Occ. Code 7331100

 ELECTRICIAN, GRADE 12

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

NATURE OF WORK

Electricians perform journey level electrician work and frequently supervise others in the repair, maintenance and installation of electrical systems and equipment. The electrician trade, for reasons of safety, requires care and precision in its performance following applicable electric code regulations.

Electricians are employed by many agencies with the greatest number of positions in the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the State University System and the Department of Transportation.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristically, an Electrician is responsible for all electrical work including the planning and laying out of work and the diagnosis of trouble in electrical systems or equipment in an assigned area, on an assigned project or for an entire facility.

An Electrician frequently supervises others in this work including Electricians, semiskilled and relatively unskilled workers.

Electricians may work with, lead, and provide practical trades instruction to persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility with responsibility for the tasks performed and for the security of the tools and materials used by them  along with their whereabouts.

In an electrical maintenance shop where activities are being performed by several employees, a typical organization contains one journey level position for each semiskilled or elementary skilled maintenance employee. In an agency such as the Department of Correctional Services where inmates or residents perform some electrical repair or installation tasks, an Electrician may be responsible for the work of a small group of such individuals.

Supervising Electricians supervise large scale electrical installation and repair operations involving approximately eight skilled, semiskilled or elementary skilled maintenance personnel in such classes as Electrician, Electronic Equipment Mechanic, Refrigeration Mechanic, Maintenance Assistant and Maintenance Helper.

In many State facilities Vocational Instructors specializing in electricity formally instruct inmates and/or residents in the theory and practice of this trade.

Maintenance Assistants (Electrician), as a semiskilled employee, perform the more routine, repetitive tasks of the electrical trade and are not usually required to work on high voltage equipment. Incumbents may perform journey level activities and tasks under direct observation and supervision or after having received specific instructions.

Maintenance Helpers on assignment to electrical trades, assist Electrician and Maintenance Assistant (Electrician) positions in electrical work by performing manual tasks involving elementary skills as directed while learning the practical techniques of the electrical trade.

Electronic Equipment Mechanics install, service or repair a variety of electronic equipment at a State institution or agency where there is a large quantity of electronic equipment and where all repairs are made at the institution or agency. Such activities may be performed by an Electrician in a State institution or agency where the quantity of electronic equipment does not require the full time service of an Electronic Equipment Mechanic.

Employees engaged in other building and maintenance trades are classified under a variety of other commonly used titles descriptive of their work; i.e., Carpenter, Plumber and Steamfitter.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Repairs, maintains and installs electrical systems and equipment such as motors, transformers, wiring, switches, alarm systems, controls, traffic signals and related equipment, and small appliances including radio, television, and record players.

• Locates and determines electrical malfunction using test instruments such as ammeter, volt meter, ohmmeter, oscilloscope and test lamp.

• Repairs malfunction by such methods as replacing burnt-out elements and fuses, bypassing or replacing defective wiring, finding switch contact points, and cleaning or rewiring motors.

• Tests electrical equipment such as generators and heaters for safety and efficiency using standard test equipment and by observing functioning.

• Installs fixtures, motors and other electrical equipment.

• Makes adjustments to electrical equipment.

• Inspects circuits and wiring for specified shielding and grounding and repairs or rewires system according to building codes and safety regulations.

• Replaces bearings in electric motors.

• Repairs mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric components of electrical equipment and controls, using standard tools, gauges, and procedures.

• Plans layout and wires new installations.

• Installs and repairs traffic control devices and systems.

Plans layout and installs and repairs wiring, electrical fixtures, apparatus and control equipment.

• Plans new or modified installations consistent with specifications and electrical codes.

• Prepares sketches showing location of all wiring and equipment or follows diagrams or blueprints.

• Measures, cuts, bends, threads, assembles and installs electrical conduit.

• Connects wiring to lighting fixtures and power equipment.

• Installs control and distribution apparatus such as switches, relays, and circuit breaker panels.

• Tests, adjusts, calibrates and maintains a wide variety of control equipment, including central heating plant controls; building heating, air conditioning, and ventilating equipment; controls for laundry equipment; controls for refrigeration; and for a wide variety of other equipment and systems.

• Tests continuity of circuit to insure electrical compatibility and safety of all components using standard instruments.

• Observes functioning of installed equipment or system to detect hazards and need for adjustments or replacement.

May repair and maintain elevators.

• Locates and determines causes of trouble in brakes, motors, switches and signal and control systems using testing devices.

• Disassembles defective units and repairs and replaces parts such as locks, gears, cables, electric wiring and faulty safety devices.

• Lubricates bearings and other parts.

May test and repair electromedical equipment such as x-ray, inductothermy, and diathermy equipment, sterilizers, following schematic diagrams.

• Tests electrical circuits and components to locate shorts, faulty connections and defective parts using test meters.

