Road Worker

A road worker helps to build new roads and pavements, repair or improve existing ones, and bury cables underneath the road surfaces.

The Work

You could be:

• digging trenches for laying cables and pipes for services such as gas, electricity, water, telephones and television


• using hand tools, such as picks and shovels, using machinery such as drills, cement mixers and rollers


• mixing and spreading concrete, tarmac, gravel and crushed stone


• laying kerb slabs and paving stones


• painting road markings, keeping to straight lines


• filling in potholes and resurfacing cracks


• putting up fences, barriers and road signs or traffic lights and street lights


• trimming trees and grass in the central reservations


• spreading grit and salt in snowy weather.

Conditions

• You work outdoors in all weathers.


• You use very noisy equipment such as pneumatic drills.


• You wear protective clothing including reflective jacket, ear mufflers, hat and boots.


• You might be working in remote areas, travelling a lot and spending days at a time away from home.


• Your standard working week is 39 hours, but overtime is common.


• You work night and weekend shifts.


• You carry heavy tools from place to place.

Getting In

• A good general education is useful.


• You need basic reading and number skills.


• You may have to take an aptitude test before entry.


• A driving licence is sometimes required and a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence can be useful.


• As a rule you must be over 18.


• From 2010 you have to hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent. You will need to pass a health and safety test and have a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) certificate.


• You should be fit and strong.


• You should not be allergic to dust.

What Does It Take?

You need:

• physical fitness and stamina


• strength, particularly in your back, shoulders and arms


• a steady hand


• the ability to follow instructions


• health and safety awareness


• a willingness to work outwith normal hours on a callout rota


• the ability to work in a team.

Training

• You would train on-the-job, possibly with day or block release training at a local college or private training provider.


• You could study towards SVQ Construction and Civil Engineering Services Level 1, Construction Operations (Construction) Level 2, Highways Maintenance (Construction) Level 2 or Roadbuilding (Construction) Level 2.


• There are also relevant Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) units in Excavation and Reinstatement.


• Several colleges and private training providers offer short courses that qualify road workers to register for a Street Works Qualification Register identity card (see below).

Getting On

After experience, you can move on to a supervisory job such as ganger, or to train in operating specialised machinery. You could work towards an SVQ Level 3 in Construction Site Supervision: Highways Maintenance and Repair.

You can also become self-employed, hiring yourself out on a contract basis, or find work abroad.

Whenever there are road works:

• a qualified supervisor must be in charge (not necessarily present at all times) to supervise the works


• at least one qualified operative who is on the Streetworks Qualification Register must be actually present on site at all times.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Pay rates vary, depending on:

• where you work


• the size of your company


• the demand for the job.

More Information

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.