Self Employed welders and codings

[Metalsculptor]

Hi all,

I am trying to find out more about having codings as a self employed welder.

I am a sculptor, but also fabricate for companies in between my art projects, usually set building or sculpture fabrication.

The last job i was on needed coded welders, so my employer got Code-a-weld in for a day to test us (he took the welds away to test them).
So now i am coded, albeit for a quite specific type of weld (MAG, PA & PB, 3mm Steel & up).

My employer also took the coding, so his business is coded - he told me that there were insurance implications, so it was better for his business to be coded, than taking on welders that had codings themselves.

He said that even though i am coded, if i were to weld for a company that wasn't coded themselves, that I would have to have specialist insurance in place as i would ultimately be responsible, as it was me who had the coding, not the company.

I have my own public liability insurance, which i need as an artist, but I doubt this would cover such things.

Let me know if you have any experience or knowledge of this - i would appreciate your opinions…

Thanks

 

[wyn]

If the employer paid for the codings he effectively "owns" them but they only apply to you.

I don't think your coding would mean his company is "coded"....possibly some other sort of standard saying they employ coded welders.

I did a coding last year ...as self employed i paid for it....i also had my pic on it so no one could pass it off as theirs..which the instructor/tester said happens quite a bit.

 

[Welderpaul]

Briefly; for someone to be 'coded' they need to do a weld test to BS287 or BS9606 (Latest version). If it is passed, it qualifys the welder to weld a particular thickness and position. Different tests are done for ranges of thicknesses and positions.

A company needs to have a set of weld procedures in place which cover the typical work they do. These are usually designed by a Responsible Welding Co-ordinator or Welding Engineer. An employee of the company then does a weld test in accordance with the proposed procedure (a bit more involved than above). Weld plates are tested and if ok, 'sets' that particular procedure (It also automatically qualifies the welder if he isn't already) Sounds like this is what your boss is taking about - you can't 'code' a business.

Its all very easy really. Most of our welders are coded for 3 to 24mm on butts and fillets. This covers 90% of our structural work. I can do up to 40mm which means i have to get my hands dirty - usually just to do the baseplates

 

[Metalsculptor]

Thanks.
So when a company advertises for coded welders - they would re-code you under their own procedures if you got the job?
They ask for coded welders to ensure they get good quality applicants, but wouldn't actually use the coding you already have?
Any opinions on the insurances a self employed welder should have?

 

[BrokenBiker]

self employed should have a decent public liability insurace and i think public indemnity too, i am a self employed spark so i just searched electrician insurance and chose the one suited to me.