Construction Laborers
Construction labourers perform tasks involving physical labour at construction sites. They operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. They may also clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials and assist other craft workers.
A construction labourer role involves doing physical labour on construction sites. They operate pumps or compressors. They may prepare sites by cleaning machinery and other appliances along with the facilities and loading or unloading materials while removing hazards. A general labourer may also run some types of equipment, or put together and take apart scaffolding and other temporary structures. They also support through installing plumbing and piping. Construction labourers are essential to highway construction, building, and environmental remediation.
Job skills and qualifications of a construction labourer include the age criteria to be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license if the job entails. More than a year’s experience in construction is desirable. They must have the ability to do physical labour and other strenuous physical tasks. Workers must be punctual and reliable with excellent stamina and the ability to work in all weather.
To be a successful construction labourer you are required to read labels, safety warnings, and guidelines and pay attention to details at all times to ensure safety. As this is a high-stress job it is advisable to deal with matters calmly and accept criticism with spirit.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- NSQF Level 1 Helper Carpenter Shuttering and Scaffolding
- NSQF Level 2 Assistant Shuttering Carpenter
- NSQF Level 3 Scaffolder
Tasks
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
- Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
- Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
- Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
Progression Routes
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