Professional qualities of a welder. Profession welder: description, program and features of training. Welder at electron beam welding machines

A welder is a worker who welds metals.

The main goal of a welder is to join metal parts into complex structures.

The profession of a welder is usually divided into the following types:

• welders on press welding machines;
• welders at diffusion-welding installations;
• thermite welders;
• gas welders;
• welders on electron-beam welding installations;
• electric and gas welders.

Also, welders have 6 categories, which are determined based on the professional skills of specialists and their skills.

History of the profession

The profession of a welder appeared in 1802. After all, it was then that Petrov managed to discover the effect of an electric arc, which is capable of creating a very high temperature. It was so high that it even made it possible to melt the metal.

And even after a while, this method became revolutionary and remained a mass technology for joining materials.

professional holiday

The last Friday of May is the day when welders began to celebrate their professional holiday. This day was not chosen in vain, because this is the last working day of spring, and a hot summer is ahead. And in the summer, repairs and construction begin, which become possible only thanks to welding.

Welder's Day - is considered an unofficial holiday, it is not celebrated as a red day in the calendar, but in the soul of every welder it burns with a bright flame.

Pros and cons

Working as a welder is quite profitable:

• high wages, especially for welders of the highest ranks and with work experience;
• getting a higher education is not at all necessary, because secondary education is enough for this job;
• the profession is in high demand in the labor market, and the demand for it is falling, and this is due to the fact that the work of a welder is almost always needed.

But there are also negative aspects of this profession:

• dangerous and hard work, sometimes welders are forced to work at great heights, and in various extreme conditions;
• tired of her monotony;
• a strong load on the eyes, because welding takes place at a high brightness of the radiation;
• possible occurrence of certain occupational diseases.

Therefore, to work as a welder, you must not have medical contraindications.

Job Requirements

To work as a welder, you must:

• have work experience;
• a document that confirms the qualification;
• Ability to read blueprints and operate hand and power tools.

Skills in working on metal-cutting machines are welcome.

Job Responsibilities

Welder Responsibilities:

• manufacture and release high-quality products;
• work as prescribed in the technological preparation plan;
• plan the timing and scope of work;
• analyze work technologies;
• adhere to labor protection standards and a strict welding regime;
• place an order for products, material for subsequent work;
• keep the necessary records;
• assistance in the organization of work, which can increase the level of productivity.

Also, these specialists can participate in research work aimed at improving the technology and methods of work.

A responsibility

Generally, the responsibility of the welder is to:

• improper performance of their duties;
• offenses committed in the course of work;
• caused material damage;
• violation of professional discipline.

Powers of the welder

The welder has the right to:

• making proposals to management, as well as proposals regarding the prosecution of an employee who has violated discipline;
• requesting information necessary in the performance of official duties;
• familiarization with the documents that define his rights and obligations, in accordance with his position;
• familiarization with the draft decision, which was approved by the management of the organization, regarding the activities of the employee;
• assistance in providing comfortable working conditions.

Features of the profession

Who is a welder? A welder is a person with a working specialty. His activities involve working in the welding industry. This worker connects all kinds of metal structures, parts, products, containers and pipelines.

Therefore, the work of the welder must be very accurate and professional. After all, the quality of work and welding seams depend on his professionalism. Even one mistake in the work of this specialist can lead to irreparable consequences.

To protect yourself and protect your face and eyes, welders must always follow the safety measure and use special masks with tinted lenses. This mask allows you to suppress the bright flames and sparks that workers have to face.

Our century is the era of new technologies, which is based on metal. It is used almost everywhere. Life, industry, construction and many other areas need it.

Experts in this industry are very valuable, because welding work will always be needed.

Professional skills and abilities

Career guidance can provide invaluable assistance in choosing a profession. But if you are already sure that you want to become a welder, then you need to know:

• electrical engineering, metal appearance technology;
• gas properties;
• methods and principles of operation of the equipment used;
• instructions for labor protection and safety;
• chemistry, physics.

Every day, workers perform welding work and are exposed to various kinds of hazards: injury, damage to the eyes, hearing organs, lungs, as well as the threat of electric shock.

