Rig Welding Jobs: Some Facts And Figures On Rig Welder Jobs – by

Rig Welding Jobs: Some Facts And Figures On Rig Welder Jobs

In 2004, production welding jobs paid $30,000 compared to rig welding jobs which paid $62,000. On top of the recession, and considering that MNCs are moving more and more production jobs to India and China, this is certainly good news. It is true that the oil industry is not immune from the recession, but it is not as badly affected as other sectors of the economy. Some oil companies are announcing retrenchments, but others are rolling out new offshore oil rigs and will need to hire thousands of workers in the next few years. Experienced welders from the production and manufacturing sector have a good chance of breaking into the highly-paid oil industry since rig welder jobs are entry-level jobs. Oil service contractors test candidates for oil rig welding jobs. However, if you are a certified welder (in the US, certifications are conducted by the AWS, in UK by CITB/C&G), it will help you get through the HR department. These extra certifications will also give you an edge for offshore oil rig welding jobs, although not necessary for oilfield welding jobs: First aid Helicopter underwater escape training Offshore survival training Once hired by an oil drilling company, you will work in one of these positions: A permanent post on an oil rig, making repairs and building new structure Part of a flying squad, completing big projects on tight deadlines Like roustabout jobs and other oil rig jobs, rig welding jobs are best left to younger, single men. This job is physically demanding and has its fair share of danger. You have to be good with heights, as you may need to work high above the ground, suspended from a crane or on a scaffold. You also need to be independent – you will be out of contact with family and friends for long periods of time. Offshore oil rigs are usually located far out in the middle of the ocean, and you work 12-hour shifts on a 14-days-on, 14-days-off tour. Rig welding jobs pay very well. You get two times more pay than in the manufacturing industry for doing the same job. Since this is entry level oil rig employment, you only need experience in welding and don’t need to have working experience on an oil rig.

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Recognise When Work Related Injury Has Occurred – by

Recognise When Work Related Injury Has Occurred

In any sector of employment, irrespective of how safe the environment generally is, there is a risk of suffering a work related injury. In relation to certain sectors of employment, there are inherent dangers that are unavoidable. An example, albeit an abstruse one, is the bullring, where the matador puts himself at tremendous risk at all times. Such a job is malign when compared to other roles, such as anything office based. It is safe to say but in no way a canon, that the severity of work related injuries that people receive, is relative to the nature of the work. To hypothesise, a person delivering pamphlets could be bludgeoned by a murderous homeowner: this is in no way considered the definitive, pamphlet deliverers™ risk. Highlighting a common type of work related injury; many people suffer as a result of trip/slip/fall incidents. The fact that these injuries are easy to avoid, says a lot about complacency in the everyday work environment. As a result of becoming overly familiar with their work environments, people sometimes fail to elicit the modicum of common sense required to avoid trip/slip/fall incidents. It is the dual duty of both the employer, and the employee, to make sure that the work environment is safe. People in general, scoff at the notion of having to receive manual handling training. These people would be less quick to sneer, if less ignorant to the amount of people having to take sick days: sick days taken as a result of manual handling injuries. It is of course the back that suffers primarily, as the result of manual handling injuries. Once a person develops a back problem, it can become an ailment for life. Observing the fundamentals of manual handling is imperative, lest a person end up in traction. Falling from a height is by far the biggest killer of employees. People can fall from great heights, such as skyscraper window cleaner, and people can fall from paltry heights, such as office workers who want to hang a clock, thinking it appropriate to use a table, as opposed to a step ladder. There are common ways in which people fall from heights. Some of these are falls from roofs, falls from ladders, falls from scaffolding, and falls from machines. It is relatively easy to make sure that work related injuries are kept to a minimum, and often, all it takes is a bit less complacency and a bit more forethought. People should refrain from using machinery that they are not trained to use, and also be sure to use protective equipment, when applicable. It is important to treat spillages with a sense of urgency, and to make sure that they are cleaned up quickly, so as to make sure that a slippage does not occur. The same goes for making sure that everything has a place, so that people do not trip over something that they did not assume would be there.

