Scope

Metal fabricators (fitters) are individuals who work with ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including plate and structural steel sections, to produce or repair component parts for bridges, buildings, towers, platforms, steel stairs and hand rails or other assemblies and structures made from steel.

Individuals in this occupational group can be found employed in structural steel and manufacturing plants as well as in heavy machinery and ship building companies. They may be requested to fabricate pressure vessels, structural steel, boilers, tanks, shells, chutes, hoppers, stacks and other heavy steel components on a custom-made basis and often includes the fitting and installation of components for process equipment.

Metal fabricators (fitters) will be further called upon to perform some or all of the following duties: blueprint reading, planning and preparing jobs, mechanical drafting for pattern development, fabricating components, assembling components and installing components.

Metal fabricators must be able to use a variety of hand or power tools and specialized machinery. The occupation requires, above average spatial perception, good co-ordination, mechanical aptitude and manual dexterity, knowledge of related mathematics and workplace regulations. Other essential skills are: the ability to interpret drawings, to develop a logical sequence of operations and to layout and mark steel for cutting, burning, sawing, shearing, punching, rolling, bending and drilling, shaping, forming, straightening; then fitting and assembling these components. Metal fabrication includes welding, bolting, riveting, testing, inspecting, priming, painting, rigging, and handling of subcomponents and the final product.

Related occupations in all parts of Canada include ironworkers, welders and boilermakers. Occupational colleagues to metal fabricators include estimators, structural-steel draughtsman (detailers) and sheet metal workers who prepare shop drawings for structures using structural and plate steel to fabricate integral parts, and welders who, using various welding equipment, weld the assemblies together after fabrication.

Observations

Some significant trends emerged from this national occupational analysis of the metal fabricator (fitter) occupation. These trends are outlined in this section.

Information generated by our panel of expert metal fabricators (fitters) indicates that the metal fabricator trade has retained most of its traditional competency requirements. However, technological innovations are influencing skill requirements, impacting on workers, affecting productivity and improving workplace safety. A number of modern methods, tools, automated machines, personal protective devices and measuring devices find their way into this occupation on a regular basis. Due to the increased number and diversity of stringent safety regulations, legislation impacts greatly on companies and workers in this trade.

In the job planning and preparation blocks of skills, one can observe several tendencies. The computer assisted design system (CAD) is growing in use, dramatically changing the work environment and gaining in popularity. More electronic, digital and laser measuring devices can be found in the work place. They are more user friendly and increasingly more accurate. An increased use of electronic communication techniques and devices (cell phones, palm held units, email, fax) facilitates the exchange of job estimates and management of projects in the workplace. And, due to the globalization of business opportunities, we see an increased use of quality control assurance standards and metrication.

Technological innovations extend into the fabrication and assembly of component blocks in a number of ways. We see an increase in the use of: remote control equipment, cranes with computer load charts, battery back-ups on magnetic lifts, automated fabricating processes for specialized products, automated welding helmet lenses, preset bolts with torques built into the fasteners, better coating materials, numerical control (NC) and computer numerical controlled (CNC) equipment for bending, cutting, measuring and drilling and various devices for tracking materials (plasma markers, bar code scanners and use of colour) .

Some companies out-source their production to specialty shops (cutting, detailing, bending, rolling, powder coating) while others choose to concentrate on manufacturing more pre-engineered building components and fabricating larger assemblies in their shops due to improved transportation systems.

The scope of practice varies somewhat across the country and there appears to be a trend for metal fabricators (fitters) to seek additional certification as welders. In turn, these individuals become more involved in preparing and installing fabricated components at job sites.

Safety

Safe working procedures and conditions, accident prevention and the preservation of health are of primary importance to industry in Canada. These responsibilities are shared and require the joint efforts of government, employers and employees. It is imperative that all parties become aware of circumstances that may lead to injury or harm. Safe learning experience and environments can be created by controlling the variables and behaviours that may contribute to accidents or injury.

It is generally recognized that a safety-conscious attitudes and work practices contribute to a healthy, safe and accident-free working environment.

It is imperative to apply and be familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. As well, it is essential to determine workplace hazards and take measures to protect oneself, co-workers, the public and the environment.

As safety education is an integral part of training in all jurisdictions, personal safety practices are not recorded in this document. However, the technical safety aspect relating to each task and sub-task are included throughout this analysis.

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