Essential Functions

The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation. For students to be successful in the Welding and Joining Programs, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:

• Ability to Use Senses.
  • Visual: Acuity to identify correct operating procurers and to read fine print on equipment or other documents required in the operation of equipment in a welding environment.
  • Hearing: The ability to hear the sounds produced by different welding processes, emergency signals (with auditory aids or full-time interpreter for the hearing impaired), and to understand a normal speaking voice without direct access to the speaker’s face.
  • Smell: Ability to evaluate possible dangers involved in working with hazardous materials in a welding environment. Be able to detect burning smells produced by flame and electric arc welding.
  • Tactile: Feel heat or pain and evaluate the possible danger of potential injury or danger.
• Motor Ability.
  • Physical ability to walk long distances and stand for long periods of time; to lift, move, and transfer equipment of at least 50 pounds; and to maneuver in limited space.
  • Ability to work while in hot/humid and/or cold conditions; in confined areas.
  • Ability to have manual dexterity to efficiently and safely use equipment, power tools and hand tools, and other small and large equipment while wearing essential safety glasses and/or gloves, and/or other necessary required safety gear.
• Ability to Understand Need for a Safe Work Environment.
  • Practical awareness of potential dangers within the welding field.
  • Ability to wear necessary safety gear, i.e. safety glasses, gloves, head covering, etc.
  • Ability to maintain safe environment at all times in a welding environment.
• Ability to Communicate.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to class partners and/or team and to instructor.
  • Ability to write and perform routine mathematical calculations clearly and correctly as necessary.
  • Basic proficiency in technology (computers) as welding industry requires.
• Ability to Problem Solve.
  • Intellectual and conceptual ability for measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, and prioritizing daily functions in today's welding industry.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency without jeopardizing safety.
  • Ability to react and adjust as instructed by the instructor(s) during lab or shop instruction or based on customer's needs.
• Ability to Maintain Emotional Stability.
  • Ability to function safely under stress in today's workplace and adapt to changing staff and client/customer situations.
  • Ability to maintain composure and professionalism at all times in labs and work and lab/shop environment.
• Ability to Perform Practical Outcomes.
  • Ability to function under the practical guidelines of the American Welding Society (AWS) the industry standard for testing.