CAREER GUIDE FOR BOILER INSPECTOR SOC Code: 13-1041.05
Pay Band(s): 3, 4 and 5 (Salary Structure)
Standard Occupational Description: Inspect pressure vessel equipment for conformance with safety laws and standards regulating their design, fabrication, installation, repair, and operation.
Boiler Inspector positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Roles in the Public Safety Compliance Career Group:
While Boiler Inspectors within the Commonwealth are all located within the Public Safety Compliance Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests.
Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest are:
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS (Technical and Functional Expertise) SkillsNote: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Boiler Inspectors commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
1. Using mathematics to solve problems. 2. Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. 3. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. 4. Talking to others to convey information effectively. 5. Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. 6. Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. 7. Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. 8. Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. 9. Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. 10. Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Knowledge
Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Boiler Inspectors commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Knowledge of:
1. Relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. 2. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 3. And prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes. 4. Practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. 5. Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 6. Design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. 7. Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. 8. Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Abilities
Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Boiler Inspectors commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Ability to:
1. Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. 2. Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. 3. Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. 4. Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. 5. Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. 6. Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). 7. Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Tasks Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Boiler Inspectors. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.
Tasks
1. Reviews drawings, designs, and specifications for piping, boilers and other vessels. 2. Performs standard tests to verify condition of equipment and calibration of meters and gauges, using test equipment and hand tools. 3. Evaluates factors, such as materials used, safety devices, regulators, construction quality, riveting, welding, pitting, corrosion, cracking, and safety valve operation. 4. Calculates allowable limits of pressure, strength, and stresses. 5. Examines permits and inspection records to determine that inspection schedule and remedial actions conform to procedures and regulations. 6. Keeps records and prepares reports of inspections and investigations for administrative or legal authorities. 7. Investigates accidents to determine causes and to develop methods of preventing recurrences. 8. Confers with engineers, manufacturers, contractors, owners, and operators concerning problems in construction, operation, and repair. 9. Witnesses acceptance and installation tests.
INTERESTED?
Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.
The occupation of Boiler Inspector has Realistic and Conventional characteristics as described below:
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
However Boiler Inspectors must work closely with other to accomplish common safety goals.
Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Generally certification as certified Boiler Inspector is required for positions in state government.
An individual must meet education and experience requirements and successfully complete the National Board Commission Examination to obtain a certificate of competency issued by a jurisdiction.
EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors conduct inspections of boilers and pressure vessels in order to enforce compliance with the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act which governs the construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of boilers and pressure vessels.
The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors http://www.nationalboard.org/NationalBoard/CommissionedInspectors/Comm_Inspector.aspx provides the following information:
To initially qualify as a National Board commissioned inspector, prospective applicants must possess a high school diploma (or equivalent educational background) AND some combination of the following areas of education and experience, best obtained through industry employment: · Technical training in inspection · Technical curriculum · Some combination of college or university exposure · College or university degree · One full year of technical experience in: Engineering design Manufacturing Operation of boilers exceeding 50,000 pounds Repair, alteration, or maintenance of boilers/pressure vessels Quality control systems Inspection NDE Level II examiner of boilers/pressure vessels NOT ALL of these educational and experience requirements must be completed to qualify for a National Board commission. However, each requirement is assigned a different credit value, and SOME COMBINATION OF CREDITS TOTALING FIVE POINTS MUST BE ACHIEVED.
Virginia Boiler Rules also provides education and experience requirements. For more information on these Rules visit the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry's web site: http://www.dli.state.va.us/
Boiler and pressure vessel inspection is particularly appealing to those with an interest in welding, electrical wiring and controls, plumbing and piping, fire safety procedures, and building codes and standards.
The State Council of Higher Education of Virginia lists several Virginia educational institutions that offer educational programs for those interested in engineering technology or engineering on their web site http://research.schev.edu/degreeinventory/inventory_.
COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIES
Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.
The Commonwealth Competencies are:
1.
Technical and Functional Expertise
2.
Understanding the Business 3. Achieving Results 4. Serving the Customer 5. Teamwork 6. Interpersonal and Communication Skills 7. Leadership and Personal Effectiveness The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences.
Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!
For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.state.va.us/cc_planningctr.htm. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like. COMMONWEALTH CAREER PATH
Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That's because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth's pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)
For example: Boiler Inspector
Sample Career Path
Compliance/Safety Officer II The Compliance/Safety Officer II role provides career tracks for compliance officers that perform routine to moderate level investigations, reviews and/or inspections but is expected to judge compliance against more complex standards requiring interviews, collection and analysis of data, evidence accumulation, testing and/or computation of results. May assist others in proper management of hazardous materials. May interpret and communicate regulatory requirements to industry, consumers and the general public.
Compliance/Safety Officer III The Compliance/Safety Officer III role provides a career track for compliance officers who perform advanced level investigations or inspections of assigned cases and/or compliance audits. Responsibilities include interviewing, analyzing or sampling various processes or records in complex manufacturing or commercial enterprises, enforcing strict compliance with federal, state and local regulation and law.
Compliance/Safety Officer IV The Compliance/Safety Officer IV role provides career tracks for compliance officers whose responsibilities include acting as a subject matter expert and/or first-line supervisor. Employees perform the most complex evaluations and may recommend changes in the law to accommodate new or variable processes or procedures.
Compliance Manager I The Compliance Manager I role provides career tracks for managers who administer a program area and is responsible for the attainment of pre-established goals and objectives. Evaluates results as compared to standards and recommends remedial action. Requests and assigns resources and evaluates results attained.
Compliance Manager II The Compliance Manager II role provides career tracks for managers that administer multiple programs of compliance and safety, providing for shifts of resources when needed as problems arise. Provides overall program support and evaluation of effectiveness as related to plans and objectives. Reports policy issues to executive management and recommends changes as appropriate.
Compliance Manager III The Compliance Manager III role provides career tracks for executive level mangers who serve as the agency Deputy or in a very large organization manages multiple programs, or serves as the Compliance and Safety Program Director, reporting to the agency executive. Plans, directs, evaluates and controls compliance/safety programs. May draft legislation and formulate policy under the direction of the chief executive.
ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:O*NET (Occupational Information Network) Virginia Employment Commission Career One Stop Virginia Career Resource Network Virginia Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspector Association American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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