The United Kingdom's construction business offers good employment opportunities for steel fixers of all levels, thanks to ongoing investments in infrastructure and a diverse selection of high-profile projects. These factors combine to make the construction industry a desirable place to work.
Continue reading to learn more about the abilities you'll need for a job as a steel fixer and to figure out whether or not this career path is suited for you.
What are some of the responsibilities of a steel fixer?
During the construction process, workers known as steel fixers are responsible for installing steel bars and mesh in reinforced concrete and then tying them together. This helps to both strengthen and secure buildings and other major structures. You will need to determine the locations where steel will be required and then determine the size, shape, and quantity of reinforced bars that will be needed. To assist with fitting the bars into position, you will often be required to make use of various pieces of gear and tools, such as equipment for cutting and bending.
Steel fixers have the potential to work on a wide number of various projects, but the most of the time, they are employed on constructions that are either industrial or commercial in nature, as well as high-rise residences, tunnels, and bridges.
How much does one get paid to repair steel?
It is possible for the location, scope, and type of the project, in addition to the employer, to have an impact on the income that is offered to steel fixers on average. You may anticipate an initial pay of somewhere between £14,000 and £18,000, which can increase to anywhere between £20,000 and £30,000 as you acquire expertise in the field.
Steel fixers with the highest levels of skill may often earn up to 35,000 pounds per year. If you are self-employed, you have the ability to decide how much money you want to make each hour.
The purpose of these numbers is just to serve as a guide.
What skills do I need?
You will need to have a strong attention to detail, as well as the ability to understand and follow engineering directions, as well as technical charts and diagrams. For the purpose of calculating and following accurate measures, solid math abilities are required
Working as a steel fixer requires a high level of physical stamina since the job requires heavy lifting, bending, and working at heights. Because of this, it's critical to maintain a high degree of physical fitness at all times. Because you will be working with a range of hand tools, power tools, and machines, you will need to have strong hand-eye coordination as well as practical abilities. It is also important that you be comfortable working alone as well as with others in a group setting.
What kinds of requirements do you have for me?
To become a steel fixer, there are no official admission criteria; nonetheless, the majority of steel fixers begin their careers in entry level positions, such as working as a "nip hand" or otherwise assisting on a construction site in order to acquire experience.
If you want to further your career in this field, you may get an NVQ level 2 in Steel Fixing Occupations or a City and Guilds 2455 certification. These qualifications will teach you the fundamentals of steel mending, including how to cut, shape, and install steel. Additionally, they will instruct you on the fundamentals of utilizing power tools and safe working methods. You also have the option of becoming an apprentice in steel repair, which will allow you to earn money while you are gaining valuable knowledge.
If you want to work on a construction site, you are going to need to get a CSCS competence card first. This card is issued by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
What are the operating hours and the requirements?
You may anticipate working Monday through Friday for a total of forty hours each week. On the other hand, in order to meet deadlines, you may on occasion be needed to work extra hours during the nights and weekends, depending on what the project calls for. You have the option to increase your earnings with the possibility of receiving overtime pay. Your day will most likely begin at dawn, as is typical for jobs performed on-site.
Your job will take place mostly outdoors, regardless of the weather, and the bulk of the time. You should plan on doing some traveling and spending some time away from home since you will be working on-site.
Because you will be spending a significant amount of time working at elevated levels, you will be need to outfit yourself with safety gear, including headgear, earplugs, boots, and high-visibility clothes.