A boilermaker is a tradesperson who assembles, tests and repairs heavy metal structures. They often complete their duties in a manufacturing facility or on large constructions, such as a ship. Understanding the typical boilermaker responsibilities can help you determine the skills you might require becoming one.
Understanding the responsibilities of a boilermaker can help you answer the question, ‘What does a boilermaker do?’ A boilermaker is an expert in operating welding equipment to join, repair and create metal fabrications. The type of fabrications they create can depend on their employers or clients. Boilermakers may gain employment for manufacturing companies, shipyards, railway companies and chemical plants. They can also gain employment as contractors, where their responsibilities can vary.The typical responsibilities of a boilermaker can include:
- Interpreting design plans
- Identifying suitable materials
- Joining fabrications to form metal structures
- Repairing liquid and gas tanks
- Operating hand tools, welding tools and fabrication machinery
- Installing pre-fabricated structures for residential and commercial buildings
- Creating and repairing railway structures
- Joining support beams and load-bearing structures
- Replacing metal structures with new fabricated materials