In general, welders get injured as a result of neglecting safety precautions. To avoid this, you must strictly adhere to safety regulations.

Personal qualities of a welder

Each welder should be characterized by attentiveness, accuracy, diligence and perseverance - these are the main whales on which the profession is based.

Physical endurance will also come in handy, because work as a welder can be carried out in dangerous and extreme conditions: at height, on a fragile surface, in rain and snowstorms.

And the ability to be able to focus attention is one of the most important qualities, because work requires concentration and caution.

The specialist must also be endowed with endurance, excellent eyesight and flexible legs and arms - this is required in order to make the work process easier and more efficient.

The profession requires balance and patience, because situations can be very different, and by showing these qualities, you can resolve any problem.

Welding career

The profession of a welder is considered to be quite in demand and relevant today.

And although it does not differ in prestige, but career growth is observed.

There are a huge number of opportunities to move up the career ladder.

Young professionals who gain work experience can already take on more serious assignments and work in this area.

Having set a goal, a specialist can easily take leadership positions.

Places of work

There is no shortage of welder vacancies in our time. They can easily find work in:

• private organizations;
• service areas;
• housing and communal services;
• construction sites;
• auto repair shops;
• organizations providing means of communication;
• industrial plants and factories.

Sometimes welders are asked to travel for a period of time, from 20 to 50 days, to work on sites where there is a shortage of specialists in this field.

Welder - a worker, a specialist in welding production.

A welder is a responsible, almost virtuoso profession, on the quality of which many things depend - the durability and stability of building structures, the operation and service life of various equipment.

Welding is used in many industries. Welders work on construction sites, creating structures and systems of various communications, in industry, where they apply their experience and skills in mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and other areas, such as energy, oil refining, agriculture. It is difficult to name such a segment of production where the labor of a welder would not be used.

A welder, as a profession, is divided into several specializations: a manual arc welder, a gas welder, an operator of automatic welding machines. Workers of all these specialties are engaged in one thing - the connection of metal structures, complex apparatus, parts, assemblies by the method of metal fusion. The quality of the welds depends on the skill of the welders. Any mistakes, negligence made in the work can lead to catastrophic consequences. It is scary to think what poor-quality work on welding oil or gas pipelines could lead to. A professional welder must know electrical engineering, the technology of melting metals, the properties of gases used for anti-oxidation, the methods and principles of operation of the units and equipment used. Compliance with safety regulations and industrial sanitation is of great importance.

Working conditions:

Works both indoors and outdoors. It is possible to perform work at height and in very uncomfortable and dangerous positions. Great load on the musculoskeletal and visual apparatus. To protect against thermal and light radiation, he uses overalls and a mask (shield) with protective light filters. The mode of operation is mainly two-shift. The pace of work is free. The profession has 1-6 digits.

The advantages of the profession include prestige and high demand in the labor market, both in the public sector of the economy and in the private sector. Young specialists who have just graduated from college will not have to look for work for a long time - she finds them herself. Welders without experience are willingly accepted into housing and communal services, into private organizations in the service sector. With the acquisition of experience, they are entrusted with more responsible affairs and work in industry, at construction sites. Accordingly, the salary increases.
The disadvantages of the profession are difficult working conditions, work on open construction sites in any weather, a large load on vision due to the high brightness of the electric arc, infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Electric welders belong to the professions of the "hot shop" due to the high hazard of production due to the large release of gases and heat during welding.

Personal qualities:

Physical strength and endurance. Visual acuity and color perception. Flexibility, mobility of arms, legs and whole body. Developed vestibular apparatus. The ability to focus for a long time. Good hand-eye coordination. Spatial imagination and technical thinking. Accuracy. Equilibrium.

Education:

You can learn the profession of a welder in vocational schools and colleges. Training is carried out for 3 years on the basis of 9 classes and 2 years on the basis of 11 classes in the specialties "welder of electric welding and gas welding works" and "adjuster of welding and gas plasma cutting equipment".

Medical restrictions:

Cardiovascular diseases. Diseases of the respiratory organs. Disorders in the work of the musculoskeletal system (sciatica, osteochondrosis ...). Mental illnesses and disorders of the nervous system. Irritability. Allergic diseases. Severe visual and hearing impairments

Areas of use:

Manufacturing enterprises, factories, laboratories for the development and testing of new production samples, construction.