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Precautions For Scaffolding – by

Precautions For Scaffolding

Precautions For Scaffolding Business Articles | December 11, 2008 All about scaffold tower hire, including tower ladders hire, domestic tower hire, commercial tower hire, scaffold tower sizes, scaffold tower costs and more Construction work for buildings can be pretty hazardous and scaffolding is used as a temporary framework to give support to the workers and the building materials. It is almost like a rolling ladder and is immensely useful especially for very tall buildings as the height can be adjusted and it can hold many people and materials at one go. It is also comparatively safer than other means used in construction because of its lockable wheels. Nevertheless, it is always better to err on the side of precaution and proper maintenance and usage is imperative to ensure the safety of the construction workers. This will help prevent any types of accidents and related injuries. Staircase towers are also commonly used as scaffolds.Scaffolding comprises of three main parts, namely, tubes, boards and couplers. Tubes can be of steel or aluminum though aluminum is preferred as it is both light and durable and is also flexible. Couplers are used to join the tubes and the boards provide a support for human access. Boards are made of wood which is seasoned and the standard size is usually 50mm – 63mm. Scaffolding are usually attached to buildings with ties and are more stable than independent scaffolding. A type of independent scaffold is the mobile type which is mounted on wheels or castors which swivel and can be wheeled around from location to location.Scaffolding safety is crucial for workers and the setting up and pulling down of the scaffold should always be done under the correct guidance and the supervision of a competent supervisor. It is best to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines as each one may have some small differences in its set-up which may be crucial to properly and safely putting up and dismantling the scaffold. The guidelines specifying the usage of the scaffold should also be strictly followed. Even though the management team is directly responsible for the proper workings and safe usage of the scaffolding, the workers should also be vigilant and inspect the scaffolding before and after every use. Any fault or deficiency, however minor, should be immediately reported to the concerned authorities. Even if you are simply in the scaffolding rental business it makes sense to provide for insurance for your company.For further precautions, safety harnesses and guard rails for construction workers are highly recommended as they will buffer the fall, if any. Anyone working at a height of more than six feet above the ground should wear safety harnesses. Many an unfortunate accident on construction sites could have been avoided, if only proper precautionary measures had been taken and stringent inspection rules followed. Both management and the workers have to work in cohesion and joint responsibility to ensure the smooth and safe usage of scaffolding.

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Many Uses of Scaffolding – by

Many Uses of Scaffolding

Scaffolding hire in Cape Town is no longer sought after as a construction aid only. With new technology available as well as a greater demand for scaffolding for temporary structures used at public events and short projects, the uses for scaffolding have become increasingly varied. With the influx of international music artists, film productions and an increasing number of building restorations, scaffolding is in high demand. Added to this are the many CBD revamps and the massive building projects being undertaken in preparation for the Football World Cup in 2010, making scaffolding a service in high demand. Film Sets Cape Town is now world renowned as a preferred film production spot. There is a massive diversity of scenery, culture and landscape and a very willing workforce. Cape Town is also a top destination for international film shoots due to the favourable exchange rate. With a pleasant Mediterranean climate, beautiful beaches, mountains, forests, historic and modern buildings and a variety of other scenery, the production process can be made far easier. The scaffolding being used on set, needs to be safe and extremely reliable as the scaffolding is likely to be on uneven terrain and will need to support heavy and expensive equipment, not to mention the crew! When multiple locations are used, the contracting crew will need to assemble and dismantle the scaffolding quickly and efficiently and without compromising safety. This is where new technologies are helpful because they allow for quick assembly and dismantling without danger. Public Events Cape Town plays host to many large-scale public events such as marathons, rock concerts and expos. Most of the events require temporary structures such as scaffold towers and stages for performances and prize-givings as well as for advertising canvasses for the sponsors of the events. These events are paramount in building Cape Town’s reputation as a world-class city as they are broadcast across the globe and form a basis upon which many foreigners place their opinion of Cape Town. Since these events are filled with people, the safety of the scaffolding needs to be of the highest standards. If there is a flaw in the set up and an accident occurs, many people could be injured. Access Another aspect of these massive public events is the management of traffic flow in terms of pedestrians and vehicles. When staging an event where large crowds are expected, it is sometimes necessary to use scaffolding to construct a safe passage for pedestrians across major roads and intersections. Most attendees will have parked their cars in an allotted car park and walked the rest of the way to the event. Scaffolding aids this process by allowing pedestrians to cross these obstacles and dangerous terrains via temporary footbridges, ramps and walkways. Scaffolding is also a great help in allowing disabled persons to enter an event where there are steps or difficult terrain. Access scaffolding can also be used as a safety precaution on construction sites, helping labourers to avoid uneven terrain which can be dangerous and time consuming to navigate. Making the Show Go On It’s not longer just the construction sector that is looking to hire scaffolding contractors. In the vibrant city of Cape Town as in other cities around the world, numerous public events are creating a need for scaffolding for many different purposes. The main concern for event organisers is public safety and efficiency of work to produce world-class events. Scaffolding and proper scaffold use by trained contractors reduces the risks and increases efficiency at large-scale public events.

