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Pipelayers Occupation Detailed Description

Pipelayers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Pipelayers

The main tasks and work activities of Pipelayers are to evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications, spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces, apply adhesives to construction materials, weld metal components. In general, for the Pipelayers, operation and Control, active Listening, operation Monitoring, coordination and other 3 skills are required.
Pipelayers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Pipelayers jobs. 71.23% of Pipelayers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 4.3% of Pipelayers have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
24.47%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
71.23%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
4.30%

Tasks and Work Activities of Pipelayers

  • Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
  • Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
  • Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
  • Cut pipes to required lengths.
  • Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
  • Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
  • Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
  • Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
  • Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
  • Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
  • Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
  • Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
  • Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
  • Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications.
  • Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
  • Apply adhesives to construction materials.
  • Weld metal components.
  • Cut metal components for installation.
  • Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures.
  • Install plumbing or piping.
  • Compact materials to create level bases.
  • Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
  • Mark reference points on construction materials.
  • Dig holes or trenches.
  • Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.
  • Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
  • Direct construction or extraction personnel.
  • Train construction or extraction personnel.
  • Drill holes in construction materials.
  • Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.

Skills and Abilities for Pipelayers

  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Depth PerceptionThe ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
  • Pneumatic hammere.g. Air hammers
  • Pipe visese.g. Aligning clamps
  • Backhoese.g. Backhoes
  • Slingse.g. Belting slings
  • Power grinderse.g. Bevel grinding machines
  • Blocks or pulleyse.g. Block and tackle equipment
  • Boring or sinking machinerye.g. Boring machines
  • Wheel bulldozerse.g. Bulldozers
  • Trenching machinese.g. Cable plows
  • Caulking gunse.g. Caulking guns
  • Squarese.g. Combination squares
  • Compactorse.g. Compactors
  • Power sawse.g. Concrete saws
  • Blow torche.g. Cutting torches
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Water pumpse.g. Ditch pumps
  • Dredgerse.g. Dredges
  • Drill press or radial drille.g. Drill presses
  • Track excavatorse.g. Excavators
  • Building and ConstructionKnowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.