Jobs, Careers and Occupations

Electricians

Electrician Nature of Work

An electrician lay out, assemble, install, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, test and commission electrical and electronic equipment and systems for industrial, commercial and domestic purposes. The electrician may also work on electrical transmission and distribution equipment.

Electricians are employed by electrical contractors and maintenance departments of buildings, factories, plants, mines, shipyards and other industrial establishments or they may be self-employed.

Electricians work with blueprints when they install electrical systems. Blueprints indicate the locations of circuits, outlets, load centers, panel boards and other equipment. Electricians must follow the Electric Code and comply with building codes when they install these systems.

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Electrician Work Conditions

Electricians may work in workshops, in private homes or in plants, mines, shipyards and other industrial establishments. They may have a considerable amount of contact with the public. Their working environment varies, depending on the type of job. They may work in dusty, dirty, hot, or wet conditions, or in confined spaces, ditches, or in other uncomfortable places and have to stand for long periods. They may also be required to work at heights on masts, towers and roofs. Electricians risk injury from electrical shock, falls and cuts. Electricians must be aware of safety regulations and must often wear and use protective equipment to minimize risks.

Electrician Personal Requirements

• Able to do precise and detailed work
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to work independently
• An aptitude for mechanics and electronics
• Diagnostic ability
• Enjoy mathematical and technical activities
• Good communication skills
• Good eyesight and normal color vision
• Physically fit
• Practical and good hand-eye coordination

Electrician Employment Requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required
• Completion of a four to five-year electrician apprenticeship program is usually required
  or
  a combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in electrical equipment is usually required to be eligible for trade certification
• Trade certification for electricians (domestic and construction) is usually mandatory

Electrician Duties and Tasks

Electricians may perform the following tasks and duties:

• Assemble and fabricate electrical and electronic components such as switches, relays, circuit breaker panels
• Conduct preventive maintenance programs and keep maintenance records
• Install brackets and hangers to support cables and electrical or electronic equipment
• Maintain, repair, test, troubleshoot, install and connect to power supplies appliances, switchgear, regulators, heaters, transformers, electrical motors, generators, alternators and electrical, electronic, hydraulic and pneumatic control systems and other related devices
• Plan the layout of wiring systems
• Pull wire through conduits and through holes in walls and floors
• Read and interpret electrical, architectural and mechanical diagrams, drawings or specifications to determine wiring layouts for new or existing installations
• Splice, join and connect wire to fixtures and components to form circuits

Electrician Example Titles

• Apprentice Electrician
• Construction Electrician
• Construction Electrician Apprentice
• Electrician, Shipyard
• Industrial Electrician
• Industrial Electrician Apprentice
• Marine Electrician
• Mill Electrician
• Mine Electrician
• Plant Electrician
• Plant Maintenance Electrician
• Rig Electrician

Electrician Related Occupations

• Electrical Technician
• Electrical Linesperson
• Electrical Mechanics
• Electrical Motor Winding Tradespersons
• Electronics Technicians
• Industrial Electricians
• Lift Electricians
• Millwrights
• Oil Rig Electrician
• Power System Electricians

Engineering Related Industries

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Design
• Mining
• Oil and Gas
• Quality Control
• Telecom