What an industrial electrician (442A) does
Industrial electricians install, maintain and repair electrical equipment in manufacturing plants, processing facilities and other industrial settings. Their work covers motors, motor controls, variable frequency drives, programmable logic controllers, instrumentation and power distribution. In Ontario, the trade is recognized through the 442A Industrial Electrician certificate of qualification issued by Skilled Trades Ontario, and many plants look for it when hiring.
For a plant, a strong industrial electrician is the difference between a quick repair and a long shutdown. Finch screens candidates for the equipment and controls they have worked on, how they approach fault finding under pressure and their familiarity with lockout and tagout and arc flash safety. We also ask about shift availability and on-call work, so the people you meet fit your operation.
Typical responsibilities
- Troubleshooting and repairing motors, drives and motor control circuits
- Maintaining and fault-finding programmable logic controllers and instrumentation
- Carrying out preventive maintenance on electrical equipment and distribution systems
- Installing and commissioning new production equipment
- Reading electrical schematics, ladder logic and wiring diagrams
- Following lockout and tagout and arc flash procedures
Qualifications and credentials
- A Skilled Trades Ontario 442A Industrial Electrician certificate of qualification, or a 309A with strong industrial experience, depending on your needs
- Experience with motor controls, VFDs and PLCs in an industrial setting
- Ability to read schematics and ladder logic
- Lockout and tagout and arc flash awareness training
- Willingness to work shifts or on call where the plant requires it
Who hires an industrial electrician (442A)
- Manufacturing plants
- Food and beverage processors
- Automotive parts suppliers
- Plastics and packaging companies
- Industrial maintenance contractors
Where we recruit industrial electrician (442A) candidates
We fill industrial electrician (442A) roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- 442A or 309A certificate status
- Hands-on experience with drives, PLC platforms and controls
- Fault-finding approach, explored through technical questions
- Electrical safety practices around energized equipment
- Shift and on-call availability
Interview questions to ask
- Describe the last line stoppage you diagnosed. How did you find the fault?
- Which PLC platforms have you worked with, and what changes have you made to the logic?
- How do you verify that equipment is safe before you start work on it?