Welding work is required in almost any production, and there are very few young craftsmen. Therefore, the salaries of welders are high: yesterday's college graduate earns a little, a welder with experience earns more. During the production practice in the third year, students are paid a salary. But even the prospect of getting good money for some reason does not impress the guys who choose more fashionable and at the same time less demanded professions.

The level of salaries, depending on the place of work, is very different; when performing the same order, you can receive completely different money. In the housing and communal sector today, perhaps, the lowest wages, the most generous - the oil and gas industry.

Back forward

Attention! The slide preview is for informational purposes only and may not represent the full extent of the presentation. If you are interested in this work, please download the full version.

Equipment: computer, multimedia projector, handouts.

Event goals:

• formation of an idea about the development of the welding process, about the further prospects for the development of metal welding technology,
• development of students' cognitive interest, logical thinking by systematizing facts, observation, cognitive activity, the ability to draw conclusions, speech development,
• development of communication competencies.

Methods: explanatory and illustrative.

Forms: frontal, group.

Event progress

Introduction

1. Greetings
2. Motivation

Welder

He is in a blue suit
And blue glasses
He is blue lightning
Holds in hands.
She is alive:
Moveable, strong.
See how furiously she Beats!
Here she was silent
calmed down
curled up into a ball,
And the welder touched her
wiring,
And lightning flashed
golden stars,
Like a firebird
Straightened her tail!

(Slide #1-4)

Board design: statements about welding, about the profession “Welder”, proverbs about metals. (Attachment 1)

It is safe to say that welding today is one of the foundations of human development. The work of a welder is almost an art. An experienced craftsman, like a sculptor, creates metal products of complex shape: from a water supply system to restoring the geometry of a car body. (Cartoon about a welder)

And, of course, a logical question arises: When did welding appear? When did people learn to connect refractory materials together? Maybe 50-100 years ago? Or is it one of the newest discoveries of mankind? We will try to understand this issue and consider the history of the development of welding. (Slide number 5-7)

Student messages:

Message No. 1 The history of the profession "Welder" began with the discovery by the Russian academician Vasily Petrov in 1802 of the effect of an electric arc that arose between two carbon rods when a current passed through them. Due to the very high temperature of the arc, it became possible to melt metals. Welding was carried out with a direct current electric arc burning between the carbon electrode and the metal, using a filler wire. This method of welding N.N. Bernados named it "electrohephaestus" after the ancient Greek god of blacksmithing. In 1888, Russian engineer N.G. Slavyanov improved the method of manual arc welding by replacing the carbon electrode with a metal one.

Message No. 2 The method of permanent connection of parts has been known since ancient times. People red-hot the edges of metal rods and with hammer blows connected them into one whole. This welding method is well known today under the name of forge welding. It is believed that the word "welding" comes from the name of the Slavic god of blacksmithing Svarog. In ancient Russia, ring-shaped ornaments were welded, they knew how to weld glass bracelets, and in the 16th century, guns were made by welding from individual rings forged from iron.

Message No. 3 The technological process of welding developed in the Middle Ages. An example of this is the huge cannon Dol Grayet, created in 1382. The cannon was a forged pipe, which was reinforced with external metal hoops, attached to it using forge welding. This method of manufacturing artillery pieces was used all over the world. The largest examples of such cannons were made in the 16th century in India. The weight of the guns was more than 50 tons, and the total length was more than 9 meters.

Message No. 4 The method of obtaining solid metal structures by welding and soldering came to us from ancient times. Proof of this are gold jewelry with tin soldering, which were found during excavations in the Egyptian pyramids and lead water pipes with a transverse soldered seam, which were found during excavations in the Italian city of Pompeii.

Message No. 5 Most of the ancient buildings provided for the presence of a powerful supporting structure made of stone, and wooden beams were used as beams and crossbeams. However, in some cases, when creating especially large structures, nodes were needed that worked in tension. To create them, metal anchors were used, made by forge welding or forging. In Venice, the arcades of the Doge's Palace were supported by steel anchors, and this was not just an architectural excess, but a necessity. Most of the buildings of the Renaissance period contained steel welded joints of the supporting structures. This was the beginning of the use of welding as an obligatory process in the creation of various structures.

