Insulation Worker
Properly insulated buildings reduce energy consumption by keeping heat in during the winter and out in
the summer. Refrigerated storage rooms, vats, tanks, vessels, boilers, and steam and hot-water pipes
also are insulated to prevent the wasteful transfer of heat. Insulation workers install the materials
used to insulate buildings and equipment.
Insulation workers cement, staple, wire, tape, or spray insulation. When covering a steampipe,
for example, insulation workers measure and cut sections of insulation to the proper length, stretch
it open along a cut that runs the length of the material, and slip it over the pipe. They fasten the
insulation with adhesive, staples, tape, or wire bands. Sometimes, they wrap a cover of aluminum,
plastic, or canvas over the insulation and cement or band the cover in place. Insulation workers may
screw on sheet metal around insulated pipes to protect the insulation from weather conditions or physical
abuse.
When covering a wall or other flat surface, workers may use a hose to spray foam insulation onto a wire
mesh that provides a rough surface to which the foam can cling and that adds strength to the finished
surface. Workers may then install drywall or apply a final coat of plaster for a finished appearance.
In attics or exterior walls of uninsulated buildings, workers blow in loose-fill insulation. A helper
feeds a machine with fiberglass, cellulose, or rock-wool insulation, while another worker blows the
insulation with a compressor hose into the space being filled.
In new construction or on major renovations, insulation workers staple fiberglass or rock-wool batts to
exterior walls and ceilings before drywall, paneling, or plaster walls are put in place. In making major
renovations to old buildings or when putting new insulation around pipes and industrial machinery,
insulation workers often must first remove the old insulation. In the past, asbestos—now known to cause
cancer in humans—was used extensively in walls and ceilings and to cover pipes, boilers, and various
industrial equipment. Because of this danger, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations require
that asbestos be removed before a building undergoes major renovations or is demolished. When asbestos
is present, specially trained workers must remove the asbestos before insulation workers can install the
new insulating materials.
Insulation workers generally work indoors. They spend most of the workday on their feet, either
standing, bending, or kneeling. Sometimes, they work from ladders or in tight spaces. The work requires
more coordination than strength. Insulation work often is dusty and dirty, and the summer heat can make
the insulation worker very uncomfortable. Minute particles from insulation materials, especially when
blown, can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. Workers must follow strict safety guidelines
to protect themselves from the dangers of insulating irritants. They keep work areas well ventilated;
wear protective suits, masks, and respirators; and take decontamination showers when necessary.
Source: http://stats.bls.gov/home.htm
