Shutdown work is some of the best-paying trade work in Western Australia. When a mine site, refinery, or processing plant needs to stop operations for major maintenance, hundreds of tradespeople descend on the site for an intensive period of repairs, replacements, and upgrades.
If you’re a qualified tradesperson looking to maximise your income, shutdown work in WA should be on your radar.
What Is a Shutdown?
A shutdown (also called a turnaround, outage, or planned maintenance shutdown) is a scheduled period when a processing plant, refinery, or industrial facility stops production so that maintenance and upgrade work can be carried out safely.
During a shutdown, production is offline. The plant is isolated, cleaned, and made safe so tradespeople can access equipment that normally can’t be touched while operations are running — pressure vessels, boilers, heat exchangers, piping, conveyors, and structural steel.
Shutdowns are planned months or even years in advance and typically run for 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the scope of work.
Where Do Shutdowns Happen in WA?
Western Australia has some of the biggest industrial operations in the country, generating a constant pipeline of shutdown work:
Pilbara
Iron ore processing plants, port facilities, and mine site infrastructure across the Pilbara — operated by companies like BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, and Roy Hill — schedule major shutdowns throughout the year.
Kwinana Industrial Strip
Oil refineries (BP Kwinana, now repurposed), chemical plants, alumina refineries (Alcoa), nickel refineries, and water treatment facilities south of Perth generate shutdown work within commuting distance of the city.
Goldfields
Gold processing plants, nickel smelters (BHP Nickel West), and other mineral processing operations around Kalgoorlie-Boulder schedule regular shutdowns.
Karratha and Dampier
LNG processing facilities (Woodside’s Karratha Gas Plant, North West Shelf) and other oil and gas infrastructure generate large-scale turnarounds that employ hundreds of tradespeople.
Collie and Bunbury
Power stations, mineral processing, and industrial facilities in the south-west.
Which Trades Are Needed for Shutdowns?
Boilermakers and Welders
The most in-demand shutdown trade. Boilermakers repair and replace pressure vessels, piping, structural steel, tanks, and heat exchangers. Coded welders — those with current weld procedure qualifications — are particularly sought after.
Fitters and Mechanical Fitters
Fitters strip down, repair, and reassemble mechanical equipment — pumps, valves, gearboxes, conveyors, crushers, and rotating equipment. Dual-trade fitters (fitter/welder, fitter/machinist) are premium hires.
Electricians
Industrial electricians handle electrical isolations, cable replacement, motor change-outs, switchboard maintenance, and control system work during shutdowns. Instrumentation electricians are in equally high demand for calibration and instrument replacement.
Scaffolders
Scaffolders are the first trade on site and often the last to leave. Every piece of equipment that needs work at height requires scaffolding, and shutdown sites can have hundreds of scaffold structures. Basic, intermediate, and advanced scaffolders are all needed.
Riggers
Riggers work alongside crane operators to lift and move heavy equipment, piping, and structural components. Basic, intermediate, and advanced rigging tickets are required depending on the complexity of lifts.
Crane Operators
Mobile crane operators are essential for lifting equipment, piping, and structural sections during shutdowns. CV (vehicle loading crane), C2, C6, and C1 licence holders are in demand depending on the site requirements.
Pipe Fitters
Specialist fitters who focus on high-pressure piping systems — removing, fabricating, and installing process piping to exact specifications.
Insulators (Laggers)
Installing and replacing thermal insulation on piping, vessels, and equipment. Insulation work is essential on processing plants and refineries where temperature control is critical.
Painters and Blasters
Industrial painters and abrasive blasters prepare and coat structural steel, piping, and equipment to prevent corrosion — essential maintenance in WA’s harsh climate and industrial environments.
Trades Assistants
Unqualified workers who assist tradespeople during shutdowns. Trades assistants carry materials, clean work areas, and support the qualified workforce. It’s a good entry point for people looking to move into a trade.
How Much Does Shutdown Work Pay?
Shutdown pay is significantly higher than standard construction rates due to overtime, penalty rates, shift loadings, and the intensity of the work.
