Refrigeration Service Engineer - Working conditions
Mataaro Tiaki Pūrere Whakamātao
Working Conditions
Refrigeration service engineers work indoors and outdoors on construction sites or container ships, in commercial buildings such as hospitals, supermarkets and wineries, or at private homes. They can work in warm or cool conditions. They may also work at heights on ladders and scaffolding or in confined spaces such as ceilings.
Refrigeration service engineers often work in chiller rooms
Antony East sorting out the tools he needs before going to a job
Equipment
Equipment refrigeration service engineers may use includes:
- hand tools such as drills, crescents and spanners
- high and low pressure refrigeration gauges
- leak detectors, including electronic leak detectors for certain refrigerants
- electrical meters
- welding equipment
- copper pipe benders and cutters
- thermometers
- flaring tools for working on pipes
- safety equipment such as earmuffs, steel-capped boots, overalls, protective glasses and gas masks
- hoses and water vacuum cleaners
- computers
- cellphones
- a company car or van.
Hours
Refrigeration service engineers usually work regular hours, but they may work longer hours, evenings and weekends if required. They may also be on call.
"You sort of have to discipline yourself not to run from one place to another otherwise people will run you ragged. It's very much a beck and call existence."
Colin Kitchingman - Company Director
Contact with people
Refrigeration service engineers work with clients, property managers, construction companies, architects, other tradespeople and suppliers of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. They may also work with refrigeration/air-conditioning design engineers.
"You have to work together with a lot of other tradespeople and professionals in this job. It's good though because you're always meeting new people."
Antony East - Refrigeration Service Engineer
Updated
July 2009
