Job description Helper, Welding Machine Operator in the Southwest Region

Find out what work is like for a helper, welding machine operator in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Labourers in metal fabrication (NOC 95101).

Labourers in metal fabrication

Description

Labourers in metal fabrication remove excess metal and unwanted materials from metal parts, castings and other metal products and perform other labouring activities. They are employed in structural steel, boiler and platework fabrication plants, heavy machinery manufacturing plants, sheet metal fabrication shops, shipbuilding and other metal products manufacturing companies.

Work week duration

Labourers in metal fabrication usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Labourers in metal fabrication have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Read and interpret work orders
  • Operate metal cleaning equipment such as wheelabrators, deburrers and shotblasters to remove excess welds, rust, scale and other material from surfaces of metal parts, castings and other metal products
  • Polish metal products to mirror finish
  • Immerse metal products in cleaning solutions
  • Assist structural steel and platework fitters, sheet metal workers, metalworking machine operators or other metal workers
  • Transport raw materials and finished metal products manually or using hoists or other devices
  • Sort metal sheets and parts, scrap metal and other materials
  • Clean work areas and equipment
  • Load and unload vehicles using hand truck or dolly
  • May cut, grind or chip excess metal from metal products using hand tools.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Handling material manually
  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Labourers in metal fabrication are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Structural steel, boiler and platework fabrication plants
  • Sheet metal fabrication shops
  • Heavy machinery manufacturing companies
  • Metal products manufacturing companies
  • Shipbuilding companies

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Standard safety equipment
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • Sound and noise
  • Specialized safety equipment
  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Skin injury

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 95101), and a list of similar occupations:

  • blacksmith helper
  • buffing machine tender - metal products manufacturing
  • grinder-deburrer
  • labourer - metal fabrication
  • metal cleaner - metal products manufacturing
  • metalworking machine helper
  • plater helper - metal fabrication
  • shipfitter helper
  • shotblaster - metal fabrication
  • wheelabrator operator - metal products manufacturing

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Labourers in metal fabrication in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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