Career guide

Concrete formworker: career guide and training

As a concrete formworker you build formwork in wood or with a formwork system, you assemble reinforcement and place it in the formwork, and you pour and compact the concrete.

What will you do?

You order the concrete, check the delivery, strike the formwork afterwards and polish and finish the concrete surface. It is varied outdoor work on structural construction sites, where colleagues also know this trade as formwork carpenter, concrete worker or steel fixer. You prepare the site, work safely and with respect for the environment.

  • Prepare the site and the work ahead
  • Place wooden or system formwork
  • Position the reinforcement in the formwork
  • Order the concrete and check the delivery
  • Pour and compact the concrete
  • Strike the formwork from the hardened elements
  • Polish and finish the concrete

Skills to develop

  • Able to read plans and formwork drawings
  • Good physical condition for heavy outdoor work
  • Precision when setting out and finishing
  • Enjoy working in a team on site

Your foundation for this occupation

Read formwork drawings and understand form, support and concrete finish. The assembly must resist the planned loading.

From preparation to your first day

  1. Develop the practical skills

    Build simple wall or column formwork under supervision using system instructions. Practise dimensions, connections and openings.

  2. Check your work

    Check alignment, fastening and tightness before joint approval to pour. Strip formwork only in the agreed sequence.

How can you grow?

Specialise in proprietary systems, exposed concrete or complex geometry before coordinating crews and material planning.

Frequently asked questions

Why inspect formwork before pouring?

Once filled, connections and openings become difficult to reach. Inspection helps identify dimensional errors, leaks and instability in time.

Sources and training

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