Career Pathway: Construction

Transcription

1 Career Pathway: Construction Louisiana Workforce Commission September 2011

2 In 2009, Louisiana and Mississippi partnered to research economic development opportunities and workforce needs associated with the region s green economy. Through a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, a consortium of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana State University, Mississippi Department of Employment Security, and Mississippi State University conducted an extensive study of economic activity that is beneficial to the environment. This and other research products were developed as part of that effort. This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.

3 Introduction...ii Construction Occupations...1 Construction Managers...2 Cost Estimators...3 Construction and Building Inspectors...4 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators...5 Construction Laborers...6 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers...7 Motorboat Operators...8 Dredge Operators...9 Notes...10 Contents On the cover: construction machinery is used on a coastal restoration project in Louisiana. Photo CCPL: Louisiana GOSHEP i

4 Introduction As part of a comprehensive study of Louisiana s green economy, career pathways were developed to provide career guidance to students and job seekers interested in coastal restoration work. Each career pathway identifies the specific occupations within an occupational group that are involved in restoration activities. Each career pathway is organized by the level of education most commonly required for an occupation. This allows students to explore career opportunities available for different levels of educational attainment. Useful information such as sample job titles, occupation descriptions and wage data are included for each occupation. In addition, post-secondary educational programs that can lead to a career in coastal restoration work are provided. Information used to develop the following career pathway was gathered through a series of in-person interviews, telephone interviews and focus groups with employers conducting restoration work. Additional information was sourced from the Employment and Training Administration s Occupational Information Network. Finally, Louisiana Board of Regent s data was used to identify degree and certificate programs that would best prepare students for careers in coastal restoration. ii

5 Coastal Restoration Construction Occupations Click on an occupation for more information. Bachelor s Degree Construction Manager Cost Estimator Associate Degree or Vocational Training Construction and Building Inspector Construction Equipment Operator High School Diploma / GED Construction Laborer Hazardous Materials Removal Worker Motor Boat Operator Dredge Operator 1

6 Construction Managers Possible Job Titles 1 Project Manager, Construction Manager, Construction Superintendent, Estimator, Concrete Foreman, Construction Area Manager, Construction Foreman, General Contractor, Job Superintendent, Project Superintendent Occupation Description 1 Plan, direct, coordinate, or budget, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, and implementation. Tasks: 1. Schedule the project in logical steps and budget time required to meet deadlines. 2. Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, and design professionals to discuss and resolve matters such as work procedures, complaints, and construction problems. 3. Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions, changes and additions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers and subcontractors. 4. Prepare and submit budget estimates and progress and cost tracking reports. 5. Interpret and explain plans and contract terms to administrative staff, workers, and clients, representing the owner or developer. 6. Plan, organize, and direct activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. 7. Take actions to deal with the results of delays, bad weather, or emergencies at construction site. 8. Inspect and review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes, and other regulations. 9. Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods. 10. Select, contract, and oversee workers who complete specific pieces of the project, such as painting or plumbing. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 67,250 Training Opportunities 2,3 Institution Program Degree / Certificate Louisiana State University Construction Management Bachelor s Degree Louisiana Tech University Construction Engineering Technology Bachelor s Degree University of Louisiana at Monroe Construction Management Bachelor s Degree > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 2

7 Cost Estimators Possible Job Titles 1 Estimator, Cost Estimator, Estimator Project Manager, Project Manager, Construction Estimator, Cost Analyst, Design Consultant, Operations Manager, Sales Engineer Occupation Description 1 Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured. Tasks: 1. Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues. 2. Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates. 3. Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors. 4. Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates. 5. Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work. 6. Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project. 7. Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops. 8. Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures. 9. Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to effect cost reduction. 10. Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 53,480 > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 3

8 Construction and Building Inspectors Possible Job Titles 1 Building Inspector, Engineering Technician, Construction Inspector, Engineer, Associate Architect, Construction Project Supervisor, Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Building Code Administrator, Building Mechanical Engineer Occupation Description 1 Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing. Tasks: 1. Issue violation notices and stop-work orders, conferring with owners, violators, and authorities to explain regulations and recommend rectifications. 2. Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, and foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety and conformance to specifications and codes. 3. Approve and sign plans that meet required specifications. 4. Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, and construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations. 5. Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, and appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations. 6. Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, and specifications. 7. Measure dimensions and verify level, alignment, and elevation of structures and fixtures to ensure compliance to building plans and codes. 8. Maintain daily logs and supplement inspection records with photographs. 9. Use survey instruments, metering devices, tape measures, and test equipment, such as concrete strength measurers, to perform inspections. 10. Train, direct and supervise other construction inspectors. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 49,030 > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 4

