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SCAFFOLDERS ... ON THE JOB:
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE
RICHELLE RUMBOUDT-PATEY
SCAFFOLD ERECTOR
Q: HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR
CURRENT POSITION?
(NOC 7271)
Scaffold erectors are a special type of
carpenter that erects, plans and builds the
temporary work structures that provide other
workers with safe, secure access to places
they work. They may work on construction,
offshore drilling or oil sands sites, at power
stations and or on special projects such as
parade viewing platforms. Scaffolds are
made from wood, metal or pre-formed
components and may begin at ground level
or be suspended from elevated buildings,
vessels or other structures.
I worked as a scaffolder as a summer job
before going to university. After graduation
I found it hard to get hired as a new
graduate so I returned to work as a
scaffolder to get industry experience.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT
YOUR JOB?
I love the people. You get to meet so
many people because when you’re out
there you’re scaffolding for electricians,
pipe fitters and instrument technicians.
You get a a feel for every other trade out
there. It’s also a very physical job. I basically get paid to work out for 12 hours a day which I love.
HOURLY WAGES
Q: HOW DO YOU BECOME A SCAFFOLDER?
During your first year of school, you take Industrial Technical Training (ITT). This course teaches you
to do both scaffolding and carpentry. It gives you a feel for both sides and then you can choose which
are you’d like to specialize in. Scaffolding is a bit more basic than carpentry. In carpentry there are
four levels to become a journeyman. In scaffolding there are only two levels and then you become a
journeyman. And then there is upgrading you can do after you’ve received your journeyman certificate.
Q: WHAT IS MOST CHALLENGING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
This job is pretty physical and there is heavy lifting involved. I’m female and I’m short, so when guys
are lifting 60 pounds, I cant do that. But so far I haven’t come into any situation that was too difficult to
solve.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS LIKE?
For full-time and part-time workers*
Scaffold Erectors (NOC 7271)
Low
High
Average
Median
Starting
$24.00
$39.70
$31.37
$35.34
Overall
$33.00
$40.04
$38.11
$39.70
Top
$37.00
$53.14
$43.42
$39.70
AVERAGE
SALARY
$82,685
*Source: 2013 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey
If you include the commute to and from site, I work 15 hour days. Its shift work, with seven days on
and seven days off. You can work day or night shift.
Q: ARE THERE A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCAFFOLDERS?
There is no lack of work, especially in Fort McMurray’s oil industry. There isn’t a lot of wood projects
out here, it’s mostly metal, so there is a higher demand here for scaffolders than carpenters. There are
job opportunities in and out of the municipality of Fort McMurray. You can find jobs by talking to your
local union hall or by looking for jobs online.
Q: HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROGRESSING IN YOUR JOB?
There are a lot of job opportunities to move up as a scaffolder. Since I went to school for Occupational
Health and Safety that’s the direction I’d like to go and this job is a great starting place for that,
because you get to work with so many trades and learn so much, But there are many other options for
moving up. After just two or three years as a journeyman you can become a foreman, move into
inspection or management. As your career progresses you get to meet a lot of people and the doors
continue to open for you.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Scaffold erectors need a combination of training and work experience. The
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre (ACTC), Scaffold Industry Association
of Canada and Scaffold and Access Industry Association offer various
training programs throughout Alberta. For more information, you can visit
their websites. Employers may prefer to hire applicants with a high school
diploma with at least Grade 11 Math and English.
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
TIPS FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH
• To find jobs you can visit the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and
Allied Workers website at www.albertacarpenters.com. You can also check
local job listings on websites such as ca.indeed.com/, http://www.kijiji.ca/hfort-mcmurray/1700232 and http://www.wowjobs.ca/jobs-scaffold+erectorjobs.
• While employers will hire high school graduates or applicants with a Grade
11 Math and English, working on construction sites also requires the
following certifications:
•
Construction Safety Training Systems (CSTS)
•
Basic First Aid and CPR
•
Fall Arrest Awareness
•
Hydrogen Sulfide Awareness (H2S)
•
Confined Space Awareness
Reading text
1
Basic&
Document use
1
Basic&
Writing
1
Basic&
Numeracy
1
Basic&
SKILLS SHORTAGE
For the foreseeable future in Alberta, employment prospects for scaffold
erectors are excellent. In 2013, 77% of employers in the Wood Buffalo-Cold
Lake Region said they were hiring scaffold erectors. Of those hiring, 34% said
they experienced hiring difficulties and 8% said they had unfilled vacancies for
over four months. The vacancy rate for this occupation in 2013 was 1%.
Oral communication
1
Basic&
Digital Technology
1
Basic&
2
3
4
Intermediate
2
3
4
Intermediate
2
3
4
Intermediate
2
3
4
Intermediate
2
3
3
Advanced
5
Advanced
5
Advanced
5
Advanced
4
Intermediate
2
5
5
Advanced
4
Intermediate
5
Advanced
Source: Government of Alberta ALIS Wageinfo
Thinking
1
Basic&
2
3
4
Intermediate
5
Advanced
• Read short text entries, brief notes from co-workers,
workplace safety materials, notices, bulletins and
newsletters, instructions, manuals and more.
• Observe symbols, icons and signs, locate and enter
data on labels, locate data in a variety of tables,
complete complex entry forms, study assembly
drawings and more.
• Write reminders and short notes to customers and coworkers, may describe project details on estimate
sheets, May write reports to describe events leading
up to workplace accident and more.
• May receive cash, debit and credit card payments
and make change
• Take a variety of measurements using basic tools.
• Speak with suppliers to learn about products, prices
and delivery schedules and discuss timelines,
procedures, expectations and other work-related
matters with co-workers and other tradespeople.
• Use calculators and personal digital assistant (PDA)
devices to complete numeracy-related tasks, such as
calculating material requirements.
• Encounter delays due to equipment faults. They
inform customers and co-workers of the faults and
troubleshoot. They perform other tasks until the faulty
equipment is repaired or replaced.
OTHER INFORMATION
INTERESTING FACTS AND TRENDS
• Scaffold erectors can work in all sectors of the construction industry (residential,
commercial, institutional, industrial).
• Experienced scaffold erectors may advance to supervisory or foreman positions. With
further training they may become scaffold inspectors.
• Carpenters may work alone, in teams or with helpers. Working conditions vary from one
job to another. On some jobs carpenters work primarily indoors, are permanently
employed and work a regular 40-hour week. On other jobs, they work primarily outdoors,
are subject to seasonal unemployment, and routinely work overtime in peak periods.
Sources: Government of Alberta OCCinfo and Alberta, tradesecrets.ca
Scaffold erectors should have:
• the ability to work in confined spaces and at extreme heights.
• physical strength and stamina and manual dexterity.
• a safety conscious attitude.
• excellent balance, hearing and vision.
• the ability to pay careful attention to details.
• good math, communication and reading skills.
• the ability to visualize structures in three-dimensional planes.
• good problem solving skills.
• the ability to work with others in a team.
For more information on being a carpenter or scaffolder, please visit the External Profile:
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/es_view_profile-eng.do?prof_id=14&lang=eng