It would seem that what could be curious in such a completely earthly and mundane process as metal welding? And yet, you will be surprised to learn how many interesting facts are known about metals, alloys and welding. (Slide number 8-10)

Message #6 Did you know that the highest temperature in welding work is 5000°C? Such monstrous heating is necessary for melting steels with a high level of heat resistance.

Welding is a long and painstaking task. An example of this is the colossal statue of the Motherland in Kyiv, which took more than 30 kilometers of welds to create. The total weight of the statue is 450 tons, consisting entirely of all-welded metal!

Today in Russia there is a statue dedicated to the welder, and this is not surprising, given that the first welding workshop appeared in Perm as early as 1883. In those distant times, an electric arc and a consumable electrode were already used to work on connecting or disconnecting two metal plates.

Speaking of colossal welded structures, one cannot fail to mention the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. This metal monster, as the Parisians themselves spoke unflatteringly about it in 1889, consists of 9441 tons and approximately 18038 parts of magnificent wrought iron. The height of the tower is 324 meters, so at the time of its installation, the Eiffel Tower was rightfully considered the tallest building in the world.

Another curious fact, not only from the point of view of working with metals, but also from the point of view of medicine, is that in no case should you look at welding. Probably, everyone in childhood heard warnings from adults: “Do not look at welding, otherwise you will go blind.” And indeed it is. However, damage to the eyes is not caused by visible light or sparks, but by ultraviolet rays. They have a devastating effect on the retina. So if you look at welding for a long time, you can really get burned and partially or even completely lose your sight. Therefore, for safety reasons, never look at the welding process unless your eyes are protected by a special construction mask screen!

Technical professions are often considered uncreative, monotonous and boring. We do not agree with this! There is a place for art in technical professions! Look only at the monuments dedicated to welders. They are not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine, Germany and Finland. (Slide #11-22)

Many outstanding scientists were involved in the development of welding technologies. (Slide #23-28)

Welding is necessary both in everyday life and in such complex work as the creation of spacecraft to launch satellites, ships, probes and other objects both in orbit and to distant stars. In order to make all this possible, special welding methods are used. For example, it is known that unoxidized metals and alloys in outer space begin to stick together.

Message #7: Underwater Welding. During the war, the use of underwater welding became a necessity. This method was used to repair the underwater parts of bridges and ships, and welding on the high seas was also used in emergency and rescue work. In 1931, at the Moscow Electromechanical Institute of Railway Engineers under the guidance of Academician K.K. For the first time in the world, underwater arc welding was carried out. Special electrodes were made for this purpose. However, back in 1856, L.I. Shpakovsky was the first to conduct an experiment on melting copper electrodes immersed in water with an arc. On the advice of D.A. Lachinov, who received an underwater arc, N.N. Benardos in 1887 made underwater metal cutting. It took 45 years for the first honey mushroom to receive a scientific justification and turn into a method. The technique of making welded joints under water by a diver-welder is more complicated than in air. This is due to poor visibility in the water, tightness, heavy and inconvenient diving equipment, the need for additional costs to overcome the current, the possibility of a violation of the stability of the welder on the ground, the inability of the human body to work at great depths. In this regard, defects are often observed in welded joints: lack of penetration of one of the edges, undercuts, sagging, pores, etc. (Slide number 29)

Message #8: Welding in space. And on October 16, 1969, an electric arc broke out into space for the first time. Cosmonauts Georgy Stepanovich Shonin and Valery Nikolayevich Kubasov were the first to conduct welding in space on the Soyuz-6 spacecraft. S.P. As early as 1965, Korolev expressed the idea of ​​the need to carry out welding and cutting work in space. These processes needed to be mastered for practical purposes, but at the same time it was not yet known to what extent the welding process in space differs from the same process on Earth. This question had to be resolved by the astronauts.