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Hiring Scaffolding – For Safetys Sake! – by

Hiring Scaffolding – For Safetys Sake!

When you need scaffolding to do a job don’t think of it as a DIY job. If you need scaffolding you’ll need to contact a scaffolding hire company. If you do it yourself, you may find that you will become liable for any problems or issues that arise. A good place to start looking for a hire company is your Local Council or authority. They may have a list of approved hire companies and you will need to contact them to find out. Remember ? your Local Authority will not be able to recommend a particular company as such, but you should be able to make sure that it is am approved company. In this way you can help to make sure that you employ a qualified builder or scaffolding company to carry out the erection of scaffolding. Again, as working off scaffolding can be a hazardous occupation, leave any building work to the professionals and a qualified builder to do any related building work. Scaffolding licences Your scaffolding may need a license. It is the responsibility of the builder or scaffolding Hire Company to get a licence for any scaffolding that is put up on the highway (this includes the pavement). However, you need to be clear that it is your responsibility to check they have this and that it does not run out before the building work is finished. You can always contact your local authority to apply for more information as to if you need a license and what to do about this. Safety Safety is of prime importance when erecting or using scaffolding. Employing qualified people to erect your scaffolding and carry out building work should help to make sure your building site is a safe place. However you should discuss safety issues with the person or company you employ. In particular, you will need to be aware of the following points: – Scaffolding should always be erected on a firm, level foundation. – If there is any risk to the public, schedule scaffolding work for quiet times or get a highway closure your local council. – It is dangerous to erect scaffolding too near power lines. Your local power company can temporally move or protect cables but you will need to organise this well in advance. – All scaffold boards used should be British Standard BS2482. – There must be suitably strong barriers in place if someone could fall more than two metres. – in order to avoid building waste falling on passers-by, keep scaffold boards clear and provide protective catch netting if necessary. – Ladders should be strong, secure and in good condition, domestic ladders are generally not suitable. Make sure that they are long enough and securely fixed for safety’s sake! Heavy or bulky loads shouldn’t be carried up and down ladders. Make sure a hoist is available for heavy or large awkward loads. Make sure that scaffolding structures are checked weekly, and inspected after alterations, damage and extreme weather conditions. Make sure that it is recorded that you have an appointed person responsible for doing this ? even if it is you. Components should never be removed out of position for any reason whatsoever. Even on a temporary basis. Building regulations it is always wise to contact your local council for details of any building regulations you may need to consider, like the ‘materials and workmanship’ regulation or the ‘access to and use of building’ regulation. Copies of the current building regulations are available from Building Regulations Publications HMSO. You also need to make sure you have any necessary planning permission for the building project your scaffolding relates to. Again your local council will be able to advise you on this. Remember ? when it comes to scaffolding ? safety first, last and always! Article by Philip Ray (c) Whilst this article endeavours to contain up to date and accurate information, the article can only be considered as a guide. The author would always recommend that you take local independent professional advice.

