Level 2 Industrial Coatings Applicator Apprenticeship Standard

Apprenticeships are work-based programmes which involve training whilst working for an employer. An apprentice works at their employer’s premises, gaining practical experience and skills while working towards completing an apprenticeship which is relevant to their job.

Overview of the role
There is a high demand for skilled industrial coatings applicators in the national infrastructure sector. The work usually takes place within a workshop or a designated area of a construction site for new steel structures, and on site for the maintenance or refurbishment of existing steel structures.
Industrial coatings applicators play a key role in protecting the nation’s infrastructure from deterioration for the benefit of existing and future generations. They are required to prepare the surface of new or existing steel structures to remove any contamination, mill scale, rust, or unsound existing coatings, and apply the appropriate corrosion protection coatings to specified standards. A competent industrial coatings applicator will be able to undertake the role safely and without supervision.

The protected structure will usually be on display as part of the nation’s infrastructure and may include bridges, sports stadia, wind turbines, and buildings used for example as power generation facilities, high rise offices, schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels and warehouses, as well as more minor structures such as lighting columns.

Core Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour Requirements

Industrial coatings applicators will gain the knowledge of:
• Health and safety relating to industrial coatings application including relevant health and safety regulations, the need for and methods of safe working, the requirement for access systems and working platforms for safe working at height, hazard identification and mitigation, and the health, safety and
• environmental implications of the various materials and substances used.
• Legal requirements for protecting the environment.
• The need to address the areas that require protection from the high pressured projectiles and other contaminants released in the corrosion protection process.
• The types of industrial coating materials used, and the different techniques and equipment used for surface preparation and coating application.
• The safe use of the non powered and powered equipment and tools used in industrial coatings work.
• The causes of typical surface preparation and coatings defects, how they can be avoided and how they can be rectified.
• Quality documents, reporting systems and the need to keep basic records (e.g. work diary) and to do basic calculations (e.g. for material coverage and usage).

Industrial coatings applicators gain the skills to:
• Prepare and maintain working areas for undertaking work safely and effectively including the safe use and secure storage of equipment and material.
• Use established safe manual and mechanical handling techniques to move equipment, material and waste.
• Interpret and work to method statements, specifications, and inspection and test plans.
• Undertake the specified method of surface preparation of the steelwork (e.g. by hand or power tool cleaning, blast cleaning) and the specified method of protective coating application (e.g. by brush, roller, spray), to the required standards.
• Achieve the specified standard of work including the use of appropriate quality control measuring and test equipment, and instrumentation.
• Identify surface preparation and coatings defects and rectify defective work.
• Care for and maintain tools and equipment.
• Identify and correctly use appropriate personal protective and respirator equipment ensuring that it is in good condition and working correctly.
• Maintain health, safety and environmental protection measures.

Industrial coatings applicators will develop the following behaviours:
• Have a questioning attitude to work including to understanding the processes used, the associated industrial trades and the need to embrace change to maintain industry best practice.
• Be able to communicate effectively and work effectively with others.
• Be able to think logically using clear and valid reasoning when making decisions.
• Be motivated and accountable for following specified procedures and controls, for planning and carrying out their work activities and consistently meeting production and quality expectations, and for their personal development.
• Be accountable for their health and safety, and the health and safety of others.

The knowledge, skills and behaviours for this role will be developed over the duration of the apprenticeship.
Maths and English will be embedded within the apprenticeship.