Trades, technical and operations roles are the ones where duties are tied most closely to competence, certification and safety law. An artisan may only carry out work they are qualified and authorised to do, a plant operator may only run machinery they hold a licence for, and a site supervisor carries legal duties that come with the appointment rather than the title. This hub groups every trade and technical role covered on Duties.co.za.
Each role links to a dedicated page with full duties, daily tasks and CV wording. Use this page to find the right guide, then read the specifics there. For the framework behind all workplace roles, see the parent job duties guide.
Browse Trades, Technical & Operations Job Duties by Role
Trade titles are tied to qualifications, so browse by the kind of work rather than by seniority.
Artisan and Trade Roles
Qualified trades work to drawings, specifications and codes. Assistant roles support a qualified artisan and may not sign off work in their own right.
- Artisan duties and responsibilities
- Artisan Assistant duties and responsibilities
- Electrician duties and responsibilities
- Assistant Electrician duties and responsibilities
- Plumber duties and responsibilities
- Carpenter duties and responsibilities
- Welder duties and responsibilities
- Boilermaker duties and responsibilities
- Diesel Mechanic duties and responsibilities
- Mechanical Fitter duties and responsibilities
- Handyman duties and responsibilities
Construction Site and Supervision
Construction supervision duties in South Africa are shaped by the Construction Regulations. Appointments such as site supervisor carry documented legal responsibility for the safety of the work under their control.
- Foreman duties and responsibilities
- Construction Supervisor duties and responsibilities
- Site Manager duties and responsibilities
- Construction Manager duties and responsibilities
- Construction Worker duties and responsibilities
- Rigger duties and responsibilities
- Civil Engineer duties and responsibilities
- Resident Engineer duties and responsibilities
Machine, Plant and Equipment Operation
Operator duties centre on pre-use inspection, safe operation within a licensed category, and accurate recording of output or load.
- Machine Operator duties and responsibilities
- Plant Operator duties and responsibilities
- Small Plant Operator duties and responsibilities
- Plant Attendant duties and responsibilities
- Operator duties and responsibilities
- Weighbridge Operator duties and responsibilities
Technical, Control Room and Monitoring
These roles run and monitor systems rather than build them. Accurate logging is usually as important as the technical task itself.
- IT Technician duties and responsibilities
- Till Operator duties and responsibilities
- Technician duties and responsibilities
- CCTV Operator duties and responsibilities
- Switchboard Operator duties and responsibilities
- Telecom Operator duties and responsibilities
Maintenance and Production
- Maintenance duties and responsibilities
- Production Manager duties and responsibilities
Common Duties Across Trades, Technical & Operations Roles
Whatever the trade, the following accountabilities appear in nearly every job description in this cluster.
- Work within competence: carrying out only the work you are qualified, licensed and authorised to perform.
- Pre-use inspection: checking tools, machinery and the work area before starting, and stopping work when something is unsafe.
- Working to specification: following drawings, method statements, codes and manufacturer instructions rather than improvising.
- Safety compliance: using protective equipment, following lock-out and permit-to-work procedures and reporting incidents.
- Recording and handover: completing job cards, logs, checklists and defect reports so the next shift can pick up cleanly.
- Materials and tool care: controlling consumables, returning tools and reporting damage or loss.
How Duties Change by Seniority and Workplace
Qualification Sets the Ceiling
In the trades, seniority is not only about experience. An assistant electrician and a qualified electrician may work side by side, but only one may certify the installation. Say clearly on a CV or job description which qualifications and authorisations the role holds, because that is what determines the legal scope of the work.
Appointment Adds Legal Duties
On construction sites and in factories, some duties come from a written appointment under health and safety legislation rather than from the employment contract. A foreman who holds such an appointment carries responsibilities that a foreman without one does not, even where the day-to-day work looks identical.
Sector Changes the Routine
A fitter in mining works to permit systems and shift patterns that a fitter in light manufacturing does not encounter. Mining, construction and food production each layer their own procedures on top of the trade. Read the role page together with the site rules that apply where you work.
Popular Role Guides
- IT Technician duties and responsibilities: hardware and software support, fault logging, user administration and asset control.
- Till Operator duties and responsibilities: point of sale operation, cash accountability, refunds and end-of-shift reconciliation.
Further guides in this cluster, including electrician, plumber, foreman and machine operator duties, are being published in the current build and will be linked here as they go live.
Duties for CVs
Technical CVs are read for qualifications, equipment and site type. Name the trade test or licence you hold, the plant you have operated and the environment you worked in. Use the duties for a CV guide for the general method, then adapt wording like this.
- Carried out planned and breakdown maintenance on conveyor and packaging plant, closing an average of 22 job cards per week.
- Operated a 20-ton excavator on a civil earthworks contract, completing daily pre-start inspections and defect reports.
- Supervised a team of nine on a residential construction site, including toolbox talks and permit control.
- Diagnosed and repaired electrical faults on three-phase distribution boards under a qualified electrician’s supervision.
Job Description and Employer Guidance
A technical job description should state the qualification or licence required, any statutory appointment attached to the role, the equipment covered and the reporting line for safety matters. Omitting the qualification requirement is the single most common defect in trade adverts, and it produces both unsuitable applications and real legal exposure once someone is appointed.
Use the job description duties and responsibilities guide for structure, then take the role content from the pages above. Duties vary by employer and site, and safety-critical duties should always be confirmed against the applicable regulation.
Related Work Areas
- General work, warehouse and logistics duties: for yard, stores and driving roles that support technical operations.
- Admin and office duties: for planning, stores administration and job card clerks.
- Job duties: the parent guide to duties, responsibilities and job descriptions.
How to Use These Duties Guides
Find your trade or function above and read the role page in full. If your title is not listed, choose the closest role by the work performed and the qualification held. In the trades especially, two employers can use very different titles for the same scope of work.
Duties vary by employer, site and sector. Where work is safety-critical, licensed or covered by a statutory appointment, follow the applicable legislation and your employer’s procedures rather than a general guide.
Last reviewed: 1 September 2026