What are the Responsibilities of a Welding Supervisor?

Companies certified to CSA Standards such as CSA W47.1 “Certification of Companies for Fusion Welding of Steel”, CSA W47.2 “Certification of Companies for Fusion Welding of Aluminum and CSA W186M “Welding of Reinforcing Bars in Reinforced Concrete Construction” all require the employment of at least one qualified welding supervisor. 

Larger companies that may have multiple shifts of fabrication are required to have a qualified welding supervisor for each shift. In addition, site erectors shall also have a welding supervisor on site while welding is in progress. 

The welding supervisor is a key operative in the fabrication structure. To become a welding supervisor the individual must have:

• a minimum of five (5) years of welding and fabrication experience pertinent to the operations of the company they are employed

• be successful in writing exams including a verbal exam with a CWB representative. The written exams are on weld symbols, quality control and inspection and recognition of weld discontinuities.

Detailed requirements and exemptions on becoming a welding supervisor are given in the governing clauses of each standard.

Once qualified by the CWB, a major responsibility of the Supervisor is to ensure that all the companies welding personnel are qualified with the correct welding processes and in the correct welding positions and, are working with approved welding procedures in the shop and in the field. The supervisor is also responsible to make sure the welder’s qualifications are current. He or she may also be involved with on-the-job training activities, especially for probationary welders to update them on the type of welding operations and safety in the shop. 

Welding supervisors shall have extensive knowledge of the CSA welding Standards their company are certified too, the companies welding procedure specifications and data sheets. The Supervisor shall also be able to:

• prepare welder or procedure qualification test assemblies, and

• prepare the test samples from the test assemblies such as root and face bends, tensile, macro-etch and fracture testing. 

• ensure all welding personnel can read and understand approved welding procedure data sheets (WPDS).

The welding supervisor can also assist their Welding Engineer in developing WPDS’s and to do this they must understand the requirements in the Standards that may constitute prequalification of WPDS or if the procedure needs to be tested and witnessed by the CWB.

Finally, the supervisor must have experience with the types of welding equipment for which they are responsible for in order for safe operations and for training other staff. in the shop and field.  When the company’s operations include robotics the welding supervisor shall be experienced in the operations of robotic welding equipment and be able to demonstrate that qualified personnel can perform the programing and operation functions of the robot to the satisfaction of the Standard and CWB.

Further information and guidance are given in the following link to the Canadian Welding Bureau’s you tube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjc3-jr8nGU&t=11s&ab_channel=CWBGroup