Iron Workers Local 17
Apprenticeship Programs in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown)

Climbing High and Building Cleveland since 1901.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Good physical health confirmed with a medical examination
Agility and good sense of balance
Minimum age of 18 years
High school diploma or GED

APPRENTICESHIP SUMMARY

4 year program
Must have reliable transportation
Must attend classroom and ship instruction; minimum of 174 hours each year of related classroom instruction
Once indentured with the Joint Apprenticeship Committee and registered with the Department of Labor, apprentice will be assigned to a contractor employer signatory with Iron Workers Local 17 with aid from a 90 day probationary period.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION SUMMARY

All apprentices will be trained and certified on the following subjects throughout their three year program. These subjects are taught by experienced, highly skilled certified instructors. All trailing will be conducted at Local 17 Training Center. The Training Center consists of shop, weld area, and classroom facilities.

WHAT DO IRONWORKERS DO?

Ironwok falls into a number of related segments of the trade. Most ironworkers do more that one type of ironwork; each has its own challenges and required skills.

Structural Ironworking Have you ever seen workers walking around on the steel framework of large buildings under construction? Those daredevils are Structural Ironworkers- also known as "cowboys of the skies". There job is to unload, erect, and connect fabricated iron members to form the skeleton of a structure.
Ornamental Ironworking Ornamental Ironworkers install metal windows into the masonry or wooden openings of a building. They also erect the curtain wall and window wall systems that cover the steel or reinforced concrete structure of a building. Ornamental Ironworkers also install and erect metal stairways, catwalks, gratings, ladders, fencing, gates, metal screens, elevator fronts, platforms, and entranceways.
Reinforcing and Post Tensioning Ironworking Have you ever heard the term Re-bar? If you have you may know that it is Reinforcing Ironworkers who fabricate and place these steel and composite bars in concrete forms to reinforce concrete structures. Reinforcing Ironworkers also install Post Tension Tendons (cables).
Rigging and Machinery Moving Rigging is an integral part of the Ironworking trade. Structural, Reinforcing, and Ornamental Ironworkers all do this type of work. Any Ironworker that does rigging must have knowledge of fiber line, wire rope, hooks, skids, rollers, proper hand signals, hoisting equipment, as well as have comprehensive training on safety issues. Ironworker Riggers load, unload, move and set machinery, structural steel, curtain walls, and any other materials or work falling under the jurisdiction of the Ironworker.
Welding and Burning Structural, Reinforcing, Ornamental, and Rigging Ironworkers all perform welding to secure their work to the structure. Welding and burning equipment are considered "tools of the trade". Upon completion of training, the Ironworker student will have the opportunity to be tested to become a certified welder. This designation meets the American Welding Society's welding codes normally specified by the jobsite engineer.