Welder Blows himself up
I just had to write about this amazing welding story, apparently a welder sitting in his van on his way to work decides to light up a cigarette. The next thing he knows is the van is completely destroyed.
It appears it was a complete miracle, particularly as the shop owner nearby thought he was still in Iraq!!
The article can be found here via WJBF news channel, you have to watch the video report of the accident, just unbelievable.
Doctor Who Welders Mask
Well I am not to sure what to say about this, but one thing is for sure it is unique and with only 5oo worldwide are very exclusive.
The price is £24.50 and would be shipped from New Zealand, that[s if you want to stand out from the crowd, whether it meets safty standards I have no idea but I am sure no one would get in your way if you happen to be welding with this on.
If you are interested you need to go to Weta’s website for more details.
Successful Welders
Well I have to admit I was keen to write this post after some of the welding disasters recently. So for some more positive news in the press I came across these two welders who are clasic rags to riches stories.
The first is Ed Shea, who has just been made a Laureate of the Acadiana Business Hall of Fame, whom in 1944 after working as a welder for Texaco decide to go on his own with his welding machine and truck formed Bayou welding
Secondly Ashok Khade whom after a successful career in the ship industry had to find a way to increase his earnings, like many of us but in this case to support his four cousins after the death of their father he set up Das Offshore Engineering Pvt Ltd and now employs over 2000 workers.
Well welding isn’t such a bad career choice, to think Ashok wanted to have a career in Medicine!
Still I hope the two stories can help a few other budding entrepreneurial welders!
New York Crane, was the welder at fault!
I have to admit writting here on international welder gets rather fustrating at time when, all you get to here about is welding accidents, so at some stage I will try to find anything that is possitve newsworthy in future.
So as most of us have heard about the crane crash in New York, but what has now come to light is that the crane had recently been in for a refit and it appears the part that caused the crash was poorly welded by the New York Crane and Equipment company. Although the investigation is at early stages it will be interesting to see who was at fault and why.
A more detailed report on this investigation can be found via the New York Times
It can be safe welding!
I thought this was an interesting article I came across at the Star Tribune in regards to MinePro who have gone 5 years without an accident, which is a fantastic achievement considering they have a busy shop floor.
What stood out was their attitude to safety, which I have not come across before they call “Safestart”. A system where each employee acts as a safety officer for a week.
For me it is comments from Chris Cook a welder that says it all “It’s a privilege to be working in a situation like this without being injured,” He should know as he has had enough injuries in the past.
It goes to show good management and a positive attitude to safety pays of with no lost time in the factory, surely companies can see by taking short cuts apart from leading to serious accidents, but it also ensures more productivity time and profits, they must relate to that I would assume!
Lincoln Electric’s plan to create more welders
It looks like one company is doing its bit to create more welders to cover the short fall in America, with a donation of $300,000 to the American Welding society, I would be interested to know if the UK intends to do the the same.
What is apparent with me commenting on welding news throughout the world, is that American can see this problem and there are many colleges trying to address this issue, where as we in the UK seem just content in bringing in cheap labour from Europe to fill the gap!
The Company which is doing its part is Lincoln Electric More details on this can be found at WeldingMag
Welding Fire kills 30
I am a little late with this news and it is probably one of the worst casultites I have mentioned here from a welding spark I would assume.
Apparently a container holding 60,000 litres of flammable products had exploded, it still amazes me that welders are working in these very hazardous conditions. The factory produced Cosmetics and detergents and is located in Arak, south west of Tehran
On top of this it seems 23 of the survivors have 70% or more burns.
Details came from the BBC website
Just quick update I have found a little more coverage on this disaster which can be found here, with photos from the scene.
Subsea 7 Expand in Texas
Having reported here before on Subsea 7 & it looks likee they will be recruiting in Texas soon at the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District one of 12 deep water ports in Texas as reported by the Brownsville Herald, yesterday.
Subsea 7 will be building a $32 million pipe assembly plant, which will apparently attract a number of possitions and I would have thought a few pipe welders.
Although things shouldn’t start moving till the middle of next year, I should keep an eye on this one as it sounds like it would be a good opportunity. If you visit their careers site you can see they have started looking for key personnel in the Gulf of Mexico already!
Welders needed in Rhode Island
Its interesting how the market is hotting up for welders, as it seem some companies on Rhode Island are crying out for welders. Below are a couple of excerpts from www.projo.com.
“Absolutely. Big time,” said Ken Aurecchia, business manager for Local 51, the plumbers, pipefitters and service technicians union, when asked if there was a shortage of welders in Rhode Island.
Joe Matarese, human resources manager for Senesco Marine at Quonset Point, said his company has had to import welders from out of state. “We’re building five vessels right now, and to keep up with that demand we need more welders. We need to import welders from Mississippi and Alabama, because we can’t find the local ones we need,” he said.
Matarese said Senesco is using 146 welders, and 75 of them are contract employees from outside Rhode Island.
“There is a shortage, particularly when it comes to getting the quality welders we need. There are some people who know how to weld, but not the kind of work we need,” Matarese said. So Senesco is starting a six-week training program for new welders that will start with six students.
“It’s a basic welding program. But when it comes to the technicalities of what we need to do, we’re going to be very specific … hopefully, we’ll get six people who can start right away,” Matarese said.
Robert A. Hamilton, communications director for Electric Boat, said the company is not hiring new welders at the moment. But because Congress recently authorized building two new submarines a year, instead of just one, starting in 2011, he anticipates Electric Boat will need more welders soon.
Some good leads there, so if you are in the UK looking to make a move it looks like the states will have a lot to offer!
Welding Job Leads
One thing I did think would be useful, would be to pass on any job opportunities I come across for welders.
So to start the ball rolling I came across this article the other day in regards to JE Johnson Inc who are apparently expanding in the Midlands, that the USA for my UK friends.
The article goes on to say that
“We estimate there will be 200 to 300 openings annually for skilled welders in our region for the next three to five years. This demand will create more new positions for welders than for any other technical positions in our area,” said Bill Moneypenny, CEO of MITECH+, during a recent meeting.
“Our (human resources) people are busy all the time,” Younk said. “Skilled tradespeople are tough to find.”
Now if that was an incentive to make you want to check out thier opportunities.