How to become a Scaffolder
Scaffolders erect and dismantle scaffolding to provide work platforms on building or industrial sites, or for temporary structures such as stages, seating and catwalks.
Personal requirements for a Scaffolder
- Enjoy practical and manual activities
- Able to cope with the physical demands of the job
- Able to work at heights
- A sense of balance
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Able to work as part of a team
- At least 18 years of age.
Duties & Tasks of a Scaffolder
Scaffolders may perform the following tasks:
- Check requirements from drawings and written instructions, select materials and set ground levels
- Fit together steel pipes, support braces and clamps to form bases for scaffolds
- Lift and position sections of scaffolding and bolt pipes together to build up scaffolding
- Place planks over horizontal bars to create platforms
- Check levels in scaffolding structures
- Use prefabricated scaffolding when available
- Dismantle scaffolding at the completion of a job.
Working conditions for a Scaffolder
Scaffolders work mostly outdoors, at a variety of locations and in most weather conditions.
Specializations
With experience, and sometimes further training, it is possible to become a rigger. See the separate entry for Rigger.
Scaffolder
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