Boilermakers

Construct, assemble, maintain, and repair stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries. Align structures or plate sections to assemble boiler frame tanks or vats, following blueprints. Work involves use of hand and power tools, plumb bobs, levels, wedges, dogs, or turnbuckles. Assist in testing assembled vessels. Direct cleaning of boilers and boiler furnaces. Inspect and repair boiler fittings, such as safety valves, regulators, automatic-control mechanisms, water columns, and auxiliary machines.

The occupation "Boilermakers" has an automation risk of just 16.0%, closely aligning with its base risk of 16.2%. This relatively low risk can be attributed to the complexity and hands-on nature of much of the work performed in this field. While there are aspects of the profession that could, in theory, be automated with advancements in robotics and machine learning—especially those involving heavy lifting and standardized repair procedures—the nuanced skills and decision-making required keep the threat of automation limited. The job often requires problem-solving in environments and tasks that are not easily reduced to algorithms or repeatable processes. Examining the most automatable tasks, we find that activities such as attaching rigging and signaling crane or hoist operators for lifting heavy materials, studying blueprints to determine component locations and relationships, and repairing or replacing specific vessel parts using various tools stand out. These tasks involve routine processes or involve following explicit instructions that could be replicated by machines with proper programming and sensory equipment. For instance, robots with advanced vision systems could potentially interpret blueprints, and automated rigging systems exist for industrial lifting. However, the intricacies of on-site conditions often present variables that machines might struggle to consistently address. On the other side, the most automation-resistant tasks include those requiring a high degree of manual dexterity, adaptability, and physical manipulation, such as welding pressure vessel tube ends to ensure leakproof joints, cleaning equipment with scrapers and brushes, and installing heat-resistant materials within vessel fireboxes. These elements of the Boilermaker occupation demand a combination of tactile feedback, visual assessment, and adaptability—human strengths that current technology struggles to replicate. The principal bottleneck skill is originality, assessed at a low automation risk level of just 2.4%. Originality involves generating new solutions to unique installation or repair problems, reinforcing the continued need for skilled human judgment and creativity in this trade.