Some safety risks are far more obvious than others. A welding flame, for instance, is easy for the naked eye to spot, and measures are consciously and subconsciously taken to avoid getting in direct contact with it. Welding fumes aren’t as obvious, but there are lots of steps which can be taken to ensure that a workspace remains safe and healthy.

Depending on a variety of different factors, welding can produce iron, manganese, nickel, zinc and many other types of fume particles. Poorly skilled welders put themselves at risk of illness by using ineffective techniques in unsuitable welding environments. Here is a useful guide on how to maintain good health throughout the process.

Different Types of Welding Produce Varying Fume Levels

Welding fumes are even smaller than common dust particles, and come from welding consumables and base metal materials. Students in welder school learn that the welding technique they use has a big impact on the amount of fumes produced. Submerged arc and resistance welding are among the low risk options, while flux core and arc gouging produce some of the highest amounts of fumes.

Fume safety plays a big part in a welder’s wellbeing

The type of fume particle also differs based on what types of metals are being used. Iron and manganese are usually by-products of mild steel welding, while chromium and nickel are often produced when working with stainless steel. Of course, it may not always be possible to choose a safer welding technique, but it should nevertheless be a consideration before the start of a project.

Ventilation Should Always be Considered After Electric Arc Welder Training

Just like the chimney or vents in a house, there should always be an easy escape route for fumes created in a welding workspace. Take the opportunity to carry out welding projects outside where possible. However, this may not be practical at all times, so make sure that adequate airflow is allowed into the building when working indoors.

Ventilation is vital in a welding workspace. Vents can be built into the walls, doors or windows, but local exhaust ventilation is a modern way to remove dangerous fumes much closer to the source. These units are like vacuums which can be placed close to the welding workspace. This creates a far more pleasant working environment, allowing you to maintain concentration throughout the welding process.

Follow Professional Best Practices During Welding Projects

Welders should pay attention to the positioning of their head while carrying out work. Make sure that it’s kept out of direct contact with fumes so that these particles are not being breathed in. This is a particularly common problem when welders work in a crouched position. If possible, sit down while carrying out welding work. This reduces the possibility of fumes entering the breathing zone. Electric arc welder training is a great time to develop correct safety techniques and good habits which can be carried through your career.

Welding in a crouched position can be hazardous

Protection equipment is also an important part of a welder’s toolkit. Respirators can be worn over the mouth and nose, to prevent the inhalation of dangerous fumes. They can come in many shapes and sizes, so welders need to make sure that they find an option which is both comfortable and effective.

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Training to become an electrician opens up a large array of career opportunities. That’s because electricians are required in just about every industry, and electrical systems themselves can be quite complex. As a result, a number of specializations within the electrical field are available after your studies, many of which are in high demand and pay a high salary.

While there are many specializations you can focus on as an electrician, here we’ll look at just three popular ones. These career paths, which all have their own various sub-specializations, are a great indication of the variety of work you can find as an electrician.

Maintenance Electrician Training Can Prepare You for Work on Electric Motors

As an electrician, you can focus on working on electric motors. People who work on electric motors go by many different job titles, including electric motor repairperson, electric motor systems technician, and winder electrician. In any of these positions, you’ll be the one who repairs and maintains electrical motors and equipment.

Because motors are utilized in so many different industries, your electric motor systems technician career can take you down many different sub-specializations. For example, you could focus on repairing electric generators at homes and businesses, or you could be employed at a factory where you could help troubleshoot electrical equipment breakdowns on assembly lines.

As a Construction Electrician You’ll Get to Install New Electrical Systems

A common career path that you can pursue after training is that of a construction electrician. Construction electricians, as their name implies, are the electricians who do electrical work during the construction and renovation of buildings. They are responsible for laying out and installing electrical systems for new buildings, which means they are typically hands-on people and practical problem solvers.

Construction electricians install electrical systems in new and renovated buildings

If you become a construction electrician, you can also specialize in various sub areas. For example, some construction electricians focus on installing security systems, while other construction electricians focus on industrial or commercial systems. Being a construction electrician tends to be a physically demanding job, and you may also be required to work outside from time to time. However, there’s a lot of variety in this job, which can make it fun and rewarding.

Become a Maintenance Electrician or Electrical Technician to Focus on Troubleshooting

Maintenance electricians and electrical technicians are the professionals responsible for troubleshooting problems with an existing electrical system. Unlike construction electricians, they typically don’t design or install electrical systems themselves. Instead, they focus on maintaining an existing electrical system or they may focus on one specific aspect of that system. For example, industrial and manufacturing sites have complicated electrical systems, so a maintenance electrician may focus on just one area at a particular site while other maintenance electricians at the same site might focus on different components of the same electrical system.

If you become a maintenance electrician or electrical technician, you may work at one site, such as an office building or manufacturing plant, or for a single company. Many maintenance electricians are also hired by municipalities and utility companies. You also have the option of working independently and helping maintain electrical systems at different residences and businesses.

