Heavy Equipment Pre-Apprenticeship Program Enters Second Year

March 2007 — This is the second year OETIO has participated in the pre-apprenticeship program. The program, sponsored by the Government of Ontario, is used as a screening process for the Heavy Equipment Apprenticeship Programs of bulldozer, tractor-loader-backhoe and excavator.

Given the shortage of youth in the heavy equipment trade, this program will be of great benefit to the industry as most entrants are between the ages of 18 and 25.

Essential skills, fundamentals of earth moving, and an introduction to the operation of smaller machines are the elements of the six-week in-school portion of the student’s pre-apprenticeship.

The OETIO mini simulation machines (excavator and backhoe) are an important component of this program. They’ve proved to be highly successful in the pre-apprentices’ learning in a safe in-door environment, under the direction of an instructor. After familiarization with the mini simulator, the student can then practice on his/her own to improve their skill on the controls and manipulation of the machine.

Successful students in the in-school portion of the program then proceed to an eight-week on-the-job field experience with an actual employer. Students that successfully complete the program may then join Local 793 as Heavy Equipment Apprentices.