Pradeep Yadav, Welder, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd,
Structural Steel Division, Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I hold a total welding experience of more than 15 Years. Currently, I am working with Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, wherein I am responsible for welding processes, grind and cut rail. I weld fabricated steel structures as per specifications of drawings and knowledge of welding characteristics of metals.
What made you choose welding as a career?
After completion of ITI – Fitter trade, I got an opportunity to work with Vijay Engineering Works, where I started my career as Trainee. During work & after discussion with colleagues & seniors, I developed a deep interest in welding area. Before opting welding as a fulltime profession, I was just looking after farming along with my father.
What type of projects are your currently working upon?
I am working on different fabrication projects of General Electrics, Doosan etc. The welding activities involved are Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
Can you describe on some of the mega projects you worked upon in the past?
I worked upon some mega projects like high rise building of Flipkart, Alphatum, Mist Avenue, Railway Bridges, etc.
What challenges did you come across when at work? How do you manage to cope up with the same?
During long seam welding, continuously distortion took place in the structure and several times welding support got deformed, as a result it became a difficult situation to complete the welding on that structure. Finally to manage the same I followed intermittent welding process and completed the job successfully.
Can you tell us about a time when you disagreed with your senior’s decision made at work on Welding? Why? How did you manage to handle the same?
Yes, I disagreed with my senior during welding job. I remember, while working on one of the project, I was asked to do welding without using support, as my senior stated that job is to be completed urgently. I disagreed because that particular job could not be completed without proper support. Finally I convinced him and completed the job successfully.
Your say on the Safety at Work. How do you consider the same when on site?
Safety needs to be followed by everyone entering into the plant. When on site, before I start welding, I ensure that I use all Personal Protective Equipments (PPE’s) and maintain proper housekeeping of my work place.
Any anecdotes you wish to share to support the importance of safety for welders?
When I was working on site, I observed that when one of my colleagues was doing Flux core Arc Welding, an explosion took place due to contact of spatter with nearby silicon spray container. Thus safety is highly important and needs to be considered before a welder starts welding.
What is your greatest strength, and how does it help you as a Welder?
To accept the challenge is my greatest strength. It provides me to work on different welding jobs in even extreme difficult conditions.
Can you please share an incident of a toughest welding job you have come across?
During Stud Welding of Railway Bridge, the welding observed a frequent break down. Finally I completed the job through Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
Right from the time you started your career till date, what has been your learning so far? Any new skills you have learned?
I learnt so many welding tricks, techniques, positions, welding of different metals (both Ferrous & nonferrous).
Availability of skilled welders is a major problem in India. All the skilled welders opt to work abroad. Your say. Any expectations from the government to push the skilled welders work for projects in India?
I disagree with this, that skilled welder is a major problem in India. No, all skilled welders do not opt to work abroad as they consider their family as a first priority along with job. We expect that there should be more number of training centers to train welders especially from remote areas.
Closing message
Any person in welding profession needs to focus on welding quality as their top most priority.