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Hiring Scaffolding – by

Hiring Scaffolding

Hiring scaffolding When you need scaffolding to do a job don™t think of it as a DIY job. If you need scaffolding you’ll need to contact a scaffolding hire company. If you do it yourself, you may find that you will become liable for any problems or issues that arise. A good place to start looking for a hire company is your Local Council or authority. They may have a list of approved hire companies and you will need to contact them to find out. Remember ??” your Local Authority will not be able to recommend a particular company as such, but you should be able to make sure that it is am approved company. In this way you can help to make sure that you employ a qualified builder or scaffolding company to carry out the erection of scaffolding. Again, as working off scaffolding can be a hazardous occupation, leave any building work to the professionals and a qualified builder to do any related building work. Scaffolding licences Your scaffolding may need a license. It is the responsibility of the builder or scaffolding Hire Company to get a licence for any scaffolding that is put up on the highway (this includes the pavement). However, you need to be clear that it is your responsibility to check they have this and that it does not run out before the building work is finished. You can always contact your local authority to apply for more information as to if you need a license and what to do about this. Safety Safety is of prime importance when erecting or using scaffolding. Employing qualified people to erect your scaffolding and carry out building work should help to make sure your building site is a safe place. However you should discuss safety issues with the person or company you employ. In particular, you will need to be aware of the following points: – Scaffolding should always be erected on a firm, level foundation. – If there is any risk to the public, schedule scaffolding work for quiet times or get a highway closure your local council. – It is dangerous to erect scaffolding too near power lines. Your local power company can temporally move or protect cables but you will need to organise this well in advance. – All scaffold boards used should be British Standard BS2482. – There must be suitably strong barriers in place if someone could fall more than two metres. – in order to avoid building waste falling on passers-by, keep scaffold boards clear and provide protective catch netting if necessary. – Ladders should be strong, secure and in good condition, domestic ladders are generally not suitable. Make sure that they are long enough and securely fixed for safety™s sake! Heavy or bulky loads shouldn’t be carried up and down ladders. Make sure a hoist is available for heavy or large awkward loads. Make sure that scaffolding structures are checked weekly, and inspected after alterations, damage and extreme weather conditions. Make sure that it is recorded that you have an appointed person responsible for doing this ??” even if it is you. Components should never be removed out of position for any reason whatsoever. Even on a temporary basis. Building regulations it is always wise to contact your local council for details of any building regulations you may need to consider, like the ‘materials and workmanship’ regulation or the ‘access to and use of building’ regulation. Copies of the current building regulations are available from Building Regulations Publications HMSO. You also need to make sure you have any necessary planning permission for the building project your scaffolding relates to. Again your local council will be able to advise you on this. Remember ??” when it comes to scaffolding ??” safety first, last and always! Article by Philip Ray ?(c) Whilst this article endeavours to contain up to date and accurate information, the article can only be considered as a guide. The author would always recommend that you take local independent professional advice.

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Gutter Cleaning ??” Rope Access as a Solution to Gutter Cleaning on Tenement Buildings. – by

Gutter Cleaning ??” Rope Access as a Solution to Gutter Cleaning on Tenement Buildings.

An ever increasing amount of people living in tenement buildings in cities like Edinburgh, are having serious problem with their gutters and downpipes. For the most part the problems are caused by a simple blockage / vegetation growing in the gutters or minor maintenance problems such as seam lining, that have been allowed to go on untended for too long without gutter cleaning or gutter maintenance. The reason that these guttering problems have not been simply taken care of long ago is obvious; there aren™t many cost effective, quick and easy solutions to cleaning gutters or gutter maintenance on tenement blocks / at height. People are understandably extremely wary of having to pay out huge sums for scaffolding to allow workers to get to the problem area. What™s more the various red tape associated with erecting scaffolding on public streets causes delays and complications. Similarly, the cost of a cherry picker and operative, which is another potential solution (where a cherry picker can actually gain access to the street) is much too high for what is essentially at its basic level, just the minor task of maintenance, clearing unblocking or gutter cleaning. This is where rope access comes in. Rope access technicians can carry out work effectively in awkward situations and can easily access tricky areas such as roof tops, gutters, building facades and other areas at height, either by rigging from the rooftop or by finding another access point. Rope access is less obtrusive and almost always quicker and cheaper than the alternatives such as scaffolding or a cherry picker, and a rope access team can be in and out with the minimum of disruption for a fraction of the cost. The problem is that not enough people know about rope access as a viable solution to maintenance problems such as gutter cleaning. Either they don™t know about rope access at all, or think of it as something that is used only in construction or offshore settings. The truth is that despite still being rare, there are a growing number of rope access technicians and companies who work onshore and will happily provide domestic services. As well as rope access skills they bring with them combinations of other valuable skills such as roofing, maintenance, stonework, civil engineering and many more, making rope access the perfect solution for most maintenance issues at height, from small issues such as gutter cleaning to larger maintenance and repair jobs. The reasons to use rope access for these types of jobs is obvious. Unlike other solutions to gutter cleaning in tenement buildings and other maintenance problems at heght, the time taken to install access systems is minimal with minimal impact on structure and surroundings including traffic flow and pedestrian access. Rope access has extremely safe codes of practice (the best record in the field of difficult access), and work can safely be carried out safely, quickly and cost effectively at any height in almost any situation, saving time, money and avoiding the complications that other gutter cleaning solutions might present.