9 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Possible Job Titles 1 Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Operating Engineer, Back Hoe Operator, Loader Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Track Hoe Operator, Excavator Operator, Grader Operator Occupation Description 1 Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties. Tasks: 1. Learn and follow safety regulations. 2. Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects. 3. Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms. 4. Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes. 5. Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work. 6. Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met. 7. Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers. 8. Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment. 9. Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain. 10. Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 35,800 Training Opportunities 2,3 Institution Program Degree / Certificate Louisiana Technical College Heavy Construction Vehicle Operator Certificate > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 5

10 Construction Laborers Possible Job Titles 1 Laborer, Construction Laborer, Cement Finisher, Construction Worker, Helper, Post Framer, Curb and Gutter Laborer, Drain Layer, Drop Crew Laborer, Punch Out Crew Member Occupation Description 1 Perform tasks involving physical labor at building, highway, and heavy construction projects, tunnel and shaft excavations, and demolition sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, clean up rubble and debris, and remove asbestos, lead, and other hazardous waste materials. May assist other craft workers. Tasks: 1. Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards. 2. Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities. 3. Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones. 4. Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials. 5. Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes. 6. Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes. 7. Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed. 8. Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications. 9. Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures. 10. Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 24,500 > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 6

11 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Possible Job Titles 1 Asbestos Abatement Worker, Decontamination / Decommissioning Operator (D & D Operator), Radiological Control and Safety Technician, Waste Handling Technician, Field Technician, Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician), Sampler, Site Worker, Nuclear Waste Handler Occupation Description 1 Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, contaminated soil, etc. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks. Tasks: 1. Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods. 2. Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed. 3. Drive trucks or other heavy equipment to convey contaminated waste to designated sea or ground locations. 4. Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials. 5. Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts. 6. Clean contaminated equipment or areas for re-use, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners. 7. Construct scaffolding or build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work. 8. Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or highpressure sprayers. 9. Upload baskets of irradiated elements onto machines that insert fuel elements into canisters and secure lids. 10. Apply chemical compounds to lead-based paint, allow compounds to dry, then scrape the hazardous material into containers for removal and/or storage. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 30,740 > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 7

12 Motorboat Operators Possible Job Titles 1 Launch Operator, Boat Operator, Crew Boat Operator, Water Taxi Operator, Launchman, Watch Leader, Charter Boat Operator, Pilot Boat Operator Occupation Description 1 Operate small motor-driven boats to carry passengers and freight between worksites and shore. May assist in navigational activities. Tasks: 1. Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids. 2. Follow safety procedures in order to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels. 3. Direct safety operations in emergency situations. 4. Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms in order to guide boats on desired courses. 5. Oversee operation of vessels used for carrying passengers, motor vehicles, or goods across rivers, harbors, lakes, and coastal waters. 6. Secure boats to docks with mooring lines, and cast off lines to enable departure. 7. Service motors by performing tasks such as changing oil and lubricating parts. 8. Arrange repairs, fuel, and supplies for vessels. 9. Maintain equipment such as range markers, fire extinguishers, boat fenders, lines, pumps, and fittings. 10. Organize and direct the activities of crew members. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 54,750 > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 8

13 Dredge Operators Possible Job Titles 1 Dredge Operator, Dredger Occupation Description 1 Dredge operators excavate waterways, removing sand, gravel, rock, or other materials from harbors, lakes, rivers, and streams. Dredges are used primarily to maintain navigable channels but also are used to restore wetlands and other aquatic habitats; reclaim land; and create and maintain beaches. Tasks: 1. Move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads. 2. Start and stop engines to operate equipment. 3. Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually. 4. Pump water to clear machinery pipelines. 5. Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations. 6. Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons. Education, Experience and Training 1 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed Median Annual Wage 4 $ 32,970 > Return to Career Pathway Graphic 9

14 1 O*NET OnLine. US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Association. Web. 09 June SOC 2010 to CIP 2010 Crosswalk Spreadsheet. National Center for Education Notes Statistics (NCES). US Department of Education/Institute of Education Sciences. Web. 09 June Active Degree and Certificate Programs/Options. Louisiana Board of Regents. Web. 09 June U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages. 10

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16 1001 North 23rd Street P. O. Box Baton Rouge, LA