There seems to be a glaring difference between the lot of a British sheet metal worker and that of his or her American counterpart.

Most notably, there’s no mention of you falling off scaffoldings and welding your hands together from this job description from learndirect.

Sheet Metal Worker Brake Press Accident
“As his mind drifted towards his Liberace tribute act, he soon found his ivory tinkling dreams, and hands, crushed.”
[Browse many more safety hazard posters]

Before I get attacked for making fun out of industrial injury victims, I’ll point out that the UK sheet metal worker description seems slightly less patronising but also contains contact details of various training organisations.

Anyway, here are the skills and interests required to become a half decent sheet metal worker in the UK:

  • have practical hand skills for using tools and equipment
  • have a good level of concentration for cutting, welding and using tools safely and accurately
  • be numerate and have computer skills
  • be able to understand technical drawings and visualise the appearance of finished products
  • be able to work without direct supervision and to co-operate as part of a team
  • have a good level of general fitness
  • have normal eyesight (with glasses if worn)
  • preferably have good colour vision.
  • I think a cheap jibe against [insert name of Butler Sheetmetal Ltd employer/employee] would be awfully unfair, don’t you? ;-)



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