General Worker
Durban - South Africa
Job Summary
The general worker is responsible for maintaining cleanliness hygiene and safe working conditions across sugar cane logistics environments including harvesting zones loading areas workshops machine yards offices ablutions and stores. This role ensures that work areas remain free from debris cane residue mud spills and hazards that may affect personnel vehicles and heavy equipment such as cane loaders tractors haulage trucks and mechanical harvesters. The general worker plays a critical role in supporting operational efficiency by keeping high-traffic and heavy-equipment interaction areas clean improving visibility reducing slip/trip hazards preventing equipment blockages and ensuring compliance with health safety and operational standards.
Duties & Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Cleaning & Housekeeping
- Perform routine and deep cleaning of operational areas including loading zones workshops offices and ablution facilities.
- Remove cane residues mud leaves dust oil spills and other debris from high-traffic and heavy equipment zones.
- Clean workshop floors tools benches waste areas and storage sections to maintain order and safety.
- Ensure walkways platforms and access points to heavy machinery remain clean and unobstructed.
- Maintain cleanliness around fuel stations wash bays parking areas and storage yards.
Waste Management
- Collect and dispose of waste according to site waste-separation rules (organic waste scrap metal general waste).
- Empty bins replace liners and ensure waste areas are free from overflow or contamination.
- Transport waste to designated disposal points using trolleys bins or site-approved methods.
- Assist with maintaining recycling areas and ensuring correct disposal of oil-contaminated materials.
Safety Compliance & Hazard Control
- Adhere to all company safety policies housekeeping standards and PPE requirements.
- Keep floors ramps and pathways dry and free from hazardous substances.
- Identify and report safety hazards such as spills broken glass damaged flooring or unsafe storage.
- Place warning signs (Wet Floor Cleaning in Progress) in operational areas when required.
- Ensure cleaning chemicals are used correctly and stored safely.
Communication & Coordination
- Communicate with the Supervisor to identify cleaning priorities especially in high-risk areas.
- Coordinate with workshop technicians truck drivers and loader operators to clean around machines safely.
- Notify the Supervisor about low stock of cleaning materials or maintenance needs for cleaning equipment.
- Participate in daily briefings to stay informed about operational shifts high-traffic times and hazard alerts.
Equipment & Material Maintenance
- Use cleaning tools correctly (brooms pressure washers mops vacuums industrial brushes).
- Maintain cleaning equipment in good working order and report faults immediately.
- Ensure cleaning chemicals are handled with care and used according to safety data sheets.
- Keep cleaning storage areas organized labelled and locked when necessary.
Documentation & Reporting
- Record completed cleaning tasks in daily checklists or housekeeping logs.
- Report any spills hazards or incidents to the Supervisor without delay.
- Assist in compliance audits by ensuring cleaning records and area inspections are up to date.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications Skills & Experience
Educational Requirements
- Grade 1012 (preferred).
- Basic Cleaning or Safety Training advantageous (e.g. PPE use chemical handling).
- 12 years experience in cleaning within industrial agricultural or logistics operations.
- Experience working near heavy equipment or in high-traffic operational areas beneficial.
- Familiarity with cleaning chemicals industrial waste handling and operational housekeeping procedures.
Technical Skills
- Ability to use cleaning tools and light cleaning equipment (vacuum pressure washer mop systems).
- Understanding of safety practices when working around heavy machinery.
- Knowledge of spill-cleaning procedures and safe waste-handling methods.
- Ability to identify hazards and maintain clean safe work areas.
Behavioural Competencies
- High level of alertness and safety awareness.
- Reliable disciplined and able to work independently.
- Strong attention to detail with pride in maintaining clean environments.
- Good communication and teamwork skills.
- Physically fit and able to perform manual repetitive tasks.
Working Conditions
- Work conducted in outdoor and indoor operational areas (fields workshops loading zones offices).
- Exposure to dust mud cane debris noise and varying weather conditions.
- Frequent proximity to moving trucks tractors loaders and harvesters.
- Requires wearing PPE at all times (safety boots gloves reflective vest etc.).
- May require bending lifting prolonged standing and walking on uneven terrain.
- Working hours may include shifts weekends public holidays and peak harvest periods.
Required Experience:
IC
About Company
Unitrans offers innovative logistics and supply chain solutions across Africa. With over 100 years of experience in agriculture, mining, petrochemical, food & consumer, transport and industrial.