It was known that the main difference between cosmic and terrestrial conditions was, of course, first of all, weightlessness, as well as a wide range of temperatures at which the welded product can be located, and deep vacuum with a practically unlimited rate of diffusion of gases from the welding zone.

Of course, the possibilities of welding in space are also limited: the suit interferes, in addition, the safety requirements for welding are much higher.

(Slide number 30)

Demonstration of films “Welding under water”, “Friction welding”.

The use of iron dates back many centuries, but the real invasion of iron into technology occurred at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Speaking of iron, it is worth noting that this is one of the most common elements not only on Earth, but also in the Universe. (Slide #31-44)

Message #9: Use of Iron

In 1818 the first iron ship Vulkan was launched. Four years later, in 1822, the first iron steamer, also created in England, began to run between London and Paris.

The first railway was put into operation in England in 1825, and in Russia the first St. Petersburg - Tsarskoye Selo railway began operating in 1837.

Iron for the manufacture of metal structures until the 17th century. was produced in Russia in small quantities in a handicraft way. In 1698, by decree of Peter I, the first state metallurgical plant was founded in Nevyansk, which marked the beginning of industrial metallurgy.

Iron elements of building structures in the form of fasteners for the perception of the expansion of stone vaults began to be used in the XII-XIV centuries. (Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, XII century).

In the 17th century the first load-bearing iron structures appear in the form of dome frames (Ivan the Great Bell Tower in Moscow, 1600) and iron rafters (the ceiling of the Archangel Cathedral in Moscow, the ceiling above the refectory of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad).

In the XVIII century. the process of casting iron for construction purposes was mastered and cast-iron load-bearing structures were introduced. The first cast-iron bridge in Russia was built in 1784 in the park of Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg, 5 years after the construction of the world's first cast-iron bridge across the river. Severn in England.

A welder is a responsible, almost virtuoso profession, a lot depends on the quality of his work - the durability and stability of building structures, the operation and service life of various equipment. By the way, the profession of a welder is one of the ten most demanded professions in the labor market. There will always be a demand for this specialty.

Currently in Russia, there are several levels of training for welders.

3-4 rank of a welder is assigned after graduating from a professional college or completing courses. This level implies knowledge of the main types of welding, high-quality performance of the simplest types of welding. As a rule, 3-4 grade welders are professionals in the field of manual and arc welding.

The 5th category of a welder allows welding of complex assemblies and parts, and can also carry out welding of elements under pressure. The ability to weld under the action of an electron beam is added to manual and arc welding. A master of this class is able to independently carry out work related to multi-position equipment, and can also offer services for welding vacuum-tight joints.

The 6th category of a welder allows a welder to perform any type of work with gas and oil pipelines, independently cope with parts and welding work of any complexity. 6th category is a guarantee of the highest class of professionalism and skill.

There are welders who are convinced that in practice, practice is everything, theory is nothing. But if you do something, you need to know what do, why do and how do.

Test

The work is done on sheets of paper.

1. On the board - symbols: ? Yes; ? Not; - I do not know
2. The teacher reads the following statements. Students either agree or they don't. If they do not know the correct answer, draw the corresponding sign (horizontal line)
3. The students have a drawing on the sheets: (Annex 2)
4. The highest temperature during welding work is 1 thousand ° C (no) 5000 ° C
5. The first welding workshop appeared in Perm back in 1883 (yes)
6. The height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris is 324 meters, so at the time of its installation, the tower was rightfully considered the tallest building in the world (9441 tons and approximately 18.038 pieces of wrought iron) (yes)
7. Aluminum is one of the most common elements not only on Earth, but also in the Universe (no) (iron)
8. If you look at welding for a long time, you can really get burned and partially, or even completely lose your sight (yes) (mask)
9. 3-4 rank welder allows welding under water (no)
10. Luka Ivanovich Borchaninov - worker, one of the first welders in Russia (yes)
11. Evgeny Oskarovich Paton is an outstanding Soviet engineer and scientist in the field of welding and bridge building. He made a significant contribution to increasing the production of T-34 tanks during the war years (yes)
12. Valery Nikolaevich Kubasov - Soviet cosmonaut, the first in the world to conduct welding work in space (yes)
13. The first railway was put into operation in England in 1996 (no) (in 1825, and in Russia Petersburg - Tsarskoye Selo in 1837)

Reflection

1. I worked at the event

• passive / active

2. With my work I

• Satisfied / dissatisfied

3. The event seemed to me

• short / long

4. For the event I

• not tired / tired

5. My mood

• Improved / worsened

6. The material was me

• understandable / incomprehensible
• Useful / unnecessary
• interesting / boring
• light / heavy

Such a complex, such a masculine profession as a welder requires a lot of experience. But what? What does a welder do? What does he do and what types of work does he do?

