What Every Apprentice Should Know...

WORK CLOTHES FOR IRONWORKERS ARE USUALLY JEANS, WORK PANTS, SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS.  WATCH TO SEE WHAT YOUR CO-WORKERS WEAR AND WEAR THE SAME.  MAKE SURE YOUR CLOTHES ARE COMFORTABLE, BUT NOT LOOSE AS TO BE ABLE TO GET CAUGHT ON THINGS IN THE WORK AREA.  NEITHER SHOULD THEY BE SO TIGHT AS TO RESTRICT YOUR MOVEMENT.  EXPECT YOUR WORK CLOTHES TO GET DIRTY, EVEN TO DIRTY TO CLEAN.  A COUPLE OF PAIR OF COVERALLS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE ON HAND WHEN WORKING WITH GREASY CABLES, ETC.

SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY ON A GOOD PAIR OF WORK BOOTS. YOU CAN CONSIDER PROPERLY FITTED, COMFORTABLE WORK BOOTS AN INVESTMENT SINCE YOU WILL BE IN THEM ALOT, IN ALL KINDS OF CONDITIONS.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

BECOMING AN IRONWORKER REQUIRES STRENGTH, STAMINA AND AGILITY.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SUPERPERSON TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT YOUR TRADE, BUT IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA TO START SOME KIND OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONING PROGRAM BEFORE, AND CONTINUE AFTER YOU'VE BEEN WORKING.  INCREASING YOUR UPPER BODY STRENGTH WILL NOT ONLY HELP YOU DO YOUR JOB BETTER, BUT WILL HELP YOU TO AVOID INJURY.

OFTEN, WHEN YOU ARE NEW AT SOMETHING, IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT'S SAFE TO DO AND WHAT'S NOT.  OVERALL, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND BE AWARE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT.  REPORT UNSAFE OR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WORKING CONDITIONS AND IF YOUR IN DOUBT, QUESTION IT.  DON'T TAKE CHANCES TO PROVE YOURSELF, THAT'S A STUPID REASON TO RISK INJURY.  REPORT ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES IMEDIATELY.  USE WHATEVER SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS APPROPRIATE NO MATTER HOW SILLY YOU THINK YOU LOOK.

ALL IRONWORKER LOCAL UNIONS PROVIDE THROUGH SAFETY TRAINING TO APPRENTICES, AND CONSIDER IT A KEY PART OF PREPARING THEM TO WORK SAFELY AND PRODUCTIVELY.  PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS TRAINING -- IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE, OR THE LIFE OF A CO-WORKER.

EAT RIGHT. PACK A HEALTHY LUNCH; SANDWICH, FRUIT AND PLENTY OF WATER.  STAY AWAY FROM SOFT DRINKS AND OTHER EMPTY SUGARS.  THEY MAY GIVE YOU A QUICK LIFT, BUT YOU'LL BE SLOW AND TIRED WHEN THEY WEAR OFF.  DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE OBVIOUSLY INAPPROPRIATE IN ANY WORK ENVIRONMENT, BUT ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN IRONWORK.

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