THE PLUMBER(THE MAIN REASON FOR THE POSITION, IN WHAT CONTEXT AND WHAT IS THE OVERALL

END RESULT)

THE PLUMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING PIPES, FIXTURES AND OTHER PLUMBING USED FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL IN RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.

SCOPE(THE WAY THAT THE POSITION CONTRIBUTES TO AND IMPACTS ON THE

ORGANIZATION)

• THE PLUMBER READS BLUEPRINTS, DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO DETERMINE THE LAYOUT OF PLUMBING SYSTEMS, WATER SUPPLY NETWORKS AND WASTE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

• THE PLUMBER WORKS IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER PLUMBERS, TRADES AND LABOURERS.

THE RESPONSABILITIES OF THE PLUMBER ARE:

• INSTALL, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN PLUMBING SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS

• REVIEW BUILDING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

• SELECT THE TYPE AND SIZE OF PIPE REQUIRED

• INSTALL, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN UNDERGROUD STORM SANITARY AND WATER PIPING SYSTEMS, SINKS, TUBS AND TOILETS, WATER HEATER AND CONDITIONERS, VALVES AND FITTINGS

MAINTAIN ALL BUILDING CODES

• APPLY ALL CODES TO INSTALLATIONS, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

• ENSURE ALL REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF SYSTEM S AND FIXTURES ARE MET

ADMINISTER AND SCHEDULE WORK

• PREPARE BUDGETS• PREPARE ORDERS OF SUPPLIES• KEEP DAILY REPORTS• SCHEDULE WORK IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER TRADES AND SUPPLIERS

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

THE PLUMBER MUST HAVE PROFICIENT KNOWLEDGE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• WATER DISTRIBUTION AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL IN EVERY TYPE OF BUILDING

• BUILDING CODES,LEGISLATION,POLICES AND ALL THE PROCEDURES OF INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

• UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMIC,CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

KNOWLEDGE:

THE INCUMBENT MUST DEMOSTRATE THE FOLLOWING SKILLS:

•ABILITY TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH OTHER TRADES

•TEAM BUILDING SKILLS

•EFFECTIVE NEGOTIATION AND MEDIATION SKILLS

•STRESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS

•TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

SKILLS:

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

THE INCUMBENT MUST ALSO DEMOSTRATE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL ATTRUBUTES:

• BE HONEST

• BE RESPECTFUL

• BE FLEXIBLE

WORKING CONDITIONS

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• SENSORY DEMANDS

• MENTAL DEMANDS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• THE PLUMBER MAY SPEND LONG HOURS OUTSIDE AND IN AWKWARD POSITIONS, WHICH CAN CAUSE PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT AND STRAIN. THE PLUMBER WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH SHARP, HOT OR VERY COLD SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. HE MUST MAINTAIN SAFETY PROCEDURES AT ALL TIME TO AVOID INJURY.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• THE PLUMBER MAY WORK IN BUSY CONSTRUCTION SITES WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER TRADES AND LABOURERS OR HE CAN WORK ALONE FOR MANY HOURS. THE PLUMBER MAY WORK IN AWKWARD ENVIRONMENTS AND WILL HAVE TO CARRY ALL REQUIRED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AT ALL TIMES.

SENSORY DEMANDS

• INCLUDE EXPOSURE TO THE SMELLS ASSOCIATED WITH SEWER AND WATER, EXPOSURE TO THE SOUNDS, DUST AND DEBRIS ASSOCIATED WITH POWER TOOLS AND CONSTRUCTION SITES. THIS CAN CAUSE SENSORY STRAIN INCLUDING HEADACHES.

MENTAL DEMANDS

• THE PLUMBER WILL NEED TO CONCENTRATE IN BUSY CONSTRUCTION SITES,SCHEDULE WORK WITH OTHER LABOURERS AND ORDER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. HE MAY BE CALLED OUT AT ODD HOURS AND WORK LONG HOURS IN CASES OF EMERGENCY.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION REQUIRED

1. CUSTOMER AND PERSONAL SERVICE

2. MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE OF MACHINES AND TOOLS

3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE

4. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

5. MATHEMATICS

6. PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY

7. CHEMISTRY

8. DESIGN

SO, WHAT WILL I ACTUALLY BE DOING?

WORKING AS A PLUMBER INVOLVES MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY FIXING LEAKY PIPES AS EVERY DAY WILL INVOLVE A NEW JOB, A NEW CLIENT AND A NEW ENVIRONMENT. TASKS YOU’LL BE EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT INCLUDE:

• REPAIRING SANITATION SYSTEMS

• FITTING DOMESTIC APPLIANCES

• EMERGENCY REPAIRS

NOT JUST RESTRICTED TO HELPING PEOPLE AT HOME, PLUMBERS CAN ALSO WORK ON COMMERCIAL SITES, WHERE THEY’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANNING OF HOW AND WHERE PIPES SHOULD BE LAID DURING CONSTRUCTION.

THE NITTY GRITTY

• PLUMBERS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME WITH CUSTOMERS OR ON SITE, ALSO WORKING OVERTIME, SO IT'S A JOB OF BOTH COMMUNICATION AND SKILL. TO GET AHEAD IN YOUR CAREER YOU COULD SPECIALISE TO SERVE THE GROWING DEMAND FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS AND RAINWATER HARVESTING.

THE GOOD POINTS

• I WORK IN DIFFERENT ENVIROMENTS

• I MEET A VARIETY OF PEOPLE (MANY HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS)

• I WORK WITH MY HANDS AND IT GIVES ME GREAT SATISFACTION TO SEE A JOB THROUGH FROM BEGINNING TO END

• BEGIN SELF- EMPLOYED ALLOWS ME TO ARRANGE MY WORKING SCHEDULE TO SUIT MY LIFESTYLE.

AND BAD BAD POINTS

• PLUMBING JOBS CAN BE PRETTY UNPLEASANT AND CAN INVOLVE WORKING WITH RAW SEWERAGE OR DANGEROUS CHEMICALS

• IT CAN BE STRESSFUL DEALING WITH ANXIOUS SITUATIONS SUCH AS CENTRAL HEATING BREAKING DOWN IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES , WATER OR GAS LEAKS

OK, I’M INTERESTED… BUT IS IT REALLY THE JOB FOR ME ?

PLUMBING IS A SERIOUS JOB THAT INVOLVES A GREAT DEAL OF DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. IT ALSO HAS HUGE HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY ATTACHED TO IT.

I’LL ALSO NEED TO BE:

• PATIENT AND FRIENDLY

• A FAST LEARNER

• PRATICAL AND DEXTEROUS

• FLEXIBLE AND GREAT AT PROBLEM-SOLVING