Construction Worker - Houses and Buildings

Houses and Buildings

Construction workers assist tradespeople on building and construction sites by doing a range of manual labouring jobs. Future Growth Strong

ANZSCO ID: 8211

Alternative names: Builder's Labourer, Labourer

Specialisations: Construction workers may specialise by working with particular tradespeople as a trade's assistant, such as a plasterer's or bricklayer's labourer, or a carpenter's assistant.

Experienced construction workers may obtain high-risk work licences or 'tickets' to undertake a number of specialised roles such as concrete workers, doggers, riggers, scaffolders or steel fixers. They may also advanced to these positions with on-site or short-course training.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

physically fit
enjoy practical and outdoor work
able to work as part of a team
a good awareness and understanding of on-site safety issues
able to work at a constant pace
able to follow precise directions.

Duties and Tasks

Construction workers may perform the following tasks: Construction workers with jackhammer

unload, carry and stack building materials and place tools and equipment in position
dig trenches using hand tools or jackhammers to break up rock and concrete, so that footings and services can be laid
place and compact filling and quarry materials
help to erect and dismantle scaffolding (subject to certification in some states and territories), ramps, catwalks, barricades and warning lights
control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones
clean away debris, rubble and other waste materials
prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards
read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities
load or unload building materials, machinery, or tools, and distribute them to the appropriate locations
lay out areas where construction work will be performed, through measurements or markings
operate hand and power tools of all types
dig trenches and erect or dismantle scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials.
mix, pour and spread concrete
use wheelbarrows to remove rubble and rubbish from building sites
dismantle small structures and strip materials in preparation for new constructions
clean surfaces for painters.

Working Conditions

Construction workers mostly work outdoors. In a full-time job you would work a standard number of hours per week, which may include weekend shiftwork. Most construction work is physically demanding. Some construction work needs to be done at heights or outdoors in all weather conditions. Construction workers have a high rate of injuries and illnesses.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a construction worker without formal qualifications. You would get some training on the job.

You can also become a construction worker through a traineeship or apprenticeship in Construction or Civil Construction. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require junior secondary school certificate or equivalent.

Additional Information

Construction workers who work at heights must complete a Work Safely at Heights short course. All those who work in the construction industry must undergo safety induction training and be issued with a Construction Induction Card (CIC). Authorised training is conducted by Registered Training Organisations.

Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have recognised, additional skills under the Construction, Plumbing and Services or Resources and Infrastructure Training Packages that will expand your career opportunities within these industries.

Employment Opportunities

Construction workers work for large construction firms and smaller building subcontractors. Many gain employment through labour hire companies. They work on the construction of a range of buildings, including residential houses, apartment complexes, shopping centres, offices, hotels, factories, tourist resorts, public buildings, hospitals and schools. Construction workers also work on heavy industrial or civil construction sites; road, tunnel and shaft excavations; demolition sites; and local government works.

On completion of a job, construction workers may have to apply to new sites for their next job. If they work for a civil, building or trade subcontractor (bricklayer, for example), new worksites may be organised for them. employment opportunities can vary greatly in line with trends in the civil or building and construction industries.

Did You Know?

Millions of dollars are spent each year on Road Construction throughout Australia!

The Roads Australia Pipeline is an initiative of Roads Australia and its members NSW Roads & Maritime Services (RMS), VicRoads, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), and the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI).

It is designed to provide an overview of some of the major road projects and contracts expected to come to market in the coming 12 months and beyond.

Have a look at the major construction works that are happening around Australia and their costs!!!
(Source: Roads Australia)

Houses and Buildings

Demolition workers demolish, dismantle and remove building structures and materials including brick, timber, concrete and metal. A demolition officer is a specialist construction role that deals with the breaking down and clearing up of derelict buildings and other structures that are no longer needed. FutureGrowthModerate

In all big cities, real estate space is at an absolute premium. While there are always new projects in the offing, sometimes the location will be too far out from the city centre, and buildings in the way have to be removed. Similarly, superannuated buildings, derelict, crumbling and dangerous, need to be removed for the safety of the public. Both of these situations require the expertise of a demolition officer.

Demolition officers are specialist construction professionals, whose job is arguably as important and creative as those putting the buildings up in the first place. A management level demolition officer must make surveys of a condemned building, and then ascertain the safest, quickest and most efficient way of bringing it down. Then, they must bring it down!

