7233 – Sheet metal workers

Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products. They are employed by sheet metal fabrication shops, sheet metal products manufacturing companies, sheet metal work contractors and various industrial sectors.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

• Aircraft layout man/woman sheet metal
• Apprentice sheet metal worker
• Apprentice tinsmith
• Construction sheet metal worker
• Coppersmith
• Custom sheet metal fabricator
• Fitter – sheet metal working
• High rise sheet metal installer
• Industrial sheet metal worker
• Journeyman/woman sheet metal worker
• Maintenance sheet metal worker
• Metal furniture model maker
• Metal furniture patternmaker
• Plant tinsmith
• Precision sheet metal fabricator
• Precision sheet metal mechanic
• Precision sheet metal worker
• Residential (low rise) sheet metal installer
• Sheet metal fabricator
• Sheet metal installer
• Sheet metal layer-out
• Sheet metal mechanic
• Sheet metal mechanic apprentice
• Sheet metal mechanic bench hand
• Sheet metal model maker
• Sheet metal patternmaker
• Sheet metal roofer
• Sheet metal work erector
• Sheet metal worker
• Sheet metal worker – manufacturing
• Sheet metal worker – specialty manufacturing
• Tinsmith
• Tinsmith – sheet metal work
• Tinsmith roofer

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Read engineering and architectural drawings, sketches and work specifications to be performed, and lay out, measure and mark sheet metal according to drawings or templates
• Develop patterns for sheet metal using computer-assisted design and drafting (CAD) software package
• Operate light metalworking machines such as shears, brakes, punches, and drill presses, including computer numerical control (CNC) equipment to cut, bend, punch, drill, shape or straighten sheet metal
• Operate computerized laser or plasma cutting equipment to cut sheet metal
• Install and use rigging and hoisting equipment
• Fit and join sheet metal parts using riveting, welding, soldering and similar equipment to fabricate products such as ventilation shafts, exhaust hoods, eavestroughs, partition frames, air and heat ducts, material handling systems, roof decking and sheet metal buildings
• Install sheet metal products according to specifications and building codes
• Grind and buff seams, joints and rough surfaces
• Inspect product quality and installation to ensure conformance to specifications.

Sheet metal workers may specialize in on-site installation or shop manufacture of sheet metal products, or servicing and maintenance of installed equipment and systems.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three to five year apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in sheet metal working is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for sheet metal workers is compulsory in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
• Trade certification for precision sheet metal set-up operator is available, but voluntary in Quebec.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified sheet metal workers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Additional information

• The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
• Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

• Aircraft sheet metal technicians (in 7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors)
• Boilermakers (7234)
• Ironworkers (7236)
• Metalworking and forging machine operators (9416)
• Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters (7235)
• Supervisors of sheet metal workers (in 7201 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)