The construction industry is one of the most dangerous fields to work in. Training can help employees work safely with or near job-specific hazards minimizing exposure to accidents that can cause serious injuries or death. Well-trained workers and contractors are better equipped to do their jobs, as well as protect themselves, their coworkers and worksite visitors from construction-related accidents. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that all construction workers undergo, at a minimum, a 10-hour safety training course.
Construction training keeps your employees safe, informed and in compliance
Foremen training. (Photo courtesy of Foundation Steel)
Obviously educating job-site workers in the proper use, methods and procedures of metal construction is requisite to ensure quality workmanship. Employee training can vary by individual, job function and company. Training can vary significantly from one employer to the next. Some businesses expect their workers to be up-to-speed on what to do and when to do it. Others provide basic on-the-job training.
Christopher P. Teague, president at GarVin Construction Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., says his employees receive training from Metal Buildings Institute, Metal Building Contractors & Erectors Association (MBCEA), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), and safety programs and various classes on project management and supervisor training, along with [Memphis, Tenn.-based] Varco Pruden Buildings and various manufacturers’ product and installation training. “We basically follow AC478 certification rules and guidelines although we aren’t certified. Albuquerque-based Safety Counseling Inc. performs all our safety training … too many training classes to mention. [This] helps GarVin provide a safe work place with quality workmanship, which makes happy customers.” At Bardstown, Ky.-based Hayden Steel, estimator Tommy Hayden says he stresses, “Safety and equipment training, and how to be kind to others.”
Training on temporary bracing guidelines for metal building systems. (Photo courtesy of Foundation Steel)
Construction training (Photo courtesy of Foundation Steel)
Common Training Subjects
A few common training subjects related to metal construction are:
• Welding Certification
• Fall Protection
• Aerial Work Platform Safety Certification
• Rough Terrain and Industrial Forklift Safety Training
• First Aid and CPR Certification
• OSHA 10- and 30-hour Construction Worker Safety and Health Training Course
• Various Hand/Power Tool Safety
• Hand Signaling
• Rigger Qualification
• Manufacturer-Specific Building Erection Training
Everyone is dealing with issues in their personal life that may affect their focus and performance on the job site. Training programs can go beyond the foundational elements of safety and machine operation. These could include:
• Health and wellness
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Psychological safety
• Soft skills training
• Employee burnout
• New manager and supervisor training
Insulated metal panel installation training. (Photo courtesy of Foundation Steel)
How Training Helps
Dan Halme, president of Halme Builders, Davenport, Wash., believes that since metal building systems are a niche installation most people in the trades do not experience an acceptable level of training unless they are working for a company substantially involved in metal building construction. “Many small companies have owners that are qualified as capable erectors and they train their employees as the work comes around, but they don’t have any consistency to training their new employees. We see new employees that have come from smaller erectors without any safety training or equipment certifications, and we, of course, get them up to speed, but employees gain so much more than compliance.
We see a vast improvement with trained and engaged employees. Jobs go better with less callbacks. Owners and architects enjoy higher quality and assurance that the metal construction is installed properly, and more importantly we as a company feel we can trust our guys to go out and perform on projects. Training gives assurance to the company without the owner of the company having to be on-site constantly to make sure everything is installed properly and safe activities are ongoing. This allows a company to grow and flourish for generations.”
Seth Collins, quality director at Dunn Building Co., Birmingham, Ala., believes training increases the field employee’s marketability. “Being able to execute at a higher level typically leads to a more fulfilling career. The skills and workmanship of employees is more than half of the product companies deliver. The more skilled the workforce, the better the company will be positioned in the market. Also, with the speed skilled workmen are retiring, the faster companies fill the skills gap, the better it will be for the industry as a whole.”
OSHA Clas Partnership Banners are an example that successful construction training has been completed. (Photo courtesy of GarVin Construction Inc.)
“Training aids our field employees by first and foremost preventing accidents,” says Scott Acton, CEO and owner of Forté Specialty Contractors, Las Vegas. “In addition to preventing accidents, it also ensures our team is more productive and efficient. We value the feedback received from our field employees because they are on the front line. Their feedback is invaluable to ensuring we are providing the proper training and safety equipment needed for them to perform their job. The proper training increases our quality every day. [This involves] training on proper installation method, and proper safety equipment such as proper usage of tethers, harnesses and rails.”
In-House vs. Off-site vs. the Internet
Both classroom and fieldwork training are important. There are many pros and cons of both, and there is no one-size-fits-all training solution. “In-house training can be streamlined to what you need,” Collins says. “Off-site training is most often put together by people who have never done the work before, or it’s so broad it wastes valuable time covering unnecessary topics.”
“In-house training can lead to a one-way mentality where companies do tasks a specific way with no awareness to new technology or methods,” says Marcus DeAngelo, project manager at C. Tucker Cope & Associates, Columbiana, Ohio. “Off-site training can enable the benefits of new technology/methods but also lead to an inferior product if resources aren’t provided to aide metal construction job-site workers. Training is not required unless specified for that specific task. Training is mainly focused in the field on-the-job training with assigned mentors concentrated on specific task. The environment set by the company has the most significant effect on metal construction job-site worker training—allocation of the time and resources to train properly.”
Boyd Worsham, president and CEO, National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), explains that it, “All depends how well everything is done and should take into account what is best for the organization and what is best for the learner. Classroom and field work are both important.”
Safety training can help employees work safely with or near job-specific hazards minimizing exposure to accidents that can cause serious injuries or death (Photo courtesy of Foundation Steel)
The internet has been instrumental in construction training. “With new technology, life and projects are both becoming more and more fast paced with tighter margins,” Collins says. “Companies are also able to spread out to work in more areas further from their home base. The day where you could schedule and organize centralized training sessions are almost gone. Thanks to online training, you can train remotely wherever the projects are taking place. Plus, with learning management systems you can streamline the document management and tracking. Online learning does not take the place of hands on; however, online training does build a knowledge base that saves valuable time allowing for training to be conducted anytime, anyplace.”
Other Operational Training
Todd Cooper, general manager of the structural and rigging division at Foundation Steel, Swanton, Ohio, explains his company relies on Journeyman Ironworker (JIW) certification for operational training. “The JIW certification process ensures that the journeyman is at least a shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) certified welder, OSHA 30 compliant, certified for hand-and-arm signals and can competently read blueprints. The local unions do an outstanding job ensuring we have qualified workers who can erect steel safely and quickly as possible. They are a one-stop shop to hire competent labor.”
Can unions really assist with operational training? “Yes, absolutely!” says Acton. “We are looking for skilled employees, not just labor-ready bodies. Unions assist with ensuring our employees are well trained with programs such as The Apprentice training program, OSHA 10s and safety.”
David Beard, president of the Ironworkers District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity, explains the Iron Workers International Union can help train metal construction workers. “Ironworkers have 154 training centers across the U.S. and Canada. We currently have 13,700 apprentices enrolled in our Department of Labor (DOL)-accredited program and thousands of journeymen taking upgrade classes. Our schools are free for the apprentices and self funded through the union. We are spending over $90 million each year on our schools. Ironworkers pride themselves on delivering world-class training to their members at no cost to contractors. We have also developed foreman, superintendent and safety supervisor training to ensure an adequate pipeline of competent leaders.”
In addition to preventing accidents, training ensures metal construction workers are more productive and efficient. (Photo courtesy of Forté Specialty Contractors)
