Year Two of Nunavut Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program

February 2007 — The OETIO is now in the second year of a training program for heavy equipment operator students from Nunavut. Students receive two weeks on the fundamentals of heavy equipment in class followed by two, four week, sessions of practical training on two different pieces of equipment.

The OETIO has strict standards to ensure that students receive the maximum benefit during the in-school portion of their learning. For example, instructor to student ratio will not exceed six to one, one machine is dedicated to each student, and remedial action is taken quickly to ensure that a student does not fall behind in the learning schedule.

These students are dedicated to learning, are demonstrating excellent skills on the equipment and, in our opinion, make some of the best operators ever to graduate from the OETIO.

To date, Nunavut students have received training on excavators, bulldozers, tractor-loader-backhoes and motor graders.