JOB DESCRIPTION
Concreters place, spread, compact, finish and cure concrete for buildings, roads, tunnels, bridges and marine structures, using hand tools and automated machinery. For most jobs, concrete is mixed at a pre-mix concrete supplier's factory and delivered to the site in a pre-mix concrete truck. Concreters usually work outside on construction sites that may be dusty and noisy. Much of their time is spent standing or kneeling and they may also have to work at heights or underground in tunnels. Concreters may travel from job to job and usually begin work very early in the morning. There is a growing industry in precast concrete where concrete elements are cast and cured in factories then transported to the site for use.
DUTIES AND TASKS
Concreters may perform the following tasks:
- mix cement, gravel, sand and water to make concrete on site
- move concrete into position using a concrete pump
- place concrete into the formwork (usually temporary wood or steel moulds), ensuring it is spread and levelled, then compacted using vibrators
- operate paving and trowelling machines to float, trowel and polish the concrete surface
- create different surface textures by tamping, smoothing and shaping the concrete surface with a variety of hand tools
- cut joints into hardened concrete
- mix and apply pigments when a coloured surface is required
- dig foundation trenches if working on residential or small commercial projects.
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
- able to cope with the physical demands of the job
- able to lift heavy objects
- enjoy practical and outdoor work