Welding is an important industry and is responsible for many achievements that we have in our contemporary society. All of the construction work and development that we have today is deservedly due to welding.
Getting into this trade is a lucrative opportunity for a person who is good at it. Things get even better if a welder is familiar with multiple welding processes. If you get hired by a good company, you might stand to earn a hefty sum on a yearly basis.
But with high reward comes high risk. Being a welder is not as cracked out to be when you take into consideration the risks involved. The welding process itself is a dangerous one on its own. But things get even feistier if we add the element of working conditions.
Welders are sent out to all kinds of places and work in various working conditions in order to get the job done.
Welding Outside
Welding indoors in the safety of your garage is considered a piece of cake when compared to outside welding. The working conditions can be unpredictable when a person is sent out into the field to finish a job. The risk gets higher and higher as the elements stack up.
A welder might need to climb high up in order to get the job done. In that situation, wind needs to be taken into account and not to mention rain. Not only that, but they also have to carry their equipment with them which might involve an extended list of machines needed for a specific situation.
An experienced welder can get the job done no matter the working conditions around them. But it takes great physical effort and a sturdy mindset to get the welding done in an unfavorable outside environment.
Pipeline Welding
Pipeline welding is one of the more dangerous types of welding jobs that a person can do. Pipes are already laid out and cannot be brought back home for repairs. This means that a welder needs to hit the road and go where the job is. There is no telling where you might be sent and a welder always needs to be prepared.
Pipelines sometimes need to be assembled or there might be some repairs needed. It involves going to cramp places, cold environments, hot areas, in various kinds of situations. But probably one of the most dangerous parts is underwater pipeline welding.
Underwater Welding
So this brings us to underwater welding as a whole. Pipelines are just a part of this type of welding work as there are many other kinds of repairs that needed to be done underwater. It is a high-paying job but there are a lot of risks involved and one does need to acquire certain skills.
First of all, you need to learn how to dive. It is not as easy as one thinks, especially when you are carrying loads of equipment with you. Also, you have to know the specific underwater welding processes in order to do the job right.
It is a job that comes with high reward but definitely something that is not for everybody. You have to be mentally strong and not just be in peak physical condition.
Welding in Cramped Places
Opposite from going way high up is of course descending underground. There are all sorts of welding happening underneath our feet that we are unaware of. Welders have to go underground and do all kinds of repairs that are usually in very cramped and dark places.
This could be claustrophobic and definitely not recommended for somebody who does not like being confined in cramped areas. Furthermore, there is the added element of the usual dangers that go with welding. You might also come across pockets of gasses, natural ones, or leaks, which could spark an explosion if lit.
It is something that welders constantly think about when venturing in these types of areas.
Military Welders
Being a part of the military does not always mean that you need to carry a weapon. Some of them carry a welding torch. When the army is dispatched to different locations they will need to bring a sort of equipment with them. Vehicles, in particular, are an important part of their arsenal. But they do need certain repairs and constant fixes due to the severe conditions they are in.
This is why the military employs people who are welders to help them deal with these types of problems. There are constantly some repairs needed and sometimes they do need to fix some weapons as well that are damaged.
The risks involved here are rather obvious. Where there are guns there is a great possibility of gunplay. Particularly in war zones. Welders that are employed by the military get paid big bucks as they are risking their lives. But they are a necessary part of the garrison.
