Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship

The Piledrivers, Bridge, Dock Builders and Divers Local 2520 are accepting applications for the 2011 apprenticeship program. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2011, with classes beginning April 4, 2011.

The apprenticeship is a 4 year, 5200 hour program. Apprentices must go to school in Anchorage for a minimum of 144 hours each year and receive pay raises every 1300 hours of apprenticeship. The Piledrivers and Divers Union will pay for schooling. Apprentices may have to pay for books, travel, and tools. Financial assistance is available for those that qualify. Students must be able to pass drug and alcohol screening, be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, possess a valid driver’s license and be an Alaska resident.

The Piledrivers, Bridge, Dock Builders and Divers Local 2520 do not discriminate in practices or employment opportunities on the basis of an individual's race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other proscribed category set forth in federal or state regulations.

Call for an application 907-272-7577

e-mail for an application mailto:kevin@local2520.org

Download an application Apprenticeship Application.pdf

Download an application Instructor Application

View Apprenticeship Advertisement.pdf

View Piledrivers Brochure.pdf

Certifications

First Aid/CPR

Aerial Lift

Haz-Mat

OSHA 10

North Slope Training (NSTC)

Forklift

Confined Space

Powder Actuated Tools

Scaffold

Rigging

Traffic Control

Spray Metalize

Welding

Job Description of a Piledriver

Work as a piledriver can best be described as heavy construction involving specific skills in the areas of

piledriving, rough carpentry, cutting and welding.

Pilebutts generally perform foundation work on large scale construction projects such as piers, wharves,

drydocks, breakwaters, underwater pipelines, bridges, highways, skyscrapers and parking lots.

They are also called upon to reconstruct, repair, maintain and even demolish existing structures.

Whether constructing, maintaining or demolishing structures, their work is generally very strenuous.

Pilebutts perform all heavy labor, skilled and unskilled, incidental to their work. They load and unload

their broad gauge lumber, construction forms and piling up to eighty or more feet in length. They

manhandle, rig, erect and drive wooden, steel and cement pile. They construct, move, set and scale

all the forms and shapes used in the laying of cast-in-place structures. They construct, climb and

demolish wooden and metal falsework. They shore and brace any excavations undertaken in connection

with their work. During demolition work, they perform all actual deconstruction with cutting torches,

jackhammers and power saws. They also do any rigging and loading work associated with the removal

of debris. They perform this work on a variety of maritime and shoreside locations including barges,

work floats, tugboats, wharves, piers, pontoons and foundation excavations. Because their work usually

occurs during the early stages of construction, the sites are often unprepared, uneven and ungraded.

The usual work week is 40 hours long, however, as with all construction work, sixty, seventy

and eighty hour weeks are not unheard of.

Related Technical

Classroom Instruction: Approximate hours

First Year

1. Apprenticeship Training School 80 hours

a. Introduction to trade and ethics

b. Hazardous material handling courses

c. Basic first-aid and CPR

d. Extra safety courses & training as per required by contractors

e. Knowledge of tools and materials of trade

2. Crane Signaling and Safety 40 hours

a. Proper visual crane signaling

b. Proper remote signaling in blind

c. Crane safety

d. Multi-crane hoisting

3. Rigging 40 hours

a. Wire rope

b. Barge anchor systems

c. Operation of winches

d. Soft strap rigging

e. Shackles and appliances

f. Ground release clamps

g. Multi-point hoisting

h. Knot tying

160 total hours (1^st year)

Second Year

4. Framework for Foundation and Footings 80 hours

a. Hands-on experience on all types of forming systems

b. Level and transit training

c. Grades and evaluations

d. Blue print reading

e. Jobsite layout

f. Carpentry mathematics

5. Setting Precast Concrete 20 hours

a. Concrete bulb “T” girders

b. Concrete deck sections

c. Installation of “K” steel bracing

6. Girders and Framework 20 hours

a. Placement of girders

b. Placement of bracing and framework

c. Tightening of bolts with impact drivers

7. Scaffolding and Staging 40 hours

a. Jobsite built work platforms

b. Erection of manufactured scaffolding

c. Knowledge of manufactured scaffolding and planks

d. Scaffolding for shoring

160 total hours (2^nd year)

Third Year

8. Piledriving 120 hours

a. Sheetwall piling

b. Coffer dams

c. Fender systems

d. H beam piledriving

e. Pipe piling, piledriving

f. Timber piledriving

g. Lagging

h. Piledriving templates

9. Basic Timber Work 20 hours

a. Timber pile

b. Bull rails

c. Shoring and falsework

10. Drilled Shaft and Tieback Systems 20 hours

a. Causing drive

b. Augers

c. Labor support of system

160 total hours (3^rd year)

Fourth Year

11. Arc Welding 140 hours

a. SMAW

b. FCAW

c. Air Arc

12. Oxygen/Acetylene Cutting and Fitting 20 hours

a. Cutting torch (knowledge and equipment)

b. Cutting and fitting steel beams

c. Cutting and fitting pipe

d. Prep for welding

e. Welding Symbols & Procedures

160 total hours (4^th year)