Getting started with steel

— Photo courtesy Johnny Ross

A new worker in a steel fabrication shop is faced with mastering a large array of tools and practices. The tools range from the metal punch to plate shear and it can be a lot for a new employee to take in all at once. Fortunately for Kootenay residents, Johnny Ross of Cranbrook is sharing his extensive experience as a steel fabricator and has written a booklet to introduce new workers to the steel fabrication field.

First Day on the Job—New Employee Orientation Booklet For Steel Fabrication outlines the common machines, practices and hazards commonly seen within a steel fabrication shop. Ross said that in his more than 45 years as a steel fabricator, he seen many accidents and close calls. He wanted to better prepare new workers for their jobs.

"This booklet will assist workers by allowing then to read the information at a relaxed pace, perhaps even taking the booklet home before their first shifts in order to familiarize themselves with the function of individual machines," said Ross. "Far more importantly, (they'll) be able to recognize the hazards associated with the use of the machines."

Interested parties can learn more about First Day on the Job on Ross's website