Steeplejack

As a steeplejack you carry out inspection, repair and maintenance work on tall structures such as industrial chimneys, church spires, towers, bridges and high-rise buildings across Ireland. Your daily tasks include rigging rope-access systems or erecting scaffolding, assessing structural damage, repairing masonry or steelwork, and applying protective coatings at significant height. You work closely with site managers, structural engineers and other tradespeople, following strict health and safety regulations throughout every job. No two days are alike: one week you may be repointing the stonework of a historic church steeple in rural Munster, and the next you may be inspecting a telecoms mast or industrial chimney in an urban setting.

There is no single prescribed educational route to become a steeplejack in Ireland, but a Leaving Certificate or Junior Certificate with passes in practical subjects such as Construction Studies, Engineering or Physics provides a useful foundation. Most entry routes involve on-the-job training with an established steeplejack or specialist access contractor, supplemented by QQI Level 5 or 6 awards in Construction Skills or Rope Access. The Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) certification is widely recognised by Irish employers and progresses from Level 1 through to Level 3 as you gain logged hours and experience. Safe Pass (required on all Irish construction sites), Manual Handling and relevant MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) operator cards are essential certifications to obtain early in your career. Working at Heights training certified to current Health, Safety and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations is mandatory, and you may also pursue QQI awards in Scaffolding or Rigging through ETB-linked training providers.