Fridge Mechanic / Refrigeration Technician

SUMMARY:
The Refrigeration Technician will be responsible for the installation, maintenance, servicing, fault-finding and repair of industrial refrigeration systems and cooling equipment within an abattoir environment. The successful candidate must ensure that refrigeration, cold rooms, freezers and associated cooling systems operate efficiently and reliably to maintain the required temperatures for meat storage, food safety and production operations.
Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Refrigeration System Maintenance

• Install, service, maintain and repair industrial and commercial refrigeration systems.
• Maintain cold rooms, chillers, freezers, blast chillers and cooling units.
• Inspect refrigeration systems to identify faults, refrigerant leaks and mechanical failures.
• Monitor evaporators, condensers, compressors, expansion valves and refrigeration pipework.
• Conduct preventative maintenance to minimise equipment breakdowns and production interruptions.
• Ensure refrigeration systems maintain the required operating temperatures.

1. Fault-Finding and Repairs

• Diagnose electrical, mechanical and refrigeration-related faults.
• Repair or replace defective compressors, motors, fans, thermostats, sensors and control components.
• Identify and repair refrigerant leaks in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Test refrigeration systems after repairs to confirm correct operation.
• Respond promptly to emergency breakdowns, particularly where meat storage or production is affected.
• Investigate recurring faults and recommend long-term corrective measures.

1. Abattoir Cold Chain Management

• Ensure cold rooms, chillers and freezers maintain their specified temperature ranges.
• Monitor temperature readings and investigate deviations.
• Assist in maintaining the cold chain for meat processing, chilling, storage and dispatch.
• Identify refrigeration issues that could compromise product quality or food safety.
• Liaise with production, quality assurance and maintenance teams regarding refrigeration performance.
• Maintain accurate records of temperature checks, servicing, repairs and breakdowns.

1. Electrical and Control Systems

• Inspect and troubleshoot refrigeration electrical circuits and control panels.
• Maintain thermostats, pressure switches, temperature sensors and electronic controllers.
• Test motors, contactors, relays and other electrical components within the technician's competency and authorisation.
• Identify faults in automatic defrost systems and refrigeration controls.
• Read and interpret electrical diagrams, wiring diagrams and refrigeration system schematics.

1. Industrial Refrigeration Equipment

• Maintain industrial refrigeration plant and associated equipment, where applicable.
• Inspect compressors, pumps, cooling towers, condensers and evaporators.
• Monitor refrigerant pressures, temperatures and system performance.
• Check oil levels, filters, belts and other relevant components.
• Assist with energy-efficiency improvements and optimisation of refrigeration systems.
• Monitor equipment performance and report potential failures before they affect operations.

1. Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance

• Follow occupational health and safety procedures when working with refrigeration equipment.
• Handle refrigerants safely and prevent unnecessary refrigerant emissions.
• Follow applicable refrigerant handling, recovery and environmental requirements.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Follow lockout and isolation procedures when working on electrical or mechanical equipment.
• Maintain a clean, organised and safe maintenance workshop.
• Comply with the abattoir's hygiene, food safety and site access requirements.

1. Administration and Reporting

• Complete maintenance job cards, service reports and breakdown reports.
• Maintain records of refrigerant usage, repairs and preventative maintenance.
• Monitor spare parts and refrigeration consumables.
• Report major equipment failures and replacement requirements to management.
• Assist with maintenance planning, contractor coordination and cost control.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum Requirements Grade 12 \/ Matric preferred. Recognised qualification in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Mechanics or a related technical field. Relevant refrigeration trade qualification or Trade Test advantageous, depending on the position's scope. Minimum 3-5 years' experience in refrigeration maintenance and repairs. Practical experience with commercial or industrial refrigeration systems. Knowledge of refrigeration cycles, compressors, condensers, evaporators and expansion devices. Experience in electrical fault-finding and refrigeration controls. Ability to diagnose faults, carry out repairs and complete maintenance documentation. Advantageous Qualifications and Experience Experience working in an abattoir, meat-processing plant, food manufacturing facility or cold-storage warehouse. Experience with industrial ammonia (NH₃) or carbon dioxide (CO₂) refrigeration systems, if used on site. Experience maintaining blast chillers, cold rooms, freezers and industrial chillers. Knowledge of PLC-controlled refrigeration systems and automated temperature monitoring. Refrigerant handling and recovery training appropriate to the refrigerants used. Experience with preventative maintenance programmes and breakdown response. Relevant safety training for industrial refrigeration plants.