultry environment is an advantage, as it provides the candidate with insights into the unique requirements of poultry operations and the associated machinery.

Main Responsibilities:

• General Maintenance and Servicing:
  • Ensure all farm equipment and machinery are properly maintained and serviced to minimize the risk of unexpected breakdowns. Regular maintenance tasks include greasing, cleaning, lubricating, and inspecting all critical machinery parts.
  • Perform inspections as per the guidelines set out in the maintenance manuals (BOP’s) provided by the suppliers. These inspections help in identifying issues before they become serious problems, contributing to the long-term health of the machinery.
  • Execute repairs on agricultural machinery and equipment as per the planned maintenance schedule and any unexpected breakdowns. If a machine or piece of equipment stops functioning, the maintenance handyman must identify the problem, determine the best solution, and repair it as quickly as possible to minimize downtime.
  • Conduct daily inspections of all agricultural machinery, equipment, and structures to ensure they are in good condition and to prevent breakdowns from occurring. Daily checks are an important part of the preventative maintenance process.
• Biosecurity and Safety:
  • Quarantine and Standby Duties: Be available for quarantine and standby duties as required to address any urgent maintenance issues. This includes responding to emergency breakdowns or repairs that could affect the biosecurity of the farm or poultry houses.
  • Maintain biosecurity fencing, electric fencing, and gates. These are critical parts of maintaining the safety and security of the poultry farm, as well as ensuring the health of the animals. Any damage or breakdowns must be quickly addressed to maintain the integrity of the farm’s operations.
  • Ensure all work adheres to biosecurity standards to prevent contamination and ensure the health and safety of the poultry. This includes regularly inspecting fences, gates, and equipment used in maintaining the biosecurity protocols.
• Agricultural Machinery and Equipment:
  • Regularly maintain and service key agricultural machinery, such as chicken trolleys, disinfectant pumps, gas heaters, feeders, drinker systems, and water supply systems. Each of these pieces of equipment plays an essential role in poultry care and production, and regular maintenance ensures that they operate at full capacity.
  • Inspect, repair, and replace parts on agricultural equipment such as compressors, louvers, curtains, winch units, fans, and safety guards. These components are essential for maintaining the environment within the poultry houses, ensuring that the animals are kept in comfortable and safe conditions.
  • Generators and Engine Fault Diagnosis: Conduct maintenance on standby generators and diagnose engine faults related to diesel and battery-powered systems. These are critical systems, as a power failure can disrupt the entire operation of the farm. Regular checks and maintenance of these generators are necessary to ensure they function properly when needed.
  • Ensure the proper operation of the water supply and meter systems, ensuring that the water used for the animals is constantly flowing and that all meters are accurate and reliable.
  • Lighting and Equipment Repairs: Regularly inspect, repair, and replace parts on the poultry house lights and other equipment to ensure they are functioning optimally. This includes troubleshooting lighting systems that may be faulty or malfunctioning.
  • Maintain feeders, line motors, and gearboxes to ensure that the feeding systems remain in optimal working condition. If any of these systems fail, it can have a significant impact on the overall productivity of the farm.
• Civil Maintenance:
  • Building Maintenance: Ensure that all farm buildings are well-maintained, including doors, windows, locks, and the plumbing systems. This includes inspecting structures for any damage and repairing them to maintain the farm’s infrastructure.
  • Perform routine maintenance on building roofs, structures, ceilings, and insulation. This helps ensure that the buildings are safe and that conditions inside are conducive to both worker and animal health.
  • Inspect and repair quarantine quarters and other facilities as required by the maintenance schedule, ensuring that all areas meet the safety and operational standards.
• Electrical Maintenance:
  • Perform electrical repairs in poultry houses, including fixing lighting systems and other electrical equipment used in daily operations. Ensuring that all electrical systems are working properly is essential for the safety and efficiency of the farm.
  • Safely perform repairs on single-phase and 3-phase motors as needed, ensuring all electrical systems meet the required standards for safety and functionality.
  • Conduct electrical testing to identify faults and take corrective action to prevent electrical failures. Electrical issues can often be dangerous, so handling these systems with care and expertise is paramount.
• Cull Handling and Incinerator Operation:
  • Safely handle and load culled chicken corpses for proper disposal. This is an essential part of maintaining biosecurity and preventing disease outbreaks.
  • Operate and maintain the incinerator, ensuring that it functions correctly for the proper disposal of the culled chickens. Clean and maintain the incinerator regularly to ensure it is safe and effective in its operations.
• Maintenance Reporting:
  • After completing maintenance tasks, the handyman is responsible for signing off on the allocated tasks and submitting job cards for tracking and reporting. This ensures that the completed work is documented and recorded properly for future reference and management purposes.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Attention to Detail: A keen eye for detail is essential for identifying potential issues before they become serious problems. Regular inspections and troubleshooting require focus and precision.
• Measuring Equipment: The ability to accurately use measuring equipment is crucial in maintenance tasks. Whether it’s for setting up machinery, diagnosing faults, or measuring parts for replacement, precision is important.
• Welding and Brazing Skills: Experience with welding and brazing is necessary for repairing and modifying metal components, which are common in agricultural machinery.
• Electrical Hand Tools: Proficiency in operating electrical hand tools is essential for performing repairs and maintenance. These tools must be handled safely to ensure the well-being of the technician and the integrity of the equipment.
• Pipe Cutting and Jointing: Knowledge of PVC, galvanized, and compression pipe cutting and jointing is required for maintaining water and gas systems around the farm.

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Closing Date: 21 January 2025