Steelworkers are construction workers who are in charge of fabricating and erecting steel structural components. They form the skeleton of a building or bridge structure with steel and iron beams, girders, and trusses, and may also install metal components to reinforce concrete or masonry components. Steelworkers are also known as ironworkers or metalworkers, depending on the type of work they do. Steelworkers can be found working on construction sites or in metal fabrication plants.
Steel must first be cut to size and pre-drilled for installation before it can be erected. These jobs are done inside a steel mill or a welding shop. The steel is then delivered to a construction site, where steelworkers move and place it with cranes and derricks. A steel worker who has been trained in this area bolts or welds it in place once it has been placed in the correct position. Installers typically wear safety harnesses and other equipment designed to reduce the risk of falling because they work many stories in the air.
Those interested in working as a steelworker should be comfortable working around heavy machinery, which can be noisy, filthy, and dangerous. Steelworkers must be able to work at great heights and in all types of weather. Steelworkers, like any other construction worker, must take proper safety precautions at all times to avoid injury. Steelworkers avoid working on site in the rain or snow to reduce risks, as precipitation can make the steel too slippery.
Apprenticeships are the most common way for steelworkers to advance in the industry. Local labor unions, which are common in the steel industry, run many of these programs. Applicants must have a high school diploma in order to be accepted into an apprenticeship program. The apprentice will work at a reduced rate for three to four years and will frequently attend classes to learn about the industry. When the apprentice has developed sufficient skills, he becomes a journeyman, and his pay rate usually increases.
Future steelworkers can prepare for a career in the industry learning to read blueprints, or taking classes on construction materials and methods. It is also helpful to understand the various types of tools and equipment used in steel work, and to be able to safely used these tools. Anyone interested in becoming a steelworker should have a background in construction, engineering, or math.