Maintenance electricians are often employed at single sites, such as factories and office buildings

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Ontario’s population is growing, and high housing prices are encouraging people to renovate their homes rather than buy new ones—which means now a great time to begin your home renovation business. When done right, running your own home renovation business can be highly lucrative and it gives you the chance to be in charge of your career path.

If you’re thinking about starting a business after home renovation school, you need to make sure you have a plan in place for doing so. Let’s take a look at a few of the steps you should take to help ensure your home renovation business has the best chance of succeeding.

Use Your Home Renovation Training to Decide What Services You Will Offer

The first step you need to take is to decide what services your business is going to offer. Some home renovation businesses offer a wide array of services, like complete home renovations, which require you (and your employees) to have a broad skill set. However, you might want to focus on more specialized renovation projects, like bathroom remodels and kitchen renovations, for example.

In either case, home renovation training will help prepare you by covering a large number of different skills, such as plumbing, electrical, flooring, and drywall. By learning all of these skills during your training, you’ll be well positioned to decide whether you want to focus on a single area of expertise or offer more wide-ranging services.

Get the Proper Licences and Pay Attention to Regulations Affecting Home Renovators

Construction is a highly regulated industry and chances are you will need at least a few licences before getting started. For example, if you are doing plumbing work in Toronto, you will need a plumbing contractor licence. You may also have to register your business name and, if you are incorporating, you will need to file Articles of Incorporation. You will likely also need to register with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and ensure that your business is protected with liability insurance.

Talk to Others in Home Renovation School for Help Finding Employees

When you’re starting out, you may just be a one-person operation. Given that your home renovation training will have prepared you for a number of different home renovation skills, it’s certainly possible to begin your business as a sole proprietorship with no employees other than yourself. However, if you plan on taking on complex projects, or if your business begins to grow, then you will either need to hire employees or find qualified subcontractors.

Word-of-mouth is often the best way to find reputable employees and subcontractors. Reach out to your classmates and teachers from home renovation school, for example, to see if they would be able to recommend anyone. Don’t forget to make sure all employees or subcontractors you hire are covered by the workplace insurance that is mandatory for them.

Talk to classmates from home renovation school for recommendations about potential employees

Marketing Should be a Top Priority for Any Home Renovation Business Owner

Most homeowners will only trust their home renovation project to a contractor or subcontractor who has an excellent reputation. When you’re just starting out, building a reputation can be challenging. Fortunately, digital marketing can help. Be sure you have a website and that your company is listed on all the major online review sites, like Angie’s List, Yelp, and Google My Business. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews of your business on these sites as positive reviews will strengthen your reputation and give you more online visibility.

Starting a blog where you provide home renovation tips is another great marketing idea. A blog helps establish you as an expert in your field, which in turn can lead to homeowners trusting you with their home renovation projects.

Digital marketing is a great way to build your home renovation business’ reputation and visibility

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As a maintenance electrician, you could find yourself handling a wide variety of jobs, from installing home electrical systems to diagnosing and repairing electrical malfunctions in industrial machinery. But whether you’re on the factory floor or a residential construction site, there are some tools that are essential for every electrician.

When investing in your first set of tools, it’s important to do some research. You don’t necessarily need the most expensive equipment, but you should make sure to buy the best possible product for the budget you have. These tools are likely to stay in your kit for a long time to come, so it’s worth making sure that they’re reliable, durable, and effective. You don’t want to be replacing parts constantly or having an important tool fail on the job. In the long run, a good set of tools will save you both time and money.

Tools for Cutting, Gripping, and Stripping Wires

Pliers are one of the most basic and commonly used tools in an electrician’s kit. You’ll need both side-cutting or diagonal pliers, for cutting wire, and needle-nosed pliers for gripping, pulling, and twisting. One thing pliers can’t do, though, is remove the insulation from wires, so you’ll also need a pair of wire strippers that can accommodate a wide range of wire gauges. These should all have comfortable grips and smooth mechanical motion, and like all of your tools, they should have insulated handles.

To remove the insulation from electrical wires, you’ll need a wire stripper

Protecting Your Safety With a Non-Contact Voltage Tester

After you finish construction school, you’ll want a good non-contact voltage tester to keep you safe on the jobsite. These handy, portable tools can detect an AC current without making direct contact with the source, even through standard wiring insulation. A simple pen-style option that you can keep with you at all times is ideal, and can usually be found for under twenty dollars. These tools are indispensible for keeping you safe on the job and avoiding accidental shocks, so reliability is the most important factor when considering which model to buy.

To Diagnose Electrical Issues, You’ll Need a Multimeter

A voltage tester is sufficient for telling you whether or not a wire or device is live, but for a more detailed reading, you’ll need a multimeter. These tools are used frequently by professionals who have completed maintenance electrician training to measure current, voltage, and resistance, and are indispensable when troubleshooting electrical problems. Prices can range from less than fifty dollars, up into the thousands, with more expensive models boasting a higher resolution, a wider range of values that can be tested, and extra features like the ability to measure capacity or duty cycle.

