Pipe Welder

SUMMARY
Welds together metal components of products, such as pipelines, automobiles, boilers, ships, aircraft, and mobile homes, as specified by layout, blueprints, diagram, work order, welding procedures, or oral instructions, using electric arc-welding equipment.

RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manually guides electrode or gun along weld line, maintaining length of arc and speed of movement to form specified depth of fusion and bead, as judged from color of metal, sound of weld, and size of molten puddle.
- Obtains specified electrode and inserts electrode into portable holder or threads consumable electrode wire through portable welding gun.
- Connects cables from welding unit to obtain amperage, voltage, slope, and pulse, as specified by Welding Engineer.
- Starts power supply to produce electric current.
- Strikes arc which generates heat to make and deposit metal from electrode to work piece and join edges of work piece.
- Welds in flat, horizontal, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Examines weld for bead size and other specifications.
- May manually apply filler rod to supply weld metal.
- May clean or degrease weld joint or work piece, using wire brush, portable grinder, or chemical bath.
- May repair broken or cracked parts and fill holes. May prepare broken parts for welding by grooving or scarfing surfaces.
- May chip off excess weld, slag, and spatter, using hand scraper or power chipper. May preheat work piece, using hand torch or heating furnace.
- May position and clamp work pieces together or assemble them in jig or fixture. May tack assemblies together.
- May cut metal plates or structural shapes.
- May be designated according to type of equipment used as Welder, Carbon Arc (welding); Welder, Flux-Cored Arc (welding); Welder, Gas-Metal Arc (welding); Welder, Gas-Tungsten Arc (welding); Welder, Hand, Submerged Arc (welding); Welder, Plasma Arc (welding); Welder, Shielded-Metal Arc (welding).
- May operate other machine shop equipment to prepare components for welding.
- May be designated according to product welded as Welder, Boilermaker (struct. metal). Important variations include types of metals welded, sub processes used, trade name of equipment used, work site (in-plant, job shop, construction site, shipyard), method of application (manual, semiautomatic), high-production or custom, level of ambidexterity required, type of joints welded (seam, spot, butt).
- May be required to pass employer performance tests or standard tests to meet certification standards of governmental agencies or professional and technical associations.
- Responsible for observing and complying with all safety and project rules, including wearing required personal safety equipment. Performs other duties and activities as required.

Qualifications:

JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Performing only those jobs on which they have been trained and/or authorized.
- Working in accordance with safe job practices and complying with company safety rules
- Using required personal protective equipment
- Reporting unsafe conditions or practices
- Making safety suggestions
- Serving on the safety committee if requested
- Cooperating during investigation of any accidents that occur
- Taking an active part and participating in safety meetings, pre-job safety briefings, task hazard analyses and Job Safety Analyses.

QUALIFICATIONS
May require a high school diploma or its equivalent and previous years of related experience. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under minimum supervision. Typically reports to a supervisor.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Strength
a. Standing C
Walking C
Sitting F

b. Lifting (lbs)
- 0-10 C
- 10-25 F
- 25-50 O
Carrying (lbs)
- 0-10 C
- 10-25 F
- 25-50 O

c. Pushing F
Pulling F

2. Climbing O
Balancing O

3. Bending F
Stooping F
Kneeling F

4. Crouching F
Crawling F

5. Reaching C
Handling C
Fingering C
Feeling C

6. Vision C
Hearing C

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

NP Not Present
O Occasionally (0-33%)
F Frequently (34-66%)
C Constantly (67-100%)