• Solders loose connections and replaces defective parts such as tubes, transformers, resistors, condensers and switches.

• Replaces x-ray tubes.

As assigned, Electricians supervise and instruct others in the repair, maintenance and installation of electrical systems and equipment.

• Assigns work to a maintenance staff.

• As required, may prepare wiring diagrams from verbal or written instructions to accomplish a project.

• From plans may recommend to supervisor the kind, quantity and quality of materials to be used.

• Assembles materials, tools and equipment required to accomplish the work according to plan.

• Lays out the work for the staff and performs journey level tasks as required.

• Gives verbal instructions and/or demonstrates proper method of performing electrical work and the use of electrician tools and equipment.

• Observes and inspects the work while in progress and when completed to insure that the job is done properly and that electrical codes are followed.

• When supervising persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility, Electricians must be aware of and account for their activities at all times while on the job, and that the rules and regulations of the facility governing such activities are followed.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

The nature of an Electrician's activity generally restricts relationships to employees working within the same organizational unit including skilled workers in other trades. On occasion, however, incumbents may be expected to verbally communicate with administrators and others in an agency or State facility on the reasons why work is being accomplished in the manner selected.

Electricians frequently direct and supervise an electrical maintenance staff which may include persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility. Such relationships are characterized by frequent verbal communications in assigning work and providing instructions. Written and verbal communications with the general public are not typical of this class.  Although incumbents may have frequent verbal relationships with others, the tasks of this class are predominantly thing oriented and the involvement with others is not a factor in determining its classification.

NATURE OF SUPERVISION

Electricians are supervised by higher level electrical or building trades positions such as Supervising Electrician or Maintenance Supervisor. Generally work priorities are prescribed, material is furnished, the nature and extent of the work to be performed are given, and detailed plans, diagrams and specifications are provided, or the incumbent may be required to work from rough sketches or from verbal instructions. However, in the absence of such direction, the Electrician sets priorities, requisitions materials, determines the work that has to be done to accomplish the purpose, and lays out the work without plans, diagrams or specifications.

Although the work of Electricians is inspected periodically by the supervisor, incumbents are expected to work with considerable independence as is typical of a journey level worker.

As assigned, an Electrician supervises other Electricians, subordinate maintenance employees and/or persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility in making assignments, giving instructions, and observing and inspecting work performed to insure that instructions have been followed, electrical codes adhered to, and that the quality of the work is satisfactory.

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Electricians use the tools of the electrical trade including standard hand tools, portable power tools, shop equipment, and measuring and testing instruments including, but not limited to, ammeters, wattmeters, ohmmeters, oscilloscopes and test lamps.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Working knowledge of electrical theory as applied to the electrical trades.

• Working knowledge of practices and techniques of the electrical trade.

• Working knowledge of the mathematics of the electrical trade.

• Working knowledge of applicable standards and electrical code regulations.

• As assigned, working knowledge of the operation and repair of digital timing devices used in traffic control signal systems.

• Basic knowledge of electronic theory and practice as applied to the electrical trades.

• As assigned, working knowledge of the rules and regulations of the facility governing the activities of persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility under the supervision of an Electrician.

• Ability to read circuit diagrams, architectural blueprints, and generator and motor control diagrams.

• Ability to use the tools, equipment and materials of the electrical trade.

• As assigned, ability to train and supervise others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Electrician Trainee 1, NS:  Must be 18 years of age or older; possess a High School diploma or general equivalency diploma recognized by the New York State Education Department; be proficient in English and math; full-time permanent service in a position allocated at Grade 12 or below which is primarily engaged in the performance of unskilled and/or semiskilled labor and trades tasks. 

Electrician Trainee 2, NS:  Successful completion of a 52-week probationary period as an Electrician Trainee 1, NS; completion of 45 hours of Technical Math coursework and 15 hours of Blueprint Reading/Schematics coursework or passage of an equivalency exam or proof of successful completion of equivalent training; 144 hours of electrician trade-specific instruction; and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.  Trainees must maintain a C or better average in their coursework.

Electrician, Grade 12: Successful completion of a NYS two-year Electrician Traineeship or NYS two-year electrician training program; OR successful completion of any equivalent electrical two-year training or apprenticeship program;* OR four (4) years of full-time experience in the electrical trade under a skilled journey-level electrician which would provide training equivalent to that given in an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship training in the electrical trade or training gained by completion of technical courses in the electrical trade at a school, institute, or branch of the Armed Services may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

* Successful completion of the traineeship and the training program includes a total of 288 hours of trade-specific class room instruction, 45 hours of technical math course work, 45 hours of technical communications course work, and 15 hours of blueprint/schematic reading course work.  Course work must be completed with an average of C or better.  Additionally, successful completion of the traineeship also includes 4,000 hours of on-the-job training.

Revised:  4/09

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.