Overview

Pipelayers connect Ontario’s homes and businesses with essential infrastructure. Partner with Heavy Equipment Operators and Pipelayer Assistants to identify, uncover, repair, and replace pipes of all sizes and materials. Start down this lucrative career path with a high school diploma and a few years of experience.

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Skills You’ll Need

  • Ability to interpret blueprints, project specifications, and drawings
  • Understanding of required equipment, like pipe lasers
  • Comfort working in confined spaces, within trenches, and at all depths
  • Ability to identify existing utilities prior to and during excavation
  • Knowledge of all types of excavation (open cut, shoring, etc.)
  • Strong communication skills, including hand signals
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What You’ll Do

  • Install pipes of all sizes and materials in service of civil utilities like sanitary and storm sewers, water mains, culverts, catch basins, and manholes
  • Coordinate with heavy equipment operators
  • Uncover, protect, and repair existing utilities
  • Ensure proper slope and grading of new pipes
  • Set up sewer lasers and sewer bypasses
  • Bench and purge manholes
  • Interpret project documentation, including blueprints
  • Oversee and train Pipelayer Assistants
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Role Requirements

To become a Pipelayer, you’ll need the following:

  • A high school diploma
  • Local soil knowledge
  • A basic understanding of grades (slope and elevation)
  • Pipelayer Assistant experience preferred

How To
Get Started

To become a Pipelayer, you just need to find an opening. Nearly all employers are willing to train you, as long as you meet the requirements above. Take a look at A Single Drop’s job board and look for Pipelayer and Pipelayer Assistant roles in your area.

What
Ontarians
Are Saying

OSWCA, employee, blue hard hat, black clothing, hooking up chain to pipe, vertical, 24067_BUILDWITT_1229

“I have attained all of my career goals – from truck driver and labourer to pipelayer, mainline operator, and now foreman. You have the opportunity to make a very good living for yourself and your family.”

Rob Stack
Foreman
Rankin Construction

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