Töötamisel

Töötamisel is a form in Estonian derived from the verb töötama (to work) and the noun töötamine (the act of working). It expresses the state or the time during which work is being performed, often translated as “during work,” “in operation,” or “while working.” The word is commonly used in contexts relating to work processes, safety, and the operation of equipment.

Grammatical use and examples. Töötamisel functions as an adverbial or non-finite form that denotes time or context of activity. It can describe conditions present while work is underway or the state of equipment during use. Examples include: Masin on töötamisel. (The machine is in operation.) Töötamisel esinevad riskid tuleb hinnata. (Risks arising during operation must be assessed.) Ta on töötamisel ja vajab tähelepanu. (He is at work / in the process of working and needs attention.)

Semantic nuances. The term distinguishes ongoing activity from the general concept of working (töötamine) or from being employed at a place (on tööl). It emphasizes the process or state that occurs while work is happening, rather than a completed action. It is therefore common in technical, occupational safety, and project-management language, as well as in formal documentation.

Related concepts. Töötamine refers to the act or practice of working in a broader sense, while tööl indicates a person’s presence at work. Context will determine the most appropriate form to express time, state, or responsibility related to work. Töötamisel is one of several Estonian participial forms used to convey temporal relations in professional and everyday language.