what is a steel fixer?
A steel fixer is a construction professional who works with steel mesh and bars to create the reinforcements used in concrete buildings. Working from plans and technical drawings, a steel fixer cuts and bends the reinforcement bars, or rebar, to meet the specification.
If you enjoy both mental and physical challenges, a career as a steel fixer is a good choice. Steel fixers need technical knowledge and attention to detail. They also need physical strength and stamina to work with steel and concrete in a wide range of outdoor environments. This balance of different requirements makes this a demanding job but also a rewarding one.
Would working as a steel fixer suit your attention to detail and interest in engineering? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a steel fixer role.
average salary of a steel fixer
According to the National Careers Service, the starting salary of a steel fixer is around £19,000 per year. As you gain experience, your salary will increase. A more experienced steel fixer earns up to £37,000 a year. This range is in line with other salaries in the construction field, where operatives earn an average of just under £25,500 per year.
factors influencing salary
Your salary as a steel fixer will vary based on your level of experience, but there are other factors that can influence it. One of these is location: as with many other jobs, steel fixer roles in London and other areas with high living costs are usually higher. Another is work hours. Although your schedule as a steel fixer is usually in line with normal working hours, this can vary. Working evenings, weekends, or long hours from time to time can help to boost your earnings.
types of steel fixer
As a steel fixer, you use a wide variety of different tools and materials. Unlike some other construction workers, you don't specialise in a single tool or technique. You work with all types of steel reinforcement, from inexpensive mild steel bars to high-tensile-strength prestressing bars. Versatility is an important quality for a steel fixer.
working as a steel fixer
Interested in finding out what a steel fixer does on a typical working day? Read on to find out more about what your next job could look like.
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steel fixer job description
Your work as a steel fixer involves a range of different tasks.
- to begin with, you're responsible for examining the project's engineering plans and setting out your work area.
- once you know what you need to do, it's time to begin creating reinforcements. Using both hand tools and power tools, you bend and cut steel rebar to create larger sections.
- creating larger sections means joining rebar using wire, clips and other tools. You'll also insert supports and spacers to help your reinforcement sections keep their proper shape.
- cutting, bending, and joining steel is at the heart of your work as a steel fixer.
- your precision and attention to detail are vital to creating safe, effective reinforcements quickly.
- it can also be physically demanding work, making this a good job if you enjoy a combination of mental and physical challenges.
In addition to creating steel reinforcements, your other responsibilities on the job site include:
- creating frames to hold setting concrete in place
- attaching your reinforcements to their concrete bases
- installing pre-cast concrete slabs
- coordinating with other members of the crew
Like every other member of the team, your first responsibility is the safety of the job site. Your work can take you high off the ground and into confined spaces, so an eye for safety is especially important.
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work environment
A job as a steel fixer isn't a desk job; your work will take you outside, particularly on construction sites. This can involve working at heights, so being able to do this safely is an important skill. Your work also takes you into cramped spaces.
Some steel fixer jobs take place in factories, producing pre-cast concrete items that ship with their steel reinforcements already in place. Environments like these can be hot, loud and busy. Whether you're on an outdoor construction site or in a busy indoor environment, your professionalism helps keep yourself and others safe.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer, your colleagues might include mig welders or tig welders, labourers, glaziers and groundworkers. You might also be working in close proximity to project managers, site supervisors and construction managers, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, carpenters, engineers and forklift drivers.
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work schedule
The construction industry is highly deadline-driven. This means that your work as a steel fixer sometimes runs up against inflexible deadlines. When this happens, you can find yourself working late hours or working on weekends. These extra hours don't happen on every job, but they are part of the career. Being able to be flexible about your schedule is an important quality for a steel fixer.
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job outlook
Your work as a steel fixer gives you valuable experience that you can carry into other roles. If you're looking to move from steel fixing into another career, you have several options.
- using your knowledge of construction and safety, you could become a site safety supervisor
- your experience working with steel could help you become a welder, while your familiarity with heights would be useful as a scaffolder
- you could broaden the scope of your work, becoming an engineering technician
- or you could move into a mentoring role as a trainer
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advantages of finding a steel fixer job through randstad
Finding your steel fixer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a steel fixer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
There are several different ways to acquire the skills you need to be a steel fixer.
- you could acquire skills through a college course, working toward a qualification such as a Level 2 Award in Skills for Engineering or an NVQ in Steel Fixing Occupations. Although courses like this are not specifically aimed at becoming a steel fixer, they cover the technical and engineering skills a good steel fixer needs.
- if you prefer on-the-job learning, you could pursue an apprenticeship to learn a steel fixer's skills. An intermediate apprenticeship in steel fixing will combine workplace experience with classroom training to give you the needed experience.
- although both a college course and an apprenticeship are good ways of progressing toward a career as a steel fixer, they aren't the only ones. If you have previous experience in the construction field, you can apply directly to work as a steel fixer. Because there are no specific qualifications required for the job, experience in related fields can be enough.
skills and competencies
In addition to training in specific skills, you need good technical and communication skills to be a steel fixer.
- at the beginning of a job, you are responsible for examining the plans and technical drawings that describe the tasks. Your understanding of these complex documents is vital to a successful job. You also have to coordinate and communicate with other members of the construction team, making good communication skills important.
- a job as a steel fixer also requires physical fitness, stamina and situational awareness. A steel fixer uses heavy tools and materials, requiring strength and stamina. Some parts of the job require working at height, so you need to be comfortable in this environment. Similarly, comfort in enclosed spaces is important for this job.
- finally, as a steel fixer, you are responsible for maintaining a safe working environment. You need a thorough knowledge of safety procedures to do the job. This knowledge is reflected by a site safety qualification such as a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a steel fixer
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what does a steel fixer do?
A steel fixer cuts, bends and connects the steel components used as reinforcements in concrete structures. Other duties can include setting up worksites and installing concrete sections and steel beams.
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is steel fixer a hard job?
Being a steel fixer is a demanding but rewarding career. You need to understand technical drawings and use power tools, but physical fitness and stamina are also important, as is communication.
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do you need a qualification to be a steel fixer?
You don't need a specific qualification to become a steel fixer. You can develop your skills by doing an apprenticeship or studying for a qualification at college. If you have experience in construction, you can also learn on the job.
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what do you need to become a steel fixer?
As a steel fixer, you use a combination of engineering knowledge and physical skill. You also need a detailed knowledge of construction site safety procedures. You can gain these through education, an apprenticeship, or workplace experience.
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what is reinforcement fixing?
Connecting reinforcing bars to form a cage using wire and other tools is sometimes called reinforcement fixing. This is just another name for the work of a steel fixer.
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how do I apply for a steel fixer vacancy?
Applying for a steel fixer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
