Day in the life of
Apprentice Electrician – Chris Papenfus
As someone who changed careers to go into construction, I can say without a doubt it is the job I have enjoyed the most.
I am currently a third year apprentice electrician, and my standard work hours are 6:45 – 15:30. My work day consists of reading electrical drawings, installing containment, running wires from panels to electrical devices.
My role as an electrical apprentice is to follow instructions closely and learn from the qualified electricians on my team.
A typical work day would start with filling out an SPA (Safe Plan of Action) sheet, detailing what my task for the day is, what potential hazards there are and how I plan to mitigate any risk. This document is signed by the whole team.
Before any task begins you do a walk through of the plan with your foreman. The foreman will have filled in permits to carry out work and everyone will sign those. Once everyone agrees on how the task will be carried out, I would fetch a ladder or MEWP (scissor lift) and harnesses as required when I am working at height.
Once you have all the equipment you need, you need to fetch the materials you need. The material stores are usually on the bottom level of commercial buildings or at the entrance of big sites, so you want to be sure you know exactly what you are getting to avoid making multiple trips and wasting time.
Once all the materials are at hand, you have to measure out and mark up where you are going to install the materials on the wall/ceiling. Then you have to cut and mold the materials to fit your installation.
To wire circuits, you need to select the correct type and size of cable for the job. Then you need to run cable from the distribution board to the separate points (sockets/lights etc.) and any links between them. Then you have to carefully remove the protective sheath without damaging the color insulation beneath, and terminate the wires to the device/distribution board, and ensure you have solid connections with no copper showing.
Toolbox talks take place a minimum of once per week. This is when site Safety Officers discuss which rules have been broken recently if there have been any injuries and highlight a safety topic for the week.
Pros
The pros of my job are that it keeps me physically fit, it requires creative problem solving so you are rarely bored. Construction sites are very informal in terms of etiquette so you can have a lot of fun on the job. Mostly I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to sit behind a desk 5 days a week.
Other pros include finishing early, getting great satisfaction from seeing your completed work, and the camaraderie.
Cons
Cons of being an electrical apprentice include low initial pay (this increases each year until you qualify). Most jobs require you to travel. For young single people, the travel might be a pro but if you have a family and kids it is definitely a con. And as enjoyable as my job is, construction is very dangerous, and one accident can cause you serious injuries or death. That is why it is incredibly important to take responsibility for your own safety and to follow protocol on site.
It is also very physically demanding, unless you enjoy manual labor then it’s a pro!
.jpg)
Helpers of Electricians
help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
The Builder