Welder is a working specialty that practices welding. A profession of great responsibility. The strength of metal structures, their long-term service and safety of operation depend on the work of the welder.

What does a welder do?

The work that a welder does is very much in demand in the modern world, and modern industry cannot do without welding. Welders work on construction sites, welding entire buildings and premises, in mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and other industries, such as energy and oil refining areas, as well as in agriculture. There are practically no such industries where there would be no need for welding.

What a welder does depends on the specialization. The profession of a welder is divided into several specialties: arc welders, gas welders, argon welding professionals, automatic welding machine control specialists. All these types of welding professions have one goal - a high-quality connection of metal parts to each other. Any mistake, inaccuracy or hack can be a disaster.

What kind of work does a welder do?

So, what kind of work does a welder do? Welders - professionals carry out work on the connection (welding) of metal or plastic structures, various fittings and parts, etc. They weld building units, workpieces to each other, and adjust welding machines. Each welder must choose the right welding method for each individual case, control the position of the torch and its power, and also determine the diameter of the filler material. During work, the welder is responsible for the quality of the formed connecting weld, and he is also obliged to heat treat the welded joint after work.

To understand the essence of the profession of a welder, you need to know about the types of his work. What types of welder jobs exist in our time?

• Arc electronic welding - this type of work of a welder assumes that the specialist uses manual control of metal electrodes. Arc welding is very popular for its lightness and mobility. Has the ability to work in hard-to-reach places. Electricity also has its downsides. She does not have serious productivity, the work is very dependent on how well the seam is laid and what skill the welder has.
• Plasma welding - this type of welder's work is carried out using a controlled jet of plasma, which has a huge temperature. Advantages - it is used for all metal products in any form, it has good power for work, there is no sensitivity to arc changes, various cutting depths, high welding speed. A plasma beam not only cooks metal, but also cuts it. If compared with laser welding, then plasma is easy to use.
• Gas welding is a type of work of a welder, which assumes that during welding, acetylene and oxygen interact, a fire is formed that cuts and melts the metal. The strength of the flame beam is determined by the thickness of the working material and the melting temperature - the higher these parameters, the stronger the fire jet should be. The main advantages of such welding are communication skills and independence from electricity. Cons - the thermal effect is greatly increased, plus low efficiency. Gas welding is a weak competitor even to electronic welding, and therefore is rarely used in industry. Although at the household level, it is still used in public utilities (ZHEK).
• Electroslag welding - the welder does the same job, but by forming a large and deep weld on metal of any thickness. Moreover, it will not be necessary to clean up the slag and set up the welding equipment in a new way before working in another area. But electroslag welding works only vertically and on material whose thickness exceeds 16 mm.
• Welding work using electron beam welding - it is not difficult to guess what the welder is doing, but in this case the metal is melted under the influence of electrons moving in a vacuum at high speed, which protects the hot metal from the influence of air. Also, this method quickly removes the oxide film and this improves the efficiency of welding and welding joints.
• Laser welding - is the work of point impact on the metal with a laser beam, which instantly melts it. Such welding has the speed, clarity, accuracy of welding, as well as rapid cooling of the seam, minimal deformation of the working material and impeccable quality. The disadvantages of this welding include the fact that its control is rather complicated, because in our time a full-fledged theoretical calculation model has not yet been created.

What a welder does is easier to understand on what is the contribution of welders to the construction of the modern world. From construction to racing car manufacturing to heavy industry, welders are needed everywhere who can weld metal structures and materials to the right quality. Such a master undergoes special training and practical work, after which he receives the appropriate certificate.

