STEPS FOR A BETTER SUCCESS IN CAREER Leonardo da Vinci Project ASSOCIATION GIVE A HAND PAVLIKENI, BULGARIA Vocational Monograph - UPHOLSTERER

Description: Upholsterer manufacture upholstered furniture as on the skeleton of pre- made products set up different upholstery - laid the foundation of the upholstery and springy part and then upholster the finished product with textile or leather.

Tasks: Decipher design; Manufacture and repair of mattresses, sofas and armchairs; Manufacture and repair of car seats; Cutting, shaping and gluing; Restoration of upholstery; Management activities.

TOOLS MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT: Hand tools: upholstery hammer, hammer for belts, steel hammer for larger nails, mallet, pliers, tape measure, upholstery needles, awls, scissors, knives and brushes; Equipment: hand gun with a spring for forging clamps, clips and springs; Basic machine: sewing machine with various attachments; Other machines: a machine for cutting foam, machines for filling and dressing with fabric for pillows, machine for embossed stitching of mattresses, cutting machine for fabrics and leather; Tools: for hemming of belts, rotary table, table for cutting and ironing.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS: Upholsterer works in small workshops or in upholstery furniture companies. He can work in the clients’ homes if make reupholstering or repairing furniture. His workplace is indoors, equipped with a bench, sewing machine, folding stands, etc.

WORK SECURITY AND JOB HAZARD REQUIREMENTS: There are accidents such as cuts, pricking, pressed or injured fingers. During work the upholsterer uses rubber adhesives, which can be obtained occupational diseases (most often allergies). Danger exists in case of fire, because the materials and adhesives are flammable and toxic substances are liberated during the burning.

RELEATED PROFFESIONS: „Cabinet-maker”; „Operator in the manufacture of furniture”; „Operator in the manufacture of doors and windows”.

PHISICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENRS: The occupation requires skill and endurance in the uniform activity, but is defined as light physical work. The worker must have good vision and tactile feeling, technical sense, spatial vision and imagination, sense of form and space, shaping skills, ability to paint and draw. Upholsterer must have the following qualities: to be ready for independent work, perseverance, ability to take risks, patience, discipline and ability for teamwork.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Occupation is defined as very suitable for hearing impaired people. It cannot be practiced by persons with general disabilities, severe mental illness, visual impairments, allergies, asthma and epilepsy.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: To master the profession prior knowledge of "Art" and "Chemistry" is required.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL CENTRES AND DURATION: Qualifications for the profession can be acquired in: Vocational High School in "Upholstery and dekoration" with four years of training; Courses at special schools or training organizations with a duration of three months.

SPECIFIC SUBJECTS, AS COMPRISED IN EDUCATIONAL PLANS: Compulsory vocational training, including the following subjects: "Materias", "Technical Drawing", "Technology and machinery in the furniture industry", "Design of furniture", "Drying of wood", "Design of furniture and decoration", " Health and safety at work"," Economy"," Management ", foreign language and practice. Graduation - after successful completion of the twelfth grade and successfully passed state matriculation exams.

WORK FIELDS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND A WORK: Work in this profession can be found in companies for manufacturing of upholstered furniture, as well as workshops, offering reupholstering and restoration of various products. This profession can be practiced in the furniture industry, services, transport \the manufacture and installation of interiors for ships and reupholstering and repairing of seats in vehicles\.

PROMOTION IN THE CAREER: The major form of qualification are courses, conducted at the enterprises. Opportunities for specialization offer industry chambers, through organization of courses and seminars. In modern practice is applied training and specialization of workers, offered by companies supplying the equipment. The upholsterer can be specialize in producing of a certain type of furniture such as: production of mattresses, upholstered furniture at the individual customer's request, reupholstering and restoration of old furniture.

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