Typical weekly earnings during a shutdown:
- Boilermaker/Welder: $3,000 to $5,000+ per week
- Fitter: $2,800 to $4,500 per week
- Electrician: $3,000 to $5,000 per week
- Scaffolder: $2,500 to $4,000 per week
- Rigger: $2,500 to $4,000 per week
- Crane operator: $3,500 to $5,500 per week
- Trades assistant: $1,800 to $2,800 per week
These figures include base rate plus overtime (typically 10 to 14 hour days, 6 to 7 days per week) and applicable penalty rates. Travel, accommodation, and meals are covered by the employer for FIFO shutdowns.
How to Get Shutdown Work in WA
1. Have the Right Tickets
At minimum for most shutdown sites:
- White card
- Trade certificate or licence
- Current first aid
- Working at heights
- Confined space entry
- National Police Clearance (less than 3 months old)
- Pre-employment medical (including drug and alcohol screen)
Additional tickets that increase your chances:
- EWP (elevated work platform)
- Gas testing
- Fire watch
- Manual handling
- Specific equipment isolations or permits
2. Get Coded Up (Welders)
For boilermakers and welders, having current weld procedure qualifications (codes) dramatically increases your employability and pay. Common codes include:
- AS/NZS 1554.1 — Structural steel welding
- AS/NZS 3992 — Pressure equipment welding (essential for shutdown work)
- Specific process codes (GTAW, SMAW, FCAW on various materials)
Getting coded up costs $500 to $2,000 depending on the procedures, and codes need to be maintained through regular revalidation.
3. Build Experience
Most shutdown contractors want tradespeople with shutdown-specific experience. If you haven’t done shutdown work before:
- Start with smaller shutdowns or as a trades assistant on a larger one
- Take maintenance roles on industrial sites to build plant experience
- Complete site-specific inductions and safety training
- Build a track record of reliability and quality work
4. Register With Shutdown Recruitment Agencies
Shutdown work is almost entirely recruited through specialist agencies. Perth Trades Recruitment works with major shutdown contractors across WA to fill trade positions for planned outages throughout the year.
5. Be Available at Short Notice
Shutdowns are planned in advance, but recruitment often happens in the weeks leading up to start date. Being available at short notice — with your tickets current and your bags packed — gives you the edge.
What to Expect on a Shutdown
The Pace
Shutdowns run at an intense pace. Every hour the plant is offline costs the operator money, so there’s constant pressure to complete work on time. Expect long days (10 to 14 hours), 6 to 7 days per week for the duration.
Safety Focus
Despite the pace, safety standards on shutdowns are extremely high. Permit-to-work systems, toolbox talks, risk assessments, and strict PPE requirements are standard. Any safety violation can result in immediate removal from site.
Team Environment
Shutdown crews work closely together under time pressure. Being a reliable team player who communicates well and does quality work is more important than being the fastest tradesperson on site.
Living Arrangements
For FIFO shutdowns, accommodation is typically in mine camps or dongas with shared facilities. Meals are provided in the mess hall. For shutdowns near Perth (Kwinana, for example), you may commute daily.
Duration
Most shutdowns run 2 to 8 weeks. Some tradespeople move from shutdown to shutdown, working back-to-back projects with breaks in between.
Shutdown vs Maintenance vs Construction
Understanding the difference helps you target the right work:
- Shutdown: Intensive, time-limited maintenance during a planned plant outage. Short-term, high pay.
- Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance of operating plants and equipment. Longer-term, steady employment.
- Construction: Building new infrastructure, plants, and facilities. Project-based, variable duration.
Many tradespeople combine all three — doing steady maintenance or construction work between shutdown seasons, then stepping into shutdowns when they come up for maximum earnings.
Find Shutdown Jobs Through Perth Trades Recruitment
Perth Trades Recruitment connects qualified tradespeople with shutdown and turnaround opportunities across Western Australia. We work directly with major shutdown contractors in the Pilbara, Goldfields, Kwinana, and throughout WA.
Whether you’re an experienced shutdown hand or looking to break into shutdown work for the first time, we can help you find the right opportunity.
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Contact Perth Trades Recruitment to register for shutdown work in WA.