4 Basic Elements of an Effective Safety & Health Program

What Should I Do to Become a Construction Worker?

To become a construction worker, you should first complete high school or receive a GED. It is not necessary to have any more education than that to become a construction worker. In fact, there isn’t anything else you need to do other than apply for the job at that point.

There are things you can do to better prepare yourself or to make yourself seem more appealing than other candidates for the job. For example, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take an OSHA 10-hour construction course. This course teaches you basic safety principles for working in the construction industry.

It could also be a good idea to join an apprenticeship program, which can teach you specific skills that prepare you for construction work.

Is Being a Construction Worker the Right Job for Me?

There are certain pros and cons to being a construction worker. It depends on what you are willing to take and what you are able to give. Construction workers do lots of physical labor and are prone to getting dirty everyday. Their hours can change on a moment’s notice; your shift may end due to bad weather or faulty hardware. But, those shifts are always bound to start very early in the morning.

There is plenty of satisfaction in construction work despite how stressful it can be. If you are able to withstand that, the pay and benefits are great. Additionally, there is little to no education needed to be a construction worker, making it an easy job to get right out of high school.

In the end, you need to weigh the pros and cons if it is the right job for you.

Everyday Construction Work

Every construction site and project is different, and the roles you fill at each one may be different as well. Because of this, everyday will present you with either a new task or the one you started on your last shift. Whatever it may be, you can expect some of the everyday work to include:

• Preparing the construction site: Before the work can begin, you will need to prepare the construction site. This could include a lot of different things, such as clearing trash, inspecting equipment, removing plants, etc.
• Loading and unloading materials: In order to start construction on anything, you need to have the materials and equipment to do it. These are brought to the site and need to be brought to
their stations at the start of each project.
• Operating heavy machinery: You may be tasked with operating certain heavy machinery, and your employer should have you trained beforehand. You will need to perform a daily inspection before
starting it up and ensure that you follow proper safety procedures when using it.
• Spotting for machine operators: If you are not the one operating heavy machinery, you could be the one spotting for the operator. This means you will need to signal for them when to stop and when to proceed.
• Garbage/debris removal: Once a project is completed, you will need to remove all the leftover garbage and debris from the work you and your coworkers did so the site is clear.
• Assembling and disassembling equipment: Certain equipment, such as scaffolding and cranes, requires assembly and disassembly at the start and finish of each project.

What Are the Best Certifications to Get?

Considering getting certified if you want to jumpstart your construction worker preparation? It is best to stick to some of the most fundamental, broadly applicable certifications to avoid purchasing any that you might not ultimately require. Listed below are some of the best construction safety certifications to get, as a construction worker.

• OSHA 10-Hour Construction Training
• CPR & First Aid Training
• Fire Safety Training
• Traffic Control Training
• Focus Four Safety Training

At Hard Hat Training, we provide these courses in a range of formats, including online and in-person instruction.

Construction Apprenticeships

If you want additional training and experience before or even while working as a construction worker, an apprenticeship is a good option for you. An apprenticeship program will teach you the skills and knowledge that you need directly from experienced professionals. There are little to no requirements to get into an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships are not like college classes or any sort of university program. They more closely follow the pattern of a trade school and prepare you to complete specific tasks associated with a certain job or career. Some downsides to apprenticeships are:

• They can be very hard to get into due to their competitive nature.
• It is very difficult to choose another career path once you have been trained as an apprentice for one thing.
• There are some careers that there aren’t apprenticeships for, so what you learn from an apprenticeship can be limited.

The need for construction specialists is high. If you choose to pursue a career through an apprenticeship program, you will likely always be able to find work.

Construction Work as a Career Path

One of the benefits of being a construction worker is the fact that, as a career, there are plenty of opportunities for advancement. What this means is that as a construction worker, you will be able to learn new trades and skills, obtain higher responsibilities, and gather experience that can land you a better job or higher pay.

Being a construction worker is an effective stepping stone for specialization and other career opportunities. Promotions in the construction industry are uncommon but not unheard of. That is why, if you want to advance as a construction worker, you have to find what it is you like and pursue it.

Your exposure to a variety of different tasks and types of work will help you find and possibly present you with the opportunity to pursue what you are interested in doing next.

Other Jobs In The Construction Industry

After some time as a construction worker, you may have opportunities or want to pursue other roles or positions in the construction industry that interest you. Your experience as a construction worker is very useful for helping you to do so. Some other job opportunities you can consider in the construction industry are:

• Management: With time and experience, you can make your way into a management role such as a foreman or superintendent. You can even start your own construction company using the experience you gain.
• Contractor: Another important role in the construction industry is contractors. Contractors work out a contract with a client and provide all the needed equipment and materials for the project. They also are responsible for hiring out subcontractors for a project if needed.
• Electrician: Electricians enjoy more flexible work than most construction workers and travel a good deal more for their work.
• Plumber: Plumbers also enjoy a more flexible work schedule and have the opportunity to work independently if they choose.
• Carpenter: Carpentry is a valuable trade, and there are plenty of job opportunities. The variety of projects you can do as a carpenter also makes the career very interesting.
• Mason: There is a high demand for masons, and they can travel a lot for their work, depending on the contracts they get.

