Whether you’re managing a food processing plant or a warehouse, each location needs some type of electrical equipment to manage day-to-day operations. From servicing machinery to setting up control panels, there’s a lot to do, but who’s going to do it? In industrial settings, it’s not enough to hire just any electrician. You need a specialist – an experienced industrial electrical contractor in Melbourne. Here’s why it matters, and the key questions you should ask before you hire.
Why You Need An Industrial Electrician – Not Just Any Electrician
When you operate a pharmaceutical plant, food processing plant, manufacturing facility, or any other kind of industrial setting, you need a specialist. They offer:
Specialised knowledge about industrial systems
Safety in high-risk environments
Compliance with industrial standards like AS/NZS 3760
Create custom electrical solutions
Expertise in preventative maintenance
Important Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Do you have experience in our industry (food processing, pharmaceutical development plants, manufacturing, etc)?
Asking about their experience in your industry, what industrial sectors they’ve worked in, and for how long, shows that they’re well-versed in industry-specific compliance requirements. For instance, sterile environments in pharmaceutical plants or cross-contamination standards in food processing.
Do you provide detailed documentation and compliance reports?
If you operate in a regulated industry, like the pharmaceutical or food industry, you’ll need documentation for audits. Working with an industrial electrician who can provide reports is important for a streamlined process in case of audits or applying for insurance claims.
How quickly can you respond to emergencies or breakdown?
Response time is crucial for industrial settings where downtime can end up costing you money, lost productivity, and possible product spoilage. It’s essential that your industrial electrician in Melbourne offers 24/7 support and a guaranteed response time. With ONJ Services, you have a guaranteed response time of 2 hours.
Can you design and install custom solutions like switchboards and control panels?
A one-size-fits-all system can’t fit all industrial applications, so you need a specialist who can prepare custom solutions. Experience in designing and installing custom electrical solutions can prove helpful in cases where you’re preparing for automation or expansion.
How do you ensure minimal disruption to operations during projects?
In any industrial setting, stopping operations to deal with electrical work isn’t possible. It’s important that you hire a professional who manages electrical work around your operations. This can be through after-hours installations or isolation procedures.
Do you provide post-project support or maintenance?
Even the best-designed electrical systems can experience faults or wear and tear. So it’s important to hire a reliable professional who can provide preventative maintenance and long-term support. When you can call someone familiar with the system in the event of faults, you avoid excess downtime. It’s also beneficial for system optimisation and ensuring compliance.
Are you licensed and insured to do industrial electrical work?
Licensing ensures the contractor meets your state’s legal and technical requirements. Insurance protects you from liability in case of accidents or property damage during the job.
What types of equipment or systems have you worked with?
If your facility uses specialised machinery or complex control systems (like PLCs or VFDs), you want someone who’s familiar with them to avoid costly mistakes or delays.
What’s included in your quote, and what might be charged extra?
Transparent pricing helps you avoid surprise costs later. It also shows the contractor is organised and upfront—traits you want in any long-term partner.
Do you offer any warranties or service guarantees on your work?
A warranty shows that the contractor stands by their work. It also gives you peace of mind in case any issues come up after the project is completed.
Red Flags To Look Out For When Hiring an Industrial Electrician
Vague Timelines
If they offer a vague timelines instead of a specific plan outlining when they’ll complete each stage, it’s a red flag. This could lead to delays, incomplete projects, and disruptions in daily operations.
Limited Industrial Experience
Electricians who claim to handle all types of jobs without any industrial experience should be avoided. They lack the expertise and knowledge of industry-specific regulations to get the job done.
No Documented Safety or Compliance
Industrial electricians should have certifications like Safe Work Australia compliance. If they don’t, it could lead to serious damages or injuries in the event of safety concern.
Lack of Transparency in Pricing
If they don’t provide a complete quote of how much the project will cost, you can end up paying additional expenses down the line.
Work With Reliable Industrial Electrical Contractors in Melbourne
When choosing industrial electrical contractors in Melbourne for your facility, you need to ask questions that help verify their licensing, industry experience, certifications, and training. At the same time, they should have a good reputation, communicate effectively, be available, and fully compliant with safety standards. And when you ask about costs, they should be upfront and transparent about how much you should expect to pay.
At ONJ Services, we check all the boxes with our industrial electrical solutions and have a guaranteed response time of 2 hours.