Heat and Frost Insulator and Asbestos Worker

Job description

Workers apply insulation materials to pipes, tanks, boilers, ducts, refrigeration equipment, and other surfaces requiring thermal temperature control. Workers handle insulation materials made of fiberglass, rubber, calcium silicate, and urethane. Asbestos workers remove asbestos-containing materials.

Working conditions

Work is conducted in commercial buildings, refineries, ships, industrial plants, and private residences in all kinds of indoor and outdoor climates, usually in and around dust. Workers must wear respirators. They use a variety of power tools and provide their own hand tools. This trade has a high health hazard risk. Workers must be able to lift, bend and carry.

Length of apprenticeship

The apprenticeship is a four-year program with the opportunity to advance about every six months. Apprentices must complete a minimum of 88 related classroom hours per year and 8,000 on-the-job training hours.

Minimum qualifications

Apprenticeship applicants must be at least 18 years of age. In addition, they must provide proof of high school graduation or general education development (GED) equivalent. Local apprenticeship committees may require additional qualifications.

Wages

Beginning apprentices start at 50 percent of the journey-level wage. Upon successful completion of required class work and on-the-job hours, wages increase usually every six months, until the journey-level rate is achieved.