Manual arc and electric arc welding is a method of joining metal elements by thermally fusing the joints of a product with a special hand tool. This technology is used in all areas that require working with metal - in the construction of buildings and bridges, in the laying of pipes and heating mains, energy, automotive and shipbuilding industries, in the production and repair of any large and small metal products. Even in art and sculpture, welding technologies are often used. Recently, argon-arc welding has become more and more popular, allowing you to work with low-alloy and stainless steels, cast iron and non-ferrous metals: copper, aluminum, nickel, titanium, silver, etc.

A specialist who performs welding work is called a welder. This profession, depending on the welding technique and the tools used to fuse metals, is divided into several specializations:

• welder of manual arc welding (electric welder);
• gas welder (gas welder);
• argon arc welding welder (argon electric welder);
• automatic welding machine operator, etc.

The profession of a welder owes its origin to the Russian electrical physicist Vasily Petrov, who in 1802 discovered the effect of an electric arc that creates a high temperature between two carbon electrodes, although this discovery did not immediately find practical application in industry. But after a few decades, the electric arc method of joining steels and metals made a real revolution, and began to be used everywhere in industry and construction. This effect made it possible to melt the joints of metals for their simultaneous connection using a weld.

Skills and specifics of the work of an electric welder

Due to the high demand for welding work in any field, specialists in the field of manual welding do not experience difficulties in finding a job. However, this profession involves high responsibility, a serious approach and the desire to perform work at the highest level. The quality of welds is one of the decisive conditions for the strength, reliability, durability and safety of metal structures, so the cost of mistakes is especially high here. Any shortcomings, negligence and connivance in work can lead to serious and even catastrophic consequences, especially when it comes to the construction of buildings and bridges, welding of oil and gas pipelines, mechanical engineering.

Therefore, a professional welder must know not only the technology for performing a certain welding method and methods for testing welds, but also have a good knowledge base about the physics of thermal processes, electrical engineering, chemical, physical and thermal properties of various metals and alloys. In addition, it is extremely important to know the safety of welding and fire safety. With narrower specializations, it is necessary to study the properties of active and inert gases used for anti-oxidation, to master the methods and principles of operation of tools used for welding, argon-arc and electric arc equipment.

Among personal qualities, it is important to note high responsibility, attention to detail, good eyesight, a certain perfectionism and the desire to improve one's skills, readiness for physical exertion, the ability to quickly respond to emergency situations, a serious attitude to safety and strict compliance with the smallest requirements. This work is dangerous, and it is these qualities that will help not only to perform their tasks efficiently, but also to protect yourself and others from serious harm to health and life.

Job description of a welder

The duties of welders depend on the scope and specifics of the work, the techniques and equipment used, the category of specialists and the individual requirements of each individual employer. In its most general form, the job description of a welder may contain the following duties:

1. Manual arc / argon-arc / plasma welding of medium complexity of parts of assemblies, apparatuses, pipelines and other structures made of structural steels, non-ferrous metals and alloys.
2. Welding of complex elements made of carbon and special steels in various spatial positions of welds (including / excluding ceiling).
3. Manual oxygen cutting and planing of complex parts made of high-carbon, low-carbon and other special steels, non-ferrous metals, as well as welding of cast iron structures.
4. Fusion of heated pipes and cylinders, defects in parts of mechanisms and structures.
5. Fusion of various complex parts, assemblies and tools, worn parts.
6. Reading drawings and diagrams of complex welded metal structures.

Prospects and advantages of the profession

In order to become a sought-after and highly paid specialist, you need to constantly improve your skills and improve your professional skills. This means that an electric welder needs to take advanced training courses and receive a higher professional rank in order to increase his value in the labor market. Work with oil and gas pipelines, to which only specialists with the highest rank are allowed, often requires separate training. The higher the professional level of a welder, the more professional opportunities and advantages he has.

• 3rd categoryassigned to the welder immediately after graduation. This level implies knowledge of the main types of welding and practical skills in performing the simplest welding work - usually manual and arc welding.
• 5th categoryallows you to weld complex assemblies and parts, as well as elements under pressure, work with multi-position equipment and weld vacuum-tight joints.
• 6th category- an indicator of the highest class and welding skill, allows you to work with parts and welding techniques of any complexity, including work on gas and oil pipelines.

