To become a construction signaller, complete a training course and pass an exam. Certification requirements vary by region, and additional training in occupational health and safety can increase employability. Construction flags coordinate and control traffic, using hand signals, road signs, and radios. Certification allows for job applications, and companies may provide training and safety gear.
To become a construction signaller, you must complete a training course and pass an exam leading to your certification as a signaller. Requirements to become a certified flaglager vary depending on the region and it is wise to look up regional requirements before enrolling in a class to confirm that the class will meet the need. Once certified, beacons also need to periodically renew their certifications to stay current. Additional training in occupational health and safety can make a construction flag more employable.
Construction flags coordinate and control traffic around construction sites. This requires the ability to signal traffic, communicate with other signallers to manage traffic, and set up signs, cones, and other devices used to alert people that construction is taking place and that they need to slow down and wait for directions. . Construction flags use hand signals, road signs and radios to interact with each other and with traffic. A construction flag course will teach people about used equipment and how to use it safely.
There are no prerequisites to join a course and people don’t need construction experience to get construction flag jobs. Most courses last one day or less. The course will cover self-signaling along with occupational safety for construction workers, including safety procedures, safety equipment and how to respond to emergencies. Any rules and regulations related to signage work will also be discussed in class to ensure students are familiar with them. At the conclusion of the test, students must pass a written test.
With certification in hand, a potential construction flagger can start applying for jobs. Construction companies and government agencies often have a constant demand for flags. Compensation generally remains low because the work is relatively unskilled. With experience, one can become the head of a signaling crew and have more seniority. People who start out as signalmen can continue to work in other capacities on construction crews or in areas such as occupational health and safety.
Some companies hire people who are not certified. The company will provide or pay for training so that its new hires can work safely in the field. Other benefits often provided by companies include access to work gear including brightly colored safety uniforms, reflective badges and other design features designed to make flags highly visible while on the job.
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