Construction worker
Construction worker
Carpenter at work in Tennessee, June 1942 |
| Occupation |
| Activity sectors |
Construction |
| Description |
| Competencies |
Manual dexterity, strength |
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.
Construction trades
The division of labour of construction encompasses a diverse range of specialized skills, as well as manual labour.
- Concrete finisher, a tradesman who works with concrete, which includes placing, finishing, protecting and repairing concrete in construction projects.[1]
- Electrician, a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the construction of new buildings or maintenance of existing electrical infrastructure.[4]
- Fencer, a tradesman who builds fences
- Ironworker (or steel erector), a tradesman who erects or dismantles structural steel frames. Structural steel installation is usually crane-assisted. Workers rely on mobile, elevated platforms or scissor lifts. Ironworkers bolt the steelwork together using various tools, power tools and manual tools.[5][6]
- Painter and decorator, a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator or house painter.[7]
- Pipefitter (or steamfitter), a person who lays out, assembles, fabricates, maintains, and repairs large-sized piping systems capable of enabling high-pressure flow.[10]
Construction site safety
Hazards to construction workers
Construction is the most dangerous land-based, non-military industry. In the European Union, the rate of fatal accidents is nearly 13 per 100,000 workers, compared with an average of 5 per 100,000 workers across all work sectors.[15][16]
Among the many work-related occupational safety and health hazards that construction workers face are falls from heights, falls from vehicles, electrocution, and burial during earthworks operations. Workers may also be exposed to asbestos, dangerous solvents, noise pollution, and particulates such as cement dust.
Personal protective equipment
Hard hats and steel-toe boots are perhaps the most common personal protective equipment worn by construction workers. A risk assessment may deem that other protective equipment is appropriate, such as gloves, goggles, or high-visibility clothing.[17]
See also
References
Further reading
- Reese, Charles D.; Eidson, James Vernon (2006). Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780849365461. OCLC 61859927.
External links
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Construction_workers Construction workers] at Wikimedia Commons