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The
principal work of the Cement Mason is finishing the
exposed concrete surfaces on many types of construction
projects. These projects range from small jobs such as
finishing patios and side walks, to work on huge dams,
concrete highways, airport runways, missile sites,
foundations, walls, and floors of building projects. The
cement Mason levels, smoothes, and shapes surfaces and
freshly poured concrete. They also finish concrete
surfaces using hand or power driven carborundum grinders
to rub out formed marks. A Cement Mason also sets forms
for sidewalks and waterproofs concrete walls. The Cement
Mason’s basic tools are thee trowel, float, jointer,
edger, and spirit level. They are also required to operate
large power-driven floating and finishing machines. The
Cement Mason’s knowledge of their materials is essential
to the quality of work. They must know the working
characteristics of various cement and concrete mixes. In
addition, because of the effects that heat, cold, and wind
have on the curing of concrete, the skilled Cement Mason
must recognize by sight and touch what is occurring in the
concrete to be able to prevent defects.
Since most of the work
is done outdoors, working conditions are governed by the
weather. The work is active and strenuous. The worker is
required to stoop, bend or kneel. Cement Masons work
under more pressure, probably, than other building tradespeople. Once the concrete is poured, it must be
worked before it sets regardless of the time of day or
climatic conditions.
Persons entering this
trade should receive satisfaction of tangible results
from a job well done. They must be able to adapt to a
wide variety of working conditions and must be willing to
stay on the job until it is finished once the concrete is
poured.
Requirements:
| Education |
Age |
Length
of Course/
*Annual Class Hrs. |
| High
School/GED |
18 |
3
Years/144 Class Hrs. |
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For more information, call (574)234-3499
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-All
apprenticeship programs require applicants to be
physically fit. In addition, applicants must take an
aptitude test and be interviewed by the joint
apprenticeship committee before acceptance.
*Where the apprenticeship program has established a formal
classroom training course, these are required number of
school hours the individual apprentice must attend each
year.
For information on all apprenticeship programs, contact
the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and
Training, (574)236-8295.
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"Skilled
On Principle, Union By Choice"®