Benefits of being a welder:

• High demand for the profession in various industries and regions;
• Opportunity to find a job even without experience - young professionals immediately after training are willingly hired to work in the housing and communal services sector;
• In the case of highly qualified welding specialists, it is not just about being in demand, but about an acute shortage of professionals in the market;
• As of May 18, 2014, 1161 vacancies were registered in Moscow at the request of "electric welder";
• The average salary of a welder in Moscow, according to the Yandex.Job service, is 37,000 rubles, but the statistics are affected by the availability of vacancies for one-time jobs, in reality the average is higher - about 55,000 rubles;
• The maximum salaries for welders are offered by the oil and gas industry - they can reach 120,000 - 150,000 rubles per month;
• A number of welding specialists are entitled to special pension conditions and additional paid leave.

Disadvantages of being a welder:

• The profession of an electric welder belongs to dangerous types of work - after all, the temperature at the tip of the welding electrode can reach 5000 degrees Celsius, which exceeds the melting point of any existing metals.
• The working conditions of a welder can be difficult, especially when working at height, in extreme conditions or under the influence of various adverse weather factors;
• Due to the strong brightness of the radiation of the electric arc, welding puts a lot of strain on vision, and can provoke the development of electrophthalmos disease. It is necessary to observe all safety and eye protection measures, using a mask with tinted glass;
• Other occupational diseases may occur due to the inhalation of industrial dust (bronchial asthma, pneumoconiosis).

Compensation for harmful working conditions of an electric welder - early retirement and additional leave

Due to harmful and dangerous working conditions, electric welders who work in such conditions for at least 80% of the time may be entitled to additional paid leave annually. This right is regulated by article number 117 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. To determine the compliance of working conditions with the specified requirements, the enterprise undergoes a special assessment of working conditions (previously - certification). According to the rules, electric welders or electric and gas welders working indoors (or other harmful conditions) are entitled, in addition to the main vacation of 28 calendar days, to an additional vacation of 14 calendar days. At the same time, for welders working outdoors, 7 additional calendar days are added to the 28 days of the main vacation.

Federal Law No. 173-FZ "On labor pensions in the Russian Federation" of 2001 determines the right to an early old-age labor pension when working with difficult, dangerous and harmful working conditions. The list of relevant professions and industries is established in accordance with Lists No. 1 and No. 2, approved by Decree No. 10 of the USSR Cabinet of Ministers of January 26, 1991.

According to List No. 2, this right is granted to:

• gas cutters;
• electric welders of manual welding and automatic / semi-automatic machines performing welding in a carbon dioxide environment;
• gas electric welders engaged in manual and semi-automatic welding;
• some other welding professionals.

The right of these specialists to early retirement is valid if they were engaged in the performance of the work specified in the lists of at least 80% of their working time.

Representatives of these specialties can retire by age for 5 years earlier than generally established conditions. Early retirement pension in connection with harmful working conditions is assigned: women at 50, a men - at 55 years old, in the event that they have worked in hazardous / difficult conditions for at least 10 and 12.5 years, respectively, and their total insurance experience was at least 20 and 25 years. Electric welders of manual welding and semi-automatic welding are entitled to early retirement without any additional conditions. Automatic / semi-automatic electric welding in an argon environment does not give the right to early retirement under List No. 2. However, when working in particularly difficult / dangerous conditions, preferential retirement can be established according to List No. 1 if the welder worked in the industries included in this list.

Training of electric welders and electric argon welders

To start independent work, specialists in electric arc and argon arc welding need only 3 qualification categories, which can be obtained upon completion of short-term professional courses. The training center "101 courses" provides full-fledged theoretical and practical training from scratch for working specialties in the following areas:

• Courses for electric welders - 32 academic hours of theory and 16 academic hours of practice;
• Courses for electric and argon welders - 40 academic hours of theory and 32 academic hours of practice.

Graduates receive a state-recognized certificate with the appropriate qualifications. If necessary, the center provides assistance in finding employment. Additionally, after training, you can get a fire safety certificate and a Welder Certification Certificate.