How to Have a Career in the Demolition Industry
By: The Working Man
Although special training is not usually required for demolition
workers because contractors will give on the job training, if you
want to specialize in blasting, heavy equipment operation or
other critical jobs you will need to have on the job and/or
vocational training.
If you want to be a demolition worker,
especially if you want to
be a blaster, you should take plenty of science and math in high
school. It is also useful to know about (better yet, have
experience with) electricity and electronics.
Most blasters begin their careers as helpers
on the blasting
crew. The experienced blasters on the crew train will their
helpers about the proper types and uses of explosives, safety
practices and the local laws about blasting. In the United States
all blasters must have a state license, and most states require
that you pass a written test and have recommendations from a
licensed blaster before you can qualify for a license.
If you want to operate heavy equipment such as
skid loaders,
bulldozers and the like, it is the same situation. Some heavy
equipment operators, also called Operating Engineers, learn "on
the job," but for most such jobs you must have a certificate from
a training course. Specialized training on the specific equipment
you will be operating is also recommended.
If you join a labor union, you probably can get further education
and training through their programs. A union is also a good way
to find a job, as unions have information about job openings and
union contractors often hire directly through the unions. Other
job sources are your state employment office, local newspapers,
and word of mouth.
You probably can find a job with a demolition contractor who will
give you "on the job" training. If you work for a union
contractor, you will have to join a union. Unions often offer
training courses and other help for their members, so you may get
more training that way and become an Operating Engineer or other
specialty. Operating Engineers can advance to more specialized
and higher paying jobs such as Crane Operator, Supervisor, or
Field Superintendent.
Earnings and Benefits for demolition workers depend on where in
the world you live and also whether you are in a labor union.
Workers in the larger cities usually have the highest pay scales,
but of course the living expenses in larger cities are often
higher as well.
The more highly skilled you are, the more you can earn.
Demolition Industry Helpers here in the United States commonly earn from
two to six dollars an hour over the minimum wage and the pay
scale goes up from there to Blasters and Crane Operators who are
among the highest paid workers in the construction industry.
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