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Assignment 4 – Occupational Observervation

Marina Ferreira de Melo

UW-Stout 2019

Professor Matthew Simoneau

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Job title – Plumber (Mike, with Building Waters, Racine)

Occupational Area – Construction and Manufacturing

Observation was performed on March, 22. It started at 2:30 pm and finished at 3:00 pm.

Duties - Interprets blueprints and building specifications to map layout for pipes, drainage
systems, and other plumbing materials;

-Installs pipes and fixtures, such as sinks and toilets, for water, gas, steam, air, or other liquids;

-Installs supports for pipes, equipment, and fixtures prior to installation;

-Assembles fittings and valves for installation;

-Modifies length of pipes, fixtures, and other plumbing materials as needed for a building;

-Uses saws and pipe cutters as necessary;

-Installs heating and air-conditioning systems, including water heaters;

-Collaborates with contractors, construction workers, electricians, pipefitters, and steamfitters in

installing and repairing plumbing;

-Tests plumbing systems for leaks and other problems;

-Analyses problem and identifies appropriate tools and materials for repair; (I have chosen
to break down this duty as it was the only one I had the chance to observe)

-Chooses plumbing materials based on budget, location, and intended uses of building;

-Follows health and safety standards and complies with building codes;

-Writes report documenting the problem and summary of actions taken;

-Performs inspections of plumbing systems to identify and replace worn parts;

-Prepares bids and schedules and oversees other workers, such as apprentices and helpers.
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Tasks involved - Analyzing a problem and identifying appropriate tools and materials for
kitchen sink pipe repair:

Before starting the repair itself, Mike identified himself and asked me to show him where the
problem was. He, then, gathered all the tools and materials he judged necessary for the repair.

Step 1

Place the bucket underneath the leaky pipes. Put on your nitrile or vinyl gloves to protect your
hands from contaminated drain water. Turn off the water valves to the sink to prevent use of the
water when the sink drainpipes are removed.
Step 2
Lay out the replacement pipes on the floor next to the sink to see how they fit together.
Step 3
Start at the top and work down. Remove the tailpipe nut beneath the sink basket by turning it
counterclockwise using the channel-lock pliers.
Step 4
Detach the large nut that secures the P-trap to the straight tailpipe leading from the sink basket
into the trap. Place the channel-lock pliers on the nut and turn it counterclockwise to loosen.
Step 5
Repeat the nut removal on the other end of the P-trap. Carefully dump the P-trap's contents into
the bucket.
Step 6
Loosen the nut that holds the last pipe that leads into the waste lines in the wall or floor. Remove
the pipe.
Step 7
Insert the gasket for the new tailpipe atop the pipe and thread the new nut onto the pipe after the
gasket. Tightly secure it by hand, then tighten it with the channel locks.
Step 8
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Thread the nut and gasket onto the tailpipe before inserting the pipe's end into the P-trap. Hold
the P-trap in place as you manually tighten the nut on the P-trap. Verify you have the gasket
between the nut and facing the P-trap's threads.

Step 9
Connect the last pipe in the same manner as you did for the tailpipe and P-trap. Verify you've
installed the gasket before adding the nut. After manually tightening the nut, go back and tighten
it with the channel-lock pliers.
Step 10
Turn the water back on and check the drain for leaks.
After proceeding with all the steps necessary for successfully repairing the pipe, Mike cleaned up
the area under the sink.
Then, he showed me the work he had done and presented me with the invoice, which
discriminated the materials used as well as his labor time to come to a total.
I payed for the service by check, which was analyzed by Mike, confirming all the information
necessary was correct.

Task Analysis Observation Worksheet

Tasks Steps Psychomotor
Cognitive
Affective
Step 1
Repair a sink pipe Cognitive
Place the bucket underneath the leaky pipes. Put on your nitrile or and
vinyl gloves to protect your hands from contaminated drain water. psychomotor
Turn off the water valves to the sink to prevent use of the water
when the sink drainpipes are removed.
Step 2
Lay out the replacement pipes on the floor next to the sink to see
how they fit together.
Step 3
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Start at the top and work down. Remove the tailpipe nut beneath
the sink basket by turning it counterclockwise using the channel-
lock pliers.
Step 4
Detach the large nut that secures the P-trap to the straight tailpipe
leading from the sink basket into the trap. Place the channel-lock
pliers on the nut and turn it counterclockwise to loosen.
Step 5
Repeat the nut removal on the other end of the P-trap. Carefully
dump the P-trap's contents into the bucket.
Step 6
Loosen the nut that holds the last pipe that leads into the waste
lines in the wall or floor. Remove the pipe.
Step 7
Insert the gasket for the new tailpipe atop the pipe and thread the
new nut onto the pipe after the gasket. Tightly secure it by hand,
then tighten it with the channel locks.
Step 8
Thread the nut and gasket onto the tailpipe before inserting the
pipe's end into the P-trap. Hold the P-trap in place as you
manually tighten the nut on the P-trap. Verify you have the gasket
between the nut and facing the P-trap's threads.

Step 9
Connect the last pipe in the same manner as you did for the
tailpipe and P-trap. Verify you've installed the gasket before
adding the nut. After manually tightening the nut, go back and
tighten it with the channel-lock pliers.
Step 10
Turn the water back on and check the drain for leaks.
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Politely greet customer, prove identification by showing Cognitive

company’s logo or other type of ID.
Greeting costumer and identify Affective
yourself

Show customer invoice filled in detail, such as materials used, Cognitive

labor time and total cost of repair
Provide customer with invoice for Affective
service performed

Receive payment from customer which can be by checks, cards or Cognitive

cash.
Receive payment Verify if the amount corresponds to amount on invoice.

I believe one of the strongest clusters of CTE is Construction and Manufacturing, and
naturally, building repair and maintenance. It is undeniable plumbing is an essential part of any
construction, be it a hospital or a home. Therefore, plumbing technology programs should always
and continuously be offered at secondary and also postsecondary levels. Plumbing is an area that
has steady demand and wages are significantly high, with an annual average of $52,590 (2017).

A program offering Plumbing will have restraints, just like any other. As for the student,
it is important to bear in mind that they will probably have to work evenings and weekends, work
overtime, will have to respond to emergencies. Apprenticeships are normally required while in a
program, so students should be able to balance work and study. Another point to be considered is
that plumbers frequently sustain injuries, including burns, cuts, and falls.
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When designing the curriculum for a program, there are non-technical skills that must be
offered in addition to the traditional technical disciplines, and these should focus on:

Listening Skills: plumbers will have to pay attention to what customers tell you in order to
understand their problems.

Troubleshooting: after listening to a complaint, you will have to determine its cause and then
figure out how to make the proper repairs.

Critical Thinking: when solving a problem, you may have to weigh possible solutions before you
can choose the best one.

Verbal Communication: plumbers must be able to clearly explain to customers the work you are
planning to do and the related costs.
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Reference

https://www.philasd.org/cte/our-cte-programs/construction/plumbing-technology/

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/plumber-job-description-and-duties-4107383

https://www.indeed.com/