Blaster / Painter
What do Blasters and Painters do?
Blasters and painters play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity and safety of nuclear facilities by applying and maintaining protective coatings to surfaces and structures. They are responsible for preparing surfaces, applying coatings and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards to prevent corrosion and deterioration.
Typical duties and responsibilities of a Blaster / Painter
- Surface Preparation: They prepare surfaces using techniques such as sandblasting, cleaning and removing old coatings. This ensures proper adhesion of new protective layers.
- Coating Application: Blasters and painters apply protective coatings to surfaces like pipes, tanks and equipment. This application prevents corrosion and deterioration.
- Environmental Monitoring: They monitor environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity, to ensure optimal settings for coating application and curing.
- Quality Inspection: These professionals inspect coated surfaces for defects such as runs, sags or bubbles. Necessary repairs or adjustments are made to maintain quality standards.
- Safety Adherence: Blasters and painters strictly follow safety protocols and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimise exposure to hazardous materials, ensuring a secure work environment.
Skills and knowledge required to be a Blaster / Painter
- Coating Expertise: Acquiring knowledge about coating materials, application techniques and curing processes is essential.
- Safety Awareness: Understanding safety regulations and adhering to best practices when handling hazardous materials and working in confined spaces is crucial.
- Quality Focus: Paying meticulous attention to detail and maintaining high quality standards during coating application and inspection is vital.
- Physical Resilience: Possessing physical stamina and strength to handle manual labour tasks and work effectively in diverse environmental conditions.
- Effective Communication: Having strong communication skills to convey information efficiently and collaborate seamlessly with team members.
How do I become a Blaster / Painter?
Technical Training
Completing vocational training or certification programmes in surface preparation and coating application equips individuals with essential skills and knowledge for this role. Many technical schools and trade organisations offer courses and certifications specifically in industrial painting and coating.
Apprenticeship
Some nuclear organisations provide apprenticeship programmes tailored for individuals interested in becoming blasters and painters. These programmes typically blend on-the-job training with classroom instruction and may lead to industry-recognised certifications or qualifications.
On-the-Job Experience
Gaining experience in related fields, such as construction, manufacturing or industrial maintenance, can provide valuable skills and knowledge applicable to a career as a blaster and painter. Entry-level positions in maintenance or construction may offer opportunities to learn and develop painting and coating skills.
