Ross specializes in the area of Black Utilities on a 400,000sq ft Biopharmaceutical facility. As a Shift Mechanical Technician, he has enjoyed interesting and challenging work since he started his career with LotusWorks in 2016.
“Usually, my morning starts with a pass down from the previous shift to find out any issues from the night before”. The pass down is an essential step in shift changeover, ensuring all teams are abreast with site activity relative to their specific department. In my role, we maintain all Black Utilities, Mechanical and Electrical systems on-site.
After pass-down, I sign permits for vendors coming in on the day and provide assistance where needed throughout the day. Preventative Maintenance is a big part of my role. My schedule is made daily, and each Technician knows where to be and at what time. Every day, there are reactive tasks. This can also be known as unplanned maintenance that is not currently on the schedule. This is where you instantly react to an issue, which can affect the daily schedule and workload.
The team are responsible for the maintenance of all Black Utilities systems, including soft water, plant steam generation, cooling towers, compressors, HVAC units, glycol chillers, AHUs, electrical distribution systems, generators and UPS systems. I lead a first response team with ten first responders managing any medical emergencies or chemical spills on site. Safety is a core value of LotusWorks and a priority on-site, and this is reflected in the excellent safety record we hold.
The LotusWorks “Good Catch” programme has been a critical driver in our successful safety statistics on the 400,000sq ft facility. The initiative encourages the identification of safety hazards before they cause harm and is designed to promote vigilance and awareness of your surroundings and the safety of others around you on site. I’m the LotusWorks point of contact for registered vendors for apparatus and situational awareness training, which, due to COVID-19, have been put on hold. I am also the LotusWorks SME (subject matter expert) of the boiler system, streamlining, preventative maintenance tasks, liaising with the vendors and managing work orders associated with the system.
I joined the LotusWorks team in December 2016 and my role has evolved. I’ve completed a Vibration Analysis Programme and an Occupational First Aid Certificate through LotusWorks. I also completed an ILM Leadership & Management Programme through LotusWorks in 2018/19, along with eight colleagues. The 18-month-long course focused on nurturing Site Lead and managerial talent within the organisation. It was both enjoyable and challenging. The course enabled me to meet colleagues working on various sites and from different sector backgrounds throughout Ireland, making for exciting discussions and class role-plays. It’s essential to be open-minded towards learning opportunities, and I definitely recommend when looking for a potential employer that it’s one who supports learning and development along with personal growth.
The support of the Directors and Senior Management of LotusWorks was a critical factor in the programme’s success and how well it was structured. For me, an employer who supports continuous training, development and learning is an employer who is invested in its people, and that’s why I would have no hesitation in recommending LotusWorks.
If you want an interesting and varied career with a global company who supports career progression why not join our team – contact us today!