July 25, 2008

HEAVY METAL ROCKS

Students in Prince George got behind the wheel of some heavy equipment during a recent Heavy Metal Rocks program in the city.

B.C. Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association

Kelowna high school students get behind the wheel of some heavy machinery

Richard Gilbert

staff writer

An innovative program by the B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association is being launched in Kelowna to provide high-school students with hands-on experience operating heavy equipment used in the construction industry.

The Central Okanagan School District #23 will be hosting a Heavy Metal Rocks program Sept. 24-27.

The program, which is being held in the Central Okanagan for the first time, will feature demonstrations and activities with 12 stations and about 14 pieces of heavy equipment.

“Basically, what ends up happening is that there are a number of students, 16 in this case, throughout the school district, who have an interest and a knack for heavy equipment,” said Kent Orrock, HR programs manager with the BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association.

“They will learn how to stay safe around equipment and then an employer will get them on the equipment. Each kid will have an instructor on the machine and gets one-to-one hands-on training with the equipment.”

The students are taught the importance of safety training and experience first hand mentoring from equipment operators as they participate in the five-day program.

“Those who decide they like heavy equipment work will continue doing research on companies that have work and what training is needed,” Orrock said.

After the hands on training, the students go back to the classroom for some follow up work, which involves evaluating the types of work they like and dislike and whether they are cut out for this type of work.

“We are looking at raising awareness,” said Orrock. “Our role is to get the school district to offer Heavy Metal Rocks and then move in to an ACE IT program, where you come out of Grade 12 with a completed apprenticeship.”

ACE IT is offered by the Industry Training Authority.

It allows students to take courses for high school graduation credits as well as start an apprenticeship program.

“Some people who go through the Heavy Metal Rocks program have been on machinery for a long time, either working in the summer or while living on a farm,” said Orrock.

“These kids could use the program to propel them into ACE-IT or to continue to work with a company.”

WorkSafeBC is also involved.

“(It) is a program we like to support all over the province,” said Gladys Johnsen, prevention public affairs manager at WorkSafeBC.

“It’s a good way to introduce young workers to a trade and give them actual experience using machinery. They can get their hands on machinery and see what it does.”

The Kelowna program is similar to what takes place in Fort St. John and Prince George each year.

In late May, WorkSafeBC partnered with Project Heavy Duty, an alliance of the North Peace business community and Fort St. John School District #60, to provide students with experience and training on heavy equipment.

Between May 26 and 30, 23 grade 11 and 12 students had a week of heavy equipment training provided by WorkSafeBC, Flint Energy Services Ltd. and School District #60 prior to the start of a week of heavy duty equipment experience.

During this period, the students were able to use excavators, side boom cats, backhoes, bulldozers, graders, feller bunchers, skidders and articulating dump trucks, all under the watchful eyes of professional heavy equipment operators.

“This is a very positive experience that encourages workers,” said Johnsen. “Once they have been to one of these programs, I have not seen one person that doesn’t want to go back to the next one.”

More than 60 local businesses donated about $25 million in machinery and equipment, all the fuel and lubricant supplies, safety gear, camp services, first aid, security and communications services, as well as two meals and snacks daily for the 70 people at the site.

The students constructed a standard oilfield lease, laid a pipeline, excavated and stripped soil, built roads and conducted logging operations.

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