Tag: welder

Welding is a growing trade with many opportunities across both construction and manufacturing industries. In Canada welding is a certified trade with a three year registered apprenticeship.

With Canada’s oil based economy, welders are in high demand in the western provinces. Some of the highest paid welders in the world work in pipeline construction. Working in pipeline construction as a welder requires you to have your Journeyman certification as well as a B pressure certificate. There are many opportunities when you enter the trade, to partner up with a seasoned welder as a helper to gain experience and hours towards your apprenticeship. Following this career path (pipeline welder) you can expect to make $200,000+ per year. You must have your own tools for this profession, and also your own vehicle to carry them (they can be heavy and road access can be rough). A pipeline welder usually works at remote sites and can spend 30+ days away from home. In this case, temporary accommodations are provided by your employer.

The construction of buildings now relies greatly on qualified welders. As the future progresses, this will be needed more and more because of fast development growth and the economy. Almost every part of the construction process now requires welding on commercial and even some residential projects, from structure to plumbing. A journeyman welder working for a union plumbing contract can expect to make approximately $100,000 per year plus benefits and pension. Generally, working in building construction, you do not have to work out of town to stay busy.

Other opportunities in welding can be in manufacturing. Many things, you may notice, are made of metal; all of those items require a welder at some point on the production line.

A welder must have a steady hand and an attention to detail; some welder’s work is under much scrutiny especially when dealing with high pressure gas or liquids. A pipeline welder’s works is regularly X-rayed to ensure its quality. Hazards of the trade include toxic gases that can be very harmful over prolonged exposure. If you have steady hands, don’t mind hard work and feel welding may be a good fit, join the many welders in Canada for your electrifying future!

Resource:

https://www.cwa-acs.org/ 

Welders permanently join pieces of metal by applying heat, using filler metal or fusion process. They join parts being manufactured, build structures and repair damaged or worn parts. They also fabricate parts, tools, machines and equipment used in the construction and manufacturing industries.

Welders may specialize in certain types of welding such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, aerospace, pressure vessel, pipeline, structural welding, and machinery and equipment repair.

They work for employers such as fabrication shops, steel and platform manufacturers, petrochemical refineries, mechanical contractors, transportation contractors (heavy machinery, aircraft, shipbuilding), and specialized welding shops. They can also be self-employed. Their work may be performed outdoors or indoors, and travel may be required to jobs in remote locations.

Welders require attributes such as good mechanical ability, manual dexterity, good vision, excellent eye-hand coordination, the ability to concentrate on detail work and work as part of a team. They also require the ability to work quickly and accurately, to visualize a finished product, to reason logically and to understand metallurgy.

Occupational hazards in this trade include: sparks, gases, hazardous fumes, burns, heavy lifting, exposure to ultra-violet light and infra-red rays, working at heights, in confined spaces and in trenches.

With experience, welders may advance to positions such as welding inspector, lead hand or welding supervisor. Some welders open their own repair shops or work as rig welders, contracting out their services.