Handyman

A handyman perform various maintenance and repair activities for buildings, grounds and other facilities. Handymen repair and renovate structures and components, fences, gates and roofs, assemble furniture and perform plumbing and electrical activities. They check heating and ventilation systems, air quality and humidity in the building.

A handyman has multiple duties, that include:

• Installing cabinets, countertops, flooring, and other finished surfaces in residential or commercial buildings
• Installing new electrical wiring for outlets, switches, and light fixtures
• Repairing leaks in roofs or walls, replacing insulation, and repairing or replacing structural components such as joists or beams
• Installing carpet or other floor coverings such as hardwood or laminate
• Installing plumbing fixtures such as sinks, toilets, or faucets
• Installing security cameras and alarms as well as home automation systems such as thermostats or door locks
• Installing cabinets, shelving, countertops, flooring, and other finished surfaces in residential or commercial buildings
• Installing new tile flooring in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms in a home or business
• Repairing plumbing leaks and other plumbing issues such as clogs in pipes or broken water heaters

Handymen work in a variety of settings, including private homes, apartments, office buildings, and factories. They may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions, depending on their work location.

Handymen typically work full time, and some may work overtime or be on call to respond to emergencies. Although most of their work is performed indoors, some handymen may be required to work outdoors, on scaffolding or ladders, or in crawl spaces.

Handymen must be able to lift heavy objects, such as appliances, and use a variety of tools, including power tools.

The following job titles also refer to handyman:

handywoman
handyman
building handyperson
building supervisor
building maintenance technician
building maintainer
building handywoman
building superintendent
building handyman

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a handyman. Some employers may prefer candidates with a high school diploma or higher, in construction, electricity, mechanics, or any field related to the role.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Handyman is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to handyman.

advertising installer
building cleaner
fruit and vegetable picker
locker room attendant
linen room attendant

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of handyman. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of handyman with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

chimney sweep
snow-clearing worker
rigging supervisor
surface miner
underground miner

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of handyman.

• Carpentry: Construction methods related to timber items, such as construction of roofs, floors and timber framed buildings and other related products such as doors or skirting boards.
• Ventilation systems: The types of mechanical ventilation systems that permits the exchange and circulation of air.
• Fire safety regulations: The legal rules to be applied for fire safety and fire prevention in a facility.
• Building construction principles: The component elements and principles of building construction such as types of wall construction and foundations, defects in walls and roofs and ways to address such defects.
• Domestic heating systems: The modern and traditional heating systems alimented by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power and other renewable energy sources and their energy saving principles.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Electrical wiring plans: Pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the power and signal connections between the devices. It gives information about the relative position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in building or servicing the device. A wiring diagram is often used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all the connections have been made and that everything is present.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of handyman.

• Calculate costs of repair operations: Calculate material and labour costs of repair operations; understand appropriate computer programmes.
• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Maintain records of maintenance interventions: Keep written records of all repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, including information on the parts and materials used, etc.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Maintain work area cleanliness: Keep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.
• Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
• Read technical datasheet: Read and understand the technical specifications describing the characteristics and functionality mode of a product, component or machine, usually provided by the manufacturer.
• Maintain customer service: Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
• Use traditional toolbox tools: Use tools found in a traditional toolbox, such as hammer, plier, screwdriver, and wrench. Observe safety precautions while operating these instruments.
• Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of handyman. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Energy: Power capacity in the form of mechanical, electrical, heat, potential, or other energy from chemical or physical resources, which can be used to drive a physical system.
• Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of handyman. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Use snow-removal equipment: Use equipment such as shovels, snow rakes, snow blowers, ladders or aerial lifts to remove snow from various structures such as rooftops and other building structures and public spaces.
• Perform pest control: Carry out crop spraying pest and disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements. Carry out slurry and fertiliser spreading in accordance with local environmental regulations
• Work in outdoor conditions: Can cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.
• Clean confined spaces: Perform required cleaning activities in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces which pose risks to human health and safety such as tanks, wells, manholes and open ditches. Take all the preventive measures required when working in such spaces.
• Manage buildings’ damp problems: Use damp proofing treatment and repairs to eliminate such problems which can damage the structure of walls or furniture, wallpaper, plaster and paintwork.
• Select hazard control: Perform appropriate selection of hazard control measures and risk management
• Perform ground maintenance activities: Clean building grounds of rubbish, glass or any other trash, mow grass or trim bushes.
• Use specialised tools in electric repairs: Use of a variety of specialised tools, instruments and machines, such as presses, drills and grinders; employ them to carry out repairs in a safety manner.
• Dispose waste: Dispose waste in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities.
• Remove snow: Perform snow ploughing and snow removal from roads, driveways, and sidewalks.
• Install floor coverings: Install carpets and other floor coverings by taking the correct measurements, cutting the fabric or material at the appropriate length and using hand and power tools to fix them to the floors.
• Perform maintenance on fire alarm systems: Monitor the fire alarm system in the building and maintain emergency lights and smoke detectors by performing regular testing.
• Install insulation material: Place insulation material, often shaped into rolls, in order to insulate a structure from thermical or acoustic influences and to prevent fire. Attach the material using face staples, inset staples, or rely on friction to keep the material in place.
• Identify condensation problems: Assess the building’s situation and look for signs of condensation, damp or mould and inform landlords or residents on methods to tackle and prevent their escalation.
• Perform weed control operations: Carry out crop spraying for weeds and plant disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements.
• Maintain lighting equipment: Check, maintain and repair electrical, mechanical and optical lighting elements.
• Clean building floors: Clean the floors and stairways of buildings by sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping them, according to hygienic and organisational standards.
• Install ventilation equipment: Install equipment to enable the ventilation of a structure. Mount fans and install air inlets and outlets. Install ducts to permit the transfer of air. Configure the ventilation system if it is electronically controlled.
• Repair household appliances: Following the manufacturer’s blueprints, perform parts replacement or repair of household devices such as stoves, boilers, washing machines, refrigerators and dish washers.
• Install wall coverings: Install curtains, wall panels, window shields and other wall coverings by taking the correct measurements, cutting the fabric or material at the appropriate length and using hand and power tools to fix them to the walls.
• Repair ventilation equipment: Inspect the ventilation system to detect damage, clean out the air vents, replace heating filters and schedule further maintenance or repairs.
• Repair furniture parts: Repair locks, pegs, braces, frames or other parts of furniture.
• Repair plumbing systems: Perform maintenance and repairs of pipes and drains designed for the distribution of water in public and private buildings.
• Explain features of electrical household appliances: Present and explain the characteristics and features of household equipment such as refrigerators, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. Explain brand differentiation, performance and durability.
• Repair electronic components: Repair, replace or adjust damaged electronics components or circuitry; use hand tools and soldering and welding equipment.
• Place sanitary equipment: Place sanitary equipment, such as toilets and sinks. Attach the equipment securely to walls and floors. Install taps and water disposal pipes.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.
• Assemble prefabricated furniture: Assemble parts of prefabricated furniture, in order to bring it to its initial form.

9622 – Odd job persons

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References

1. ESCO
2. Handyman Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder
3. Featured image: Photo by Life Of Pix from Pexels