As a construction worker, you may have to do some sort of work that falls under the work of one of these careers. Most of these jobs can be officially learned through apprenticeship programs that certify you to work in that, specifically.

Benefits Of Being a Construction Worker

The benefits of being a construction worker are many, but maybe not in the way you think. It is also up to you to decide if those benefits outweigh the cons involved. Some of these benefits are:

• Job security: There is always a high demand and need for construction workers. It is not hard to apply and get started working as a construction worker, no matter where you are. You are very likely to always have work as a construction worker.
• Career growth opportunities: As stated previously, there are many opportunities to specialize and grow within the construction industry. Construction workers enjoy the ability to advance and learn new skills often within their career.
• High wages: Construction workers make good money and a good living doing what they do. Construction workers also can live comfortably and don’t need to worry about going into debt to get the training they need for their career.
• Satisfaction: Many construction workers agree that their job is satisfying because you can see the end product of your work physically in front of you. You get to be part of a group that makes something tangible and provides an essential part of industrial development.
• Physical exercise: Construction workers do so much physical labor that they have everyday exercise and stay relatively strong and in shape.
• Dress code: You don’t have to wear a specific uniform or a suit to work; you can show up wearing casual clothes everyday.

How Much Do Construction Workers Make?

Depending on where you live and what you do within a construction company, construction workers can expect to make anywhere between $30,000 and $55,000 a year. The average construction worker makes approximately $38,000 a year working an average of 40 hours a week.

Only construction workers that specialize in specific trades in the industry, such as technicians or inspectors, can expect to make more than that.

Do Construction Workers Receive Benefits?

Each construction company offers different benefits to their construction workers, but for the most part they all offer a similar benefits package. Construction workers are exposed to many different dangers on the job, so good benefits are a must. Most construction workers can expect to have:

• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Health/medical coverage
• Disability coverage
• Life insurance
• 401(k)

There are some less common benefits some construction workers may receive as well (especially if they make their way up the ladder into management roles), such as:

• Paid cell phone
• Company vehicle
• Access to mental health programs
• Paid holidays and vacations
• Paid sick leave

What Are Some of The Cons of Being a Construction Worker?

Like every job, there are some cons to consider as well as the pros. Some of them are obvious and others are not.

• Dangerous work: Construction is a dangerous job; there is always a risk of being injured even when you follow all safety procedures. There are heavy machines, sharp tools, moving vehicles, and more.
• Short-term contracts: Sometimes, the contract you are hired on to do is temporary, and once it is done, you might go days, weeks, or even months before receiving another contract. This is less likely if you work for a well-renowned, reliable company, but it is still a possibility.
• Lack of flexibility: Construction work is not very flexible. Your hours are set and often long, making it difficult to get time off.
• Constant weather exposure: You will almost always be outside, working in hot and cold weather to do your job. You need to dress accordingly and be careful to avoid heat and cold stress.
• Long-term body damage: Overtime, work as a construction worker does take a toll on your body. The constant heavy lifting and manual labor does affect your body over the years and will limit how much you can do as you get older. You are more likely to develop muscle disorders such as arthritis with time.

Are Construction Workers Happy?

Statistically, construction workers are among the least happy workers in the workforce of the United States. However, this question is relative, and many construction workers actually enjoy what they do. The satisfaction they get from their work and the drive from their coworkers makes their job very enjoyable.

If you enjoy working hands-on in a career that is consistent and doesn’t require additional education, being a construction worker is for you. The need for construction workers is constant; because of that, it will always be a rewarding career choice.

How Construction Companies Work

Construction companies work by contracts. A contract is an agreement between a contractor and a client. Construction companies have contractors that work out these contracts with their clients.

On the client’s end, it simply details what it is the client wants done. The contractor’s end includes how they plan on doing it, how much they will charge to do it, and their right to subcontract for any additional work they will need to do to get it done.

Construction companies usually have multiple contractors who bid for different projects put out by potential clients. They can win the bid by having the lowest cost, best quality, and best timeframe offers for getting the work done.

What Are Subcontractors?

In the event that there is a part or aspect of a project that the construction company doesn’t have workers for or expertise in, they hire subcontractors. Subcontractors are not employees of the company and work either independently or for another company. They are often self-employed as well, so they do their own taxes and keep their own records independent from the construction company that subcontracted them.

For example, if your company is hired to construct a house but you do not have an electrician, you would subcontract an electrician from an electrical company. They would do the electrical work for the house for you, then you pay them.

How Do Construction Companies Make Money?

Construction companies work to make a profit by doing their work as fast and efficiently as possible. They work to complete the project under their budget and ahead of schedule. This not only makes them more money, but it makes them more appealing to other clients.

They also try to have multiple contracts. The more work they have, the more money they can make. It is also crucial that construction companies stay up to date on the latest safety information and standards. Doing so will help them avoid accidents and costly insurance payouts or lawsuits.