Electricians - Working Conditions

Working Conditions

Working conditions for electricians vary by specialization. Generally an electrician's work is physically active, with climbing of ladders and lifting of tools and supplies. Occasionally an electrician must work in a cramped space or on scaffolding, and may frequently be bending, squatting or kneeling, to make connections in awkward locations. Construction electricians may spend much of their days in outdoor or semi-outdoor noisy and dirty worksites. Industrial electricians may be exposed to the heat, dust, and noise of an industrial plant. Power systems electricians may be called to work in all kinds of adverse weather to make emergency repairs. Because of the training and skills required, an electrician's job pays better than general labor; for example, in 2005 in one province of Canada, electricians were the highest-paid of the trades. Some electricians work under union collective agreements with closely defined employment conditions, others are independent contractors who must charge based on current local market conditions.