When you’re considering a career path as a maintenance technician in Ohio, it will be helpful to have a good understanding of what the job entails, and what kinds of skills you might need in order to be successful as a maintenance technician. If you’re not familiar with the specific role played by a maintenance technician for a company, it would be the person who provides mechanical support and electrical support for the facilities owned by any business.
In a normal day-to-day environment, the maintenance technician has responsibility for completing work orders which have been issued by various departments, so that repairs or maintenance can be carried out. All the activities performed by a good maintenance technician serve to keep mechanical and electrical equipment operating smoothly and providing good service to the company.
Payscale for a Maintenance Technician
For the year 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for a maintenance technician was in the area of $44,000 annually in the state of Ohio, with an hourly pay rate of slightly over $21 per hour. In various parts of the state, those figures were higher or lower as you might expect, but for a maintenance technician with around three years of experience, that’s the kind of pay scale you could anticipate earning in the state. Since there is currently a shortage of maintenance technicians in Ohio, these figures may continue to rise in the near future, as demand increases for qualified employees.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Maintenance Technician
In some companies, the maintenance technician position is kind of a jack of all trades, and there is usually a good deal of learning on the job because there are so many electrical and mechanical systems that need support and maintenance. For starters, a typical maintenance technician would be responsible for surveying mechanical systems and buildings in general, to be sure that they are compliant with all existing safety and health standards.
Regular maintenance of electrical systems would also be carried out by this individual, for instance, cleaning and repairing the breaker panels for electrical circuits and replacing light bulbs and their sockets when necessary. You might also have to assist in the setup of a refrigeration or ventilation system and conduct any necessary repairs. Plumbing systems are also within the area of control for a maintenance technician, and these would have to be maintained in good working order for the comfort of all on-premises employees.
Some companies ask that their maintenance technicians perform painting activities that are necessary for interior and exterior surfaces. The technician would generally have to maintain and repair doors, closers, controllers, locking mechanisms and even hard blocks that are used to secure various containers. It falls under the responsibility of a maintenance technician to maintain the documentation for all fire suppression systems within the building, as well as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
When it’s necessary to repair windows or doors, the maintenance technician would also take this on. If a building has any kind of a problem with pests such as rats or other vermin, the maintenance technician might be asked to undertake this task as well, and it might involve setting traps or spraying insecticides in various sections of the building. General upkeep procedures for the premises might also be necessary, for instance, any landscaping activities that are called for on the exterior grounds.
Any hazardous materials which are used in the conduct of business must be stored safely and disposed of when necessary by the maintenance technician. Whenever training programs are being administered concerning safety, technical procedures, or operational processes, the maintenance technician would participate in these kinds of programs, and in some cases might even instruct them.
Lastly, it is one of the general duties of a good maintenance technician to establish a clean and safe environment in the workplace, so that all employees can perform their duties without fear of discomfort or accidents.
Qualifications and Requirements for a Maintenance Technician
The minimum academic requirement for becoming a maintenance technician is having a high school diploma, but a college diploma would certainly warrant greater consideration on the part of an employer. Certifications are also looked upon very favorably, especially if a candidate has a certification in HVAC systems or other electrical and mechanical systems which are typically found in a business operation. One of the strongest areas of consideration that would recommend a candidate is having previous work experience as a maintenance technician, especially if that experience entails several years on the job.
To be a really effective maintenance technician, it’s necessary to have a thorough understanding of hydraulic and electrical systems, as well as any mechanical systems which are typically used in the conduct of business. It’s also very helpful to have a solid understanding of general maintenance procedures and the methods used to carry them out. It’s helpful as well to have a working knowledge of many of the tools which are used in a business environment, including some common appliances and devices which are typically used to carry out business functions.
Manual dexterity is a good prerequisite for a maintenance technician, because the individual will be faced with performing manual tasks daily on the job, and many of them do call for dexterous handling. It’s also essential for a maintenance technician to be someone who pays attention to detail conscientiously, especially in the areas of safety features and compliance requirements for a business.
When any equipment fails and is out of service, it’s extremely helpful for the maintenance technician to have a strong aptitude for problem-solving, so the equipment can be repaired as quickly as possible and brought back online. All downtime for critical equipment means lost revenues for a business, so this problem-solving capability can become critical at various times.
Lastly, a maintenance technician must be in good physical condition, because the daily duties and responsibilities of the job demand that you’re able to freely walk around the entire premises wherever you’re needed, and occasionally to lift heavy items. When duties get particularly intense, it’s even desirable that a good maintenance technician has a solid level of stamina in order to effectively perform all necessary duties.