Depending on the size of the building, this can take in large plant machinery, such as the wrecking ball so beloved of cartoon writers everywhere, to explosives for large structures. On smaller jobs, where reclamation is a concern, a building may even be taken down carefully by hand, with fixtures and fittings stripped out with care, and not bludgeoned out.

The work of a demolition officer can vary, depending on the exact situation. Labourers are ‘at the coalface’, going in and clearing areas as well as identifying reclaimable materials.

(Source: BetterTeam)

ANZSCO ID: 712213

Alternative names: Demolition Operative, Demolition Worker, Demolition Labourer,

Specialisations

A mattockman/woman has the specific role of taking out door frames, roofing structures and other fixtures and fittings
a topman/woman takes on all of the demolition duties but does other more specialist work too, such as steel-cutting and cutting steel framework at heights; and, stripping off fragile roofs. It is also the topman’s responsibility to oversee the safety of a certain part of a site and instruct others in safe demolition practices.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Proven demolition or construction experience.
A state-issued blaster's license is preferred.
The ability to safely use hand and power tools, heavy machinery, and explosives.
The ability to work as part of a team.
The ability to stand for extended periods.
Good physical stamina.
Strong mechanical skills.
Effective communication skills.
Detail-oriented.

Demolition of building
(Source: Studyin)

Duties and Tasks

The demolition labourer’s responsibilities include loading and unloading debris and waste onto and off trucks, refilling excavated holes and ditches, as well as building and dismantling scaffolding and temporary structures. You should also establish exclusion zones around job sites to ensure the safety of bystanders and passers-by.

To be successful as a demolition labourer, you should be able to safely operate hand and power tools as well as heavy machinery. Ultimately, a top-notch demolition labourer should be able to effectively communicate with the demolition team and perform all duties in accordance with demolition safety regulations.

Assess and survey a building to find the right way to demolish it
Prepare the site
Put up rails and safety screens
Lay dustsheets
Separate out re-usable building materials after demolition
Use power tools and hand tools to strip out walls and other fittings
Maintain (as far as possible) a tidy work area
Sift rubble to pull out reclaimable and reusable building materials
Make use of plant machinery to knock down larger structures, or to use magnets to separate out materials
Store and use explosives safely
Maintain and service equipment
Ensure Health & Safety rules are rigorously applied

Working conditions The majority of demolition work takes place outside, requiring full-time hours and maybe some overtime. The working environment can be hazardous. Being inside a crumbling old building, there is always the danger of collapse, and the job is physically arduous, with dust and a lot of physical labour involved. There will also be intense health and safety training, and,receive instruction in the safe handling and removal of hazardous materials, such as asbestos.

Tools and technologies A demolition operative will be expected to learn to use a number of different specialist tools, such as oxyacetylene torches for cutting steel

erecting screens, dustsheets, temporary fencing and safety barricades around sites and areas of demolition
sealing drains as required
spotting for hazards
hosing to reduce dust during demolition sometimes required
manual labouring to disassemble and strip building structures such as doors, windows, pipes, radiators and light fixtures
sorting and stacking materials for removal from site or to reuse which can require lifting, moving and handling materials of varying sizes and shapes
working at heights can be required via scissor lifts or booms or climbing scaffolding or temporary work platforms and part building structures
negotiating uneven ground or surfaces
air compressor guns used to knock down walls
jackhammers used to break up concrete and brick structures
wrecking bars, sledgehammers, axes, shovels can be used to demolish smaller wooden structures
power tools such as grinders, demolition saws, drill can be used
jimmy bars, crow bars, spanners and hand tools used at various times
front-end machine operators pick up and move debris and building materials - you might also use crane-mounted industrial magnets to recover metals and burners to incinerate materials.
put concrete slabs through crushers to make aggregate for building roads

Tools for Demolition
(Source: TechUnwrapped)

Personal protective equipment:

gloves
hard hat
mask/respirator
visibility vest
trousers
safety boots
ear muffs/plugs
safety glasses
sunscreen

Education and training/entrance requirements

Many of these types of roles are taught ‘on the job’, so you will be taken on and given progressive training all the time. Working under experienced workers in the field, they learn everything from how to handle a sledgehammer to how to set up explosives to demo a building.

If the job involves hazardous materials like lead and asbestos, you’ll need to be certified per federal law.
To begin with your employer will probably induct you thoroughly in all aspects of health and safety, before you are allowed to work under a senior professional.

Employment Opportunities

Demolition jobs are found in all States and Territories in Australia but particularly in the larger cities.

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