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Guidelines for the use of Scaffolding – by

Guidelines for the use of Scaffolding

Scaffolding construction services in South Africa are a necessity due to the major upgrades of so much of the existing infrastructure in and around cities and the construction of new buildings. With events such as the FIFA World Cup in the near future and the progression of South Africa into becoming a first world country, the transformation of the visual and structural aspects of the country are staggering. Along with these transformations comes the need for reliable and safe scaffolding services and systems through a safety approved contractor. Hiring a Contractor Hiring a licensed scaffolding contractor is the best method of finding a reliable and safe scaffolding system to use. In South Africa, contractors must abide by governmental safety legislations and the OHS Act & SANS 10085 to ensure that optimum safety is maintained during scaffolding operations and to avoid prosecution for accidents or death. From the years 2000 to 2005, there were 3999 injuries in the United Kingdom caused by various accidents on construction sites, all of which were avoidable – with proper care and safety, accidents should be extremely minimal. Scaffolding Safety Preparation Before a scaffolding structure is erected, there is some preparation which should be carried out by the scaffolding contractor hired for the job and by the person hiring the contractor. Firstly, the area where the scaffolding is to be erected needs to be a level surface that is stable, and if it is not, the contractor will need to stabilise it and make sure that it is adequate to support the scaffolds. Safety of bystanders is incredibly important and if the scaffolding is to be erected in a public place, appropriate measures need to be taken. For example, the work can be scheduled to proceed during quiet periods, during which less people are likely to be in proximity to the structure or roads can be closed through council permission. Scaffolding should never be erected near power lines as this can be extremely dangerous and result in fatalities. If scaffolding is to be used on a freeway or highway, the contractor is required to have a license especially for this and is responsible for applying for and obtaining such a license. However, the person hiring the contractor is responsible for asking for planning permission from the local council regarding the erection of any temporary structure and possible permanent structures the scaffolding may be used for. Getting Started Workers erecting scaffolding should be properly trained in the correct methods of constructing the scaffolding and working with temporary structures. Before use, the scaffolding should be inspected, and again once it is assembled. It is also advisable that the scaffolding is checked at regular intervals for weaknesses or damage to the structure and materials. This is especially important after an addition or change has been made to the scaffolding. Equally as important, scaffolding should be checked after very dry weather, storms, strong winds and other factors which may affect the safety of the scaffold structure. Safety During Scaffolding Use When scaffolding structures are in use, workmen should not store materials on the scaffolding boards. Anything left on the boards could cause someone to trip on the scaffolding and fall or cause injury to someone on the ground. Physical barriers are recommended to prevent injuries to people walking underneath the scaffolding structure, but using tape to create barriers is not recommended as people can (and will) ignore the tape and walk through. Similarly, if the scaffolding is left unattended, the access ladder should be removed to prevent access to unauthorised individuals. Movable tower scaffolding must have the wheels locked when workers are working from the towers and they are required to be stationary. With pre-made systems such as Self-Lock and Kwik-Stage scaffolding, the risks of accidents are reduced due to the built in safety systems of the scaffolding. These systems can be constructed very easily and by fewer workmen without compromising on safety. The systems are locking systems which do not allow for any part of a scaffolding structure to become loose and due to being made from steel, the scaffolding material is virtually indestructible. Scaffold hire is a growing necessity in South Africa, especially with special events, the successful film industry and the forthcoming FIFA World cup happening in the country. Without proper safety regulations and practices, the risk of injury and fatalities is high. Proper use of scaffolding is what will keep the construction and scaffolding industries the successful and thriving services that they are.

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