PAINTER/SHOP LABORER - STEEL FABRICATION

Cincinnati, OH

$20–$24 Per Hour
Full-time
Quick Apply

30+ days ago

Job Description

The Painter and Shop Laborer plays a dual role in our steel fabrication facility. You will prepare and coat heavy structural steel and custom miscellaneous metal fabrications to meet engineering specifications, while also supporting general shop operations, heavy material handling, and floor organization. This position requires high attention to detail for finish work, combined with the physical stamina needed for heavy industrial shop labor.

Job Responsibilities

Industrial Painting & Surface Preparation
- Surface Prep: Clean, degrease, grind, and power-sand raw steel surfaces to remove mill scale, rust, oils, weld spatter, and slag. Use of commercial shot blaster.
- Structural Coating: Apply heavy-duty industrial primers, zinc-rich coatings, and specialized paints to massive structural elements like columns, I-beams, and trusses.
- Miscellaneous Finishing: Deliver high-quality, blemish-free finishes on visible, custom architectural components including handrails, stairs, ladders, and ornamental steel.
- Quality Inspection: Measure wet and dry film thickness (DFT) using gauges to ensure compliance with architectural and engineering specifications; repair thin spots, runs, or sags.
- Equipment Maintenance: Perform daily setup, teardown, cleaning, and troubleshooting of airless sprayers, conventional spray guns, paint pots, and shop ventilation systems.
Shop Labor, Rigging & Logistics
- Material Handling: Safely load, unload, and stage raw steel materials and finished goods on flatbeds and trailers.
- Crane & Forklift Operation: Utilize overhead bridge cranes, jib cranes, rigging gear, and forklifts to safely flip and transport heavy structural assemblies and delicate custom pieces through the shop.
- Fabricator Support: Work closely with welders and fabricators by staging parts, cleaning weld seams, and keeping work areas clear of debris.
- Shop Housekeeping: Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free shop floor by sweeping work bays, emptying scrap bins, and tracking paint inventory.
- Shipping Preparation: Tag, wrap, block, and secure completed steel fabrications to protect the finishes during transit to job sites.

Numbers & Facts

Location	Cincinnati, OH
Job Type	Full-time
Salary	$20–$24 Per Hour
Company Size	11 - 50
Year Founded	1961
Headquarters	Cincinnati, OH, US
Additional Compensation	Bonus
Website	https://www.chcfab.com

Qualifications

Experience & Technical Skills
- Experience: Minimum 1+ years of experience, preferred, in industrial spray painting (airless or conventional systems) within a structural steel, shipyard, or heavy manufacturing environment.
- Equipment Proficiency: Demonstrated experience operating material handling equipment (forklifts and overhead cranes) and industrial grinding tools.
- Blueprint Literacy: Ability to read basic shop drawings, weld maps, and paint schedules to verify coating requirements for individual parts.
- Math & Measurement: Solid understanding of basic shop math and the ability to read a tape measure down to 1/16".
Physical Requirements & Safety Compliance
- Physical Stamina: Ability to stand for full 8-to-10-hour shifts, bend, kneel, and frequently lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
- Respirator Clearance: Must pass an OSHA medical evaluation and a mandatory respiratory fit test to wear tight-fitting half-mask or full-face respirators for extended painting cycles.
- Safety Mindset: Strict adherence to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mandates (steel-toed boots, safety glasses, hard hats, and respirators) and knowledge of Safe
- Use of Chemicals / SDS sheets.
- Certifications: Formal Forklift/Crane certifications are highly preferred.

Benefits

Life Insurance, 401K Match, 401K, Flexible Spending Accounts, Medical, Dental, Vision

About Company

cHc is a leader in Miscellaneous Iron in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus working on the most challenging projects for over 65 years. We take pride in safety and quality..