While analog interfaces are still available, digital has become the standard, and some models now feature an added clamp (called a clamp meter) that can measure AC current in a wire, cable, or other conductor without disrupting the flow. Shop around to find the best multimeter in your price range, and make sure that it’s suitable for the type of work you’ll be doing.

Other Essentials for Those Finishing Their Maintenance Electrician Training

Besides more specialized tools like voltage testers and multimeters, maintenance electricians will require some other more general tools for the jobsite as well. A good set of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers will be necessary, as well as a tape measure, hammer, flashlight, and utility knife.

It’s important for your screwdrivers to have a comfortable grip and a long range

Over time, you will likely add more specialized devices to your collection, but the tools listed here will provide a good starter kit for any new electrician.

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When it comes to trades, it’s a common truth that the work you do will only be as good as the tools you have on hand. And when it comes to the equipment that maintenance electricians use, the list of what you’ll need to do a job properly can be long.

Whether you choose to work in manufacturing or electrical contracting companies, there are some specialized tools you’ll need for your role, and others that you’re bound to use quite often. From electrical tape to wire strippers, these are the essentials for any electrical repair job, and should be a part of every good professional’s toolkit.

Read on to learn more about the different kinds of tools and equipment that maintenance electricians commonly use during their careers.

It’s All About Having the Right Hand Tools at Your Disposal

When it comes to performing the simplest repairs and installations of electrical equipment, maintenance electricians will usually be relying on hand tools. These tools need to be safe to use for electrical work, and you will also want to make sure that they’re comfortable enough to use so that you aren’t straining your wrists and hands.

Professional maintenance electricians will need a wire stripper, as well as a solid wire cutter in the event that you have to sever part or all of any wires that have become split or broken. Of course, graduates of electrician college can always look for wire strippers that double as a wire cutter, which could save money and space in your toolbox.

In addition, maintenance electricians will always carry a pair of pliers and a screwdriver, which are essential to every job they do. You should check to make sure that both of these tools are insulated so that they are guarded from electric shock while performing repairs and installations. Pliers may often be used for the purposes of cutting and bending electrical wire, so they should be of the needle nose or side-cutting variety. Screwdrivers will need to be able to fit to a variety of different screw heads, so it’s best to use ones with changeable bits.

Pliers are a staple for any maintenance electrician job

Powertools Can Prepare You for Any Maintenance Job

Powertools are particularly important when maintenance electricians have to install wiring or other electrical devices and systems. Depending on the job, an electrician may need to use a power drill to pass a wire through a wall, through the floor, or into another room. It may also be needed to help attach electrical devices to a variety of different surfaces. Maintenance electricians should be mindful of what kind of drill and drill bit they need when dealing with different surfaces like cement or brick to make sure they are using the right one for the job.

Professionals with electrician certification may also need to use power saws for some jobs that require cutting through a client’s drywall or floorboards to install cables. There are a variety of different power saws available for maintenance electricians today, including spiral, reciprocating, and cut-off saws, to name just a few. Some can be cordless, and others may come fitted with powerful motors. Choosing between them may depend on which best meets your requirements, as well as your personal preferences.

Graduates of Electrician College Should Ensure They Have Electrical Testing Equipment

Electrical testing equipment is crucial to properly diagnosing electrical problems. A digital electrical testing device like a multimeter allows maintenance electricians to test things like current and voltage to help locate the cause of power fluctuations in an electrical circuit. Maintenance electricians can also use battery testers to check for faulty batteries, and to check if others still carry a charge.

Multimeters are considered one of the most important tools for electricians

Voltage detectors are important for maintenance electricians to carry for safety reasons as it lets them know whether power is still being run to the circuit. A good voltage tester can protect the maintenance electrician by indicating whether a wire or a circuit is live, usually by lighting up or by making a loud noise when slipped into an outlet.

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Robert B. is a Solar Energy Technician student at the London campus of North American Trade Schools. In his review, he talks about his experience at NATS, his instructors and why he decided to attend the school to study to become a Solar Energy Technician.

Transcript

“My name is Robert B. I’m studying Solar Electrical Technician. I chose NATS because it was close to my residence and the facility was big and I like the hands on training.

I chose NATS because I wanted to better my career, for my kids to have a better life. I like learning the safety of the safety of dealing with electricity.

I like best about my instructors that they are they’re outgoing, and they know what they’re talking about and they make learning fun. I like hands on training and the good working environment, a good teaching environment.

I think the world is changing fast and alternate power is the future and you know, there’s one saying I’ve seen, save the polars go solar. In five years I see myself designing and installing solar arrays.

My family feels proud of me for attending NATS and work on my career. If you’re undecided to come to NATS you should come check it out for yourself.”

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