Career Mirror -- by Mark Sproxton

Laying out the blueprint on top of the wooden table in the construction site trailer, the sheet metal worker leans in for a closer look. These plans from the engineer show how the heating and ventilation systems should look and fit in a new office building. Five minutes go by without the sheet metal mechanic moving. His focus rests squarely on the design in front of him taking the written information and bending and shaping the sheet metal in his mind.

"When we start with a flat sheet of metal, you have to be able to visualize how that'll come together as a functioning piece of duct work," explains Mike Gascho, a supervisor with West Air Sheet Metal Ltd. "There's a lot of measuring and figuring and 'is this going to fit?' There's a lot of challenge in trying to make what's on the drawing fit and work properly." This doesn't always happen, which requires the certified sheet metal mechanic to contact either the engineer or the general contractor for the building to go over the changes required to make things work.

In addition to the challenge of the work, Gascho also enjoys the variety offered by working in the industrial/commercial side of the sheet metal trade. "Residential is more piece work," he said of working in the housing side of the industry. "(It) becomes a speed game. In commercial and industrial it progresses slower because so much more is involved." Regardless of what part of the industry someone works in, all certified sheet metal mechanics require the same training. To become a journeyman, a four-year apprenticeship must be completed.

While Gascho has been in the industry for eight years, not so long ago he wasn't certain what career path he wanted to follow. After stints in university, community college, working in kitchens and shipping and receiving, he knew he wanted something different. He started in the construction industry after a lead from a friend helped get him a job installing metal roofs. "(But) I decided I wanted to get a ticket," Gascho said. Talking with another friend he was told to contact West Air and the rest is history. He started working with the company, signed up to get his apprenticeship, and now has been working as a sheet metal supervisor for the last two-and-a half years.

He's become used to the constant lifting required by the work, the frequent nicks and cuts sustained to the hands and arms, exposure to the elements in the winter and squeezing into awkward spaces on a regular basis. Those who are good with their hands, can think in a linear fashion and are decent with numbers make good sheet metal workers, Gascho said. "It helps to be fairly good at math. You measure, measure and measure all the time."

Sheet metal workers on the commercial/industrial side tend to work eight hour days Monday to Friday, although overtime can happen, Gascho said. Workers on the residential side tend to work much longer days, he added. For Gascho's crew, a typical day would include arriving at the work site in the morning, going over the plans for the day and then getting on with the building. The workers use many hand tools, such as tin snips, hammers, measuring tapes, and power tools such as grinders, circular saws and lifting equipment in their daily work.

Safety glasses, a hard hat, hearing protection, steel-toed boots are part of the job as well. Gascho said being concerned for personal and colleague safety is an extremely important part of the work. "The most important thing is personal safety. The work we do there's a lot of metal flying around. A little common sense in regards to themselves will go a long way." Sheet metal workers earn between $18 and $26 per hour. Apprentices earn an increasing percentage of those wages over the four-year apprenticeship.

Signing up for, and completing, an apprenticeship is a good idea, Gascho said. "I get a lot of guys who come and work and say: 'this isn't what I want to do.' Sign up (anyway). Even if it isn't what you're going to do for the rest of your life you're doing it now so make the best of it. For an apprentice, there is a lot of repetition to start. There is a lot more in it once you get farther into it." His advice for anyone considering this career: "Have an open mind and be willing to try everything. The building systems are always changing."