Material Handler – Structural Steel Fabrication

Position Summary

The Material Handler is responsible for gathering, organizing, and delivering the materials required by structural steel fabricators to complete their assigned work. This individual works from material lists, shop drawings, cut lists, work orders, and production schedules to ensure that the correct steel, components, and supplies are available at each fabrication workstation.

The ideal candidate is organized, safety-conscious, dependable, and able to accurately identify and handle structural steel materials in a fast-paced fabrication environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Review material lists, cut lists, work orders, shop drawings, and production schedules to determine the materials needed for fabrication.
• Locate, identify, and gather structural steel materials, including beams, columns, angles, channels, plates, tubing, and miscellaneous components.
• Verify material sizes, grades, lengths, quantities, piece marks, and heat numbers when required.
• Stage and deliver materials to designated fabrication areas in the correct sequence.
• Coordinate with fabricators, fitters, welders, supervisors, and production personnel to confirm material requirements.
• Use overhead cranes, forklifts, carts, pallet jacks, and other material-handling equipment to safely move steel and supplies.
• Separate and organize materials according to project, work order, fabrication area, or production priority.
• Assist with receiving, unloading, inspecting, and storing incoming materials.
• Report missing, damaged, incorrect, or insufficient materials to the appropriate supervisor.
• Maintain accurate material locations and assist with inventory counts as needed.
• Return unused materials and remnants to the proper storage areas.
• Keep material storage, staging, and production areas clean, organized, and free of hazards.
• Follow all company safety procedures, including requirements for lifting, rigging, crane operation, forklift operation, and personal protective equipment.
• Assist with general shop duties and other material-related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous experience in structural steel fabrication, manufacturing, warehousing, construction, or material handling preferred.
• Ability to read and understand material lists, work orders, cut lists, measurements, and basic shop documentation.
• Ability to accurately identify common structural steel shapes and materials.
• Basic math and measuring skills.
• Ability to use a tape measure and verify material dimensions.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with fabrication and production personnel.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple material requests.
• Dependable attendance and a strong work ethic.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous structural steel or metal fabrication shop experience.
• Experience operating overhead cranes and forklifts.
• Knowledge of structural steel shapes, grades, sizes, piece marks, and material identification methods.
• Familiarity with shop drawings, bills of material, and fabrication terminology.
• Current forklift, crane, or rigging certification.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to frequently bend, reach, climb, push, pull, and lift.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently and heavier materials with appropriate equipment or assistance.
• Ability to safely work around heavy steel, moving equipment, welding operations, noise, dust, and changing temperatures.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, steel-toed boots, and other equipment as required.

Work Environment

This position is primarily performed in a structural steel fabrication shop and material storage yard. The employee may be exposed to loud noise, welding fumes, dust, sparks, moving machinery, suspended loads, sharp edges, and indoor or outdoor temperature conditions. Strict compliance with all safety policies is required.

Key Performance Expectations

• Materials are gathered accurately and delivered on time.
• Material sizes, quantities, grades, and identification marks are verified before delivery.
• Fabricators experience minimal delays due to missing or incorrect materials.
• Material storage and staging areas remain orderly and safe.
• Equipment is operated safely and responsibly.
• Material discrepancies are identified and communicated promptly.