By Roy San Filippo, Steff Writer | Photos by Slobodan Dimitrov

“Our work stays,” said Carlos Martinez, Apprenticeship Instructor for the Southern California Cement Masons. “What we build isn’t just going to be around for 10 or 12 years. It’s built to last.”

With five training locations throughout Southern California including a brand new training center that recently opened in Arcadia that serves Locals 500 and 600 and an experienced cadre of instructors, the Southern California Cement Masons Apprenticeship program is also here to stay.

“With all of the instructors combined we probably have 150 years worth of knowledge and experience,” said Senior Instructor Rudy Luna Jr. “We all have different types of knowledge but when we put it all together, we make this school happen.”

Building Trades News visited the Cement Masons’ training center in San Bernardino where apprentices were building a confined space training structure.

“We are setting up for the steps leading to the confined space structure. They will eventually be encased in concrete,” explained Apprenticeship Coordinator Armando Pena. “Once we’ve completed the structure, we will be able to train our apprentices for confined space certification. Anytime they go into a pit, they will be able identify the hazards of confined space. They have to be able test and monitor the air to make sure it’s safe for our apprentices and journeymen to be able to work down in that area.”

The confined space certification is just one of several safety certifications that union cement mason acquire and one of the reasons their apprentices and journeymen are the safest workers in the industry.

In addition to the confined space training, cement masons are staying on top of the latest green technology trends in concrete including the use of pervious concrete and polished concrete, Pena said. Pervious concrete allows stormwater to soak through pavement and be reclaimed by the water table. Polished concrete is becoming popular in many large stores because the flooring reflects light, allowing for energy and emissions savings by reducing the use of electrical lighting said Pena.

The training program got a recent boost last year when they opened a new training center in the City of Arcadia. The training center shares office space with the Cement Mason’s Health and Welfare Trust. The new facility sits on an acre of land, has four classrooms, a shop area, several training bays and riding equipment. The location was chosen in order to be as accessible as possible to members, said Apprenticeship Director Ed DeBrito.

“We are very pleased with the new facility,” said DeBrito. “The students and instructors really like it.”

One of the most important skills that cement masons have to learn is the proper timing of the concrete – when to apply the proper finishing tools which takes experience in the trade, Pena said. “There are a lot of variables that go into it,” he said, “including the type of cement mixture and the weather. There are no do-overs with concrete. You get one chance to do it right.”