A Career As An Electrician
By Tony Jacowski
Work Profile
In new building construction, the work of an electrician is to ensure that all the electrical wires and cables are properly installed. It is mandatory under the law that only qualified electricians should handle the wiring of electrically equipped buildings,
whether residential, commercial or industrial.
When installing electrical systems, electricians are required to work with blueprints that specify the locations of load centers, panel boards, circuits, outlets and other electrical equipment. Electricians have to work in conformity with the National
Electrical Code and the state and local building codes.
Nature Of Work
While installing wiring systems, electricians place conduits in the walls, partitions and concealed areas, as per instructions in the blue prints. They fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls for housing electrical switches and outlets and pull insulated
wires and cables through the conduits to complete the electrical circuits between these boxes. They join the wires and cables in the boxes using special connecters.
In course of their work, the electricians have to use tools like screwdrivers, wire strippers, hacksaws, conduit benders, knives and power tools like drills and saws. The work of electricians who specialize in maintenance consists primarily of repair and the
maintenance of electrical equipment and upgrading existing electrical systems. The actual work would vary, depending on where the electrician is employed. For example, in a home they may be required to rewire, remove an old circuit box or replace the existing
one to accommodate additional equipment and install new fans.
Maintenance electricians working in factories may need to repair transformers, generators, motors, machine tools and electronic controllers.
Working Conditions
Electricians have to work indoors and outdoors. Their work may
take them to factories, homes, offices and construction sites.
At times, the work may be physically demanding, such as bending
conduits, stooping, standing and kneeling for long hours. They
are exposed to weather conditions that at times could be quite
inhospitable. In their course of work, electricians are exposed
to the risk of injury from electrical shock, cuts and falls. To
avoid these, they have to adhere to strict safety procedures.
Weekly Working Hours
Electricians work forty hours a week, but many do work overtime.
Those attached to maintenance and repairs in factories are
required to travel to the worksites at any time of the day or
night, in case of an emergency.
Training And Qualifications
Most electricians are trained via apprentice programs that offer
a combination of on-the-job-training and classroom instruction.
The apprentice programs are sponsored by the local chapter of
Associated Builders and Contractors and the Independent
Electrical Contractor's Association or the joint training
committees, comprising of local unions of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and local chapters of the
National Electrical Contractors Association.
Applicants to the apprentice programs must be at least eighteen
years of age and possess a G.E.D. or a high school diploma.
Earnings
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004
electricians recorded median hourly earnings of $20.33. The
lowest and highest figures for the hourly earnings for
electricians were $12.18 and $33.63, respectively.
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