About This Career

Inspects structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.

This career is part of the Energy cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

• Monitors installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Approves building plans that meet required specifications.
• Inspects and monitors construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.
• Inspects bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
• Reviews and interprets plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
• Maintains daily logs and supplements inspection records with photographs.
• Conducts inspections, using survey instruments, metering devices, tape measures, or test equipment.
• Measures dimensions and verifies level, alignment, or elevation of structures or fixtures to ensure compliance to building plans and codes.
• Trains, directs, or supervises other construction inspectors.
• Confers with owners, violators, or authorities to explain regulations or recommends remedial actions.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel