English translation: (power) plant/station / boiler tender/attendant
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08:07 Dec 5, 2011
German to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Energy / Power Generation / Abfallheizkraftwerk (waste thermal power plant)
German term or phrase:Rundgänger
Type of document: results of a plant audit inspection
Country: Austria
Target audience/country: power plant management and safety officer/Austria
Specific content:
'Als Mindestschichtbesetzung sind vier Mitarbeiter zwingend erforderlich:
I think a Rundgänger must be either some sort of all-round general-purpose worker (ein Springer) or a night watchman or some sort of combination. An English equivalent would be better, but even a description of what this job entails would help.
Explanation: "Plant/station" or "boiler" depends on the specifics of the job and the site, of course.
At the risk of repeating myself, I continue to believe that at its core, this is about an operator, which however seems a bit too broad in this case.
Although these people do "inspect" things of course, it doesn't make them "inspectors" by any stretch IMHO, and there's much more to their job than mere inspection at any rate.
The operator, in times of normal operation, "goes/is on rounds", i.e. on the lookout to make sure everything runs as required. (In the case of a large steam generator, such a round may last one hour or more). Being on rounds, that's simply what he/she does once or twice during each shift, as long as there's no large failure or shutdown. It's by definition the main part of the operator's work during the standard operating regime.
In a nutshell, "operator" denotes the formal education/role, and "Springer, Rundgänger" is a colloquial term describing "what he/she does every day", what the daily routine is all about. The latter mustn't be taken too literally.
So I'm suggesting the above, which I believe comes a bit closer to the orig. expression.
Not having been employed at such a facility, it's difficult for me to confidently assess the proffered translations. Each seems to be reasonable.
However, the job discription at http://www.mymajors.com/careers-and-jobs/Station-Tender appears to fit best with what's done at the facility in question. Thanks to everyone for your help.
... completely different IMHO, it's someone who carries out inspections, after shutdown for reg. maintenance or after large-scale failure. Most likely an engineer.
The "Springer" comes much closer I believe, or "Machinist" as it was called in the GDR. General purpose yes, but this person must be quite knowledgeable because underneath the turbine, there's usually a terrible maze of things, and you have to have a good understanding of how it works. Similar at the boiler: you don't find anything if you don't know you way around, what's behind the walls etc. These things are a bit more complicated than Wikipedia's schematics suggest ... Keep in mind that words like "Springer, Rundgänger" have survived from the times when boilers and the like had a much simpler construction.
... das ist das gleiche wie ein Maschinist oder Maschinenführer, also ein operator/operative. Die Rundgänge sind eigtl. das tägliche Brot, die Hauptaufgabe, solange alles mehr o. weniger normal läuft. Die Anlagen sind halt sehr groß und müssen ständig abgelaufen werden. Der Begriff "Rundgänger" ist mir daher unmittelbar eingängig, aber gehört habe ich ihn noch nie, vielleicht ist das Österreichisch. -- Für Wartungsarbeiten gibt es normalerweise gesondertes Personal.
This is what he/she is supposed to do:
Rundgänger (m/w)
für diverse Wartungsarbeiten, Kontrollgänge an der Anlage, Fehlersuche und Störungsbehebung sowie für die Vertretung der Radladerfahrer und des Aufnahmepersonals.
Aus einer Stellenbeschreibung.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
4 hrs confidence:
general controller
Explanation: my suggestion
Ramey Rieger Local time: 00:46 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 10
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
