| Construction laborers are employed for physically | | | | craftsmen. |
| challenging and dangerous work. The construction of | | | | Some construction laborers may specialize in highway |
| buildings and highways, excavation for tunnels and | | | | construction or tunnel work, while some may be |
| shafts, hazardous waste removal and demolition work, | | | | demolition specialists. In the normal course of their |
| all require the services of construction laborers. The | | | | duties, construction laborers have to kneel, bend, |
| term laborer generally implies a task that requires no | | | | crouch and climb to dangerous heights. There is no |
| training or special skill. But, there are many areas of | | | | protection for them from the climatic conditions. |
| construction that demand the employment of laborers | | | | Depending on the place of their work, they may be |
| with a considerable amount of expertise and skill. | | | | exposed to hazardous fumes, chemicals, odors and |
| These skills may be acquired on the job or through | | | | exceptionally loud sound. |
| formal training programs. | | | | Whenever the nature of work demands, construction |
| At a construction site, the work includes cleaning the | | | | workers are expected to wear protective clothing and |
| site to remove asbestos, lead and other hazardous | | | | special headgear. They need to use masks, goggles, |
| waste. They dig trenches and lay braces on the sides | | | | gloves and boots to protect themselves. |
| to provide support. They lay sewer pipelines, storm | | | | Most of the construction laborers learn their skills on |
| drain pipes and pipes for water supply. They load and | | | | the job and take many years to become proficient. |
| unload heavy building material. At highway construction | | | | They have to start by helping skilled laborers and then |
| sites, they prepare the work areas and the right of | | | | gradually learn the skills, to enable them to function |
| way. They install markers, cones and traffic barricades. | | | | independently. |
| Their duty includes controlling of traffic, around the | | | | The formal apprentice program for construction |
| work site too. | | | | laborers takes two to four years to complete. These |
| The duties assigned to laborers, requires some of | | | | programs are run according to the guidelines set by |
| them to operate different machines. The machines | | | | the Laborers- Associated General Contractors of |
| may include concrete mixers, plaster mixers, | | | | America Education and the Training Fund. There are |
| mechanical hoists, pavement breakers, jack hammers, | | | | four thousand hours of supervised training and four |
| earth tampers and electric and hydraulic boring | | | | hundred hours of classroom training that provide |
| machines. Nowadays, there is greater sophistication in | | | | exposure to blue print reading, correct use of tools and |
| the construction machinery used. The laborers may be | | | | equipment and health and safety measures. |
| required to handle hi-tech equipment, such as | | | | A career as a construction laborer demands a robust |
| laser-beam equipment and the computerized controls | | | | physique and a readiness to tackle the challenging |
| of robotic pipe cutters and cleaners. They are also | | | | tasks assigned. Skills in the use and operation of |
| required to read and interpret plans and designs with | | | | special machines used in construction jobs, is also a |
| little or no help. At times, they may be required to work | | | | prerequisite. |
| as part of a team, the team comprising of skilled | | | | |