Mechanical technician

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work in mechanical maintenance tasks at the Siilinjärvi mine, where apatite ore is mined. I replace and service pumps, electric motors and other mechanical equipment, as well as make repair weldings.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

In 1995, I worked in the mine during the summer, but at that time I did not stay there for longer. About five years ago, I decided to change my line of business. I mapped out professions where I could work with my hands and find employment nearby. I live in Siilinjärvi, and for family reasons I did not have the opportunity to go very far for work. I applied to study mechanical engineering at the local Vocational College, and I completed my internship at the Siilinjärvi mine, where I stayed for summer work. After graduation, I got a permanent job at the mine. I have been happy with my career choice.

Describe your typical working day or week.

In the mornings, we go through the plan for the day and divide into work pairs or teams. After that, we will start the maintenance work on the list. The work continues the following day from where it was left on the previous one. Plans change if, for example, a machine breaks overnight. This can also happen in the middle of the day, but usually the work is done according to plan.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

The working environment is fairly noisy and dusty, and the conditions vary. Sometimes work is done at high altitudes or underground. At the mine, work is carried out near large machines. You cannot go to the wrong place or too close to rotating machines because there is always the risk of serious injury. The company's principle is 'safety first', which is why a lot of attention is paid to occupational safety.

I work on a day shift from Monday to Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. if nothing surprising happens. Sometimes the workday may be longer if, for example, it is a downtime day when a large machine is driven down in a controlled manner, i.e. closed for maintenance purposes. Otherwise, working hours are regular.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

The work is physically strenuous, so good general fitness is required. The machine to be repaired can weigh 20 kg or 3–4 tonnes. Calmness is a good feature, as rushing can easily cause damage. Flexibility is also needed, as tasks can change unexpectedly. You can manage almost always in Finnish, but sometimes we will speak English with foreign working groups at the mine.

If you have previously engaged in repairing cars or mopeds, it is an advantage in this work. The school teaches the use of basic tools, but welding, for example, is taught in nearly laboratory-like conditions. In a real work environment, the conditions are different and the machines can be much larger. You learn to perceive dimensions and plan work stages, due work experience.

What is the best thing about your profession?

The work team, regular working hours and versatility of tasks are the best things. Even though I do similar types of tasks every day, the days feel different.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

The dust and noise of the mine, as well as the physical strain of the work, are challenging. In your free time, it is important to rest and recover as well as possible.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a mechanical technician?

I recommend this work if you do not shy away from challenging conditions or the fact that plans can change during the working day. In this profession, you can see the results of your own work, which is rewarding.

How do you see the future of your profession?

I see a bright future, at least until 2035, as the activities of this mine are currently planned to continue until that point. However, I believe that work at the Siilinjärvi mine will continue in some form even after that.

The conditions at the mine vary so much that machines cannot perform all human work. However, more and more automation is being introduced, which may lead to increased disturbances.

Photo: Ilona Savitie