Excavator Program Description

Theory Component:

•  Online Self Study (1-week – 40 hours) 

  • ​ 1 week of eLearning covering many topics, such as: Industry Sectors, Environmental Protection, GPS, Rigging, Traffic Control, and Ground Disturbance. 

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•  Fundamentals of Heavy Equipment: Theory (2-weeks – 54 hours)

  • ​ This 2 week course is a pre-requisite to the machine specific operator training program and provides participants with the fundamentals of OHSA Reg. 213/91, safety, equipment types and components, operating techniques, transportation, and maintenance that apply to heavy equipment in the construction industry.

  •  Participants also complete training in WHMIS, Working at Heights, First Aid, and CPR. 

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•   Heavy Equipment Operator Level 1/2: Blended Theory & Demonstrations (1-week – 40 hours) 

  • 1  week of a blended learning environment that focuses on the theory and practical components of building a road.

  • Participants will split their time between a classroom and live demonstrations of the practices required to build a road.

  • Theory subjects include, Site Assessment, Road Building, Compaction, Water and Sewer, Residential, Material Management, Soils and Aggregates, etc.

 

 

Practical Component:

• Excavator Training (4 weeks – 166 hours):

  • Each field exercise includes an instructor-led demonstration, followed by a participant practice session with ongoing coaching, skills evaluation and feedback from the instructor via two-way radio. 

  • The construction-type field exercises progress from basic to advanced level. Introductory training on GPS and laser control systems is included. 

  • Perform preoperational inspection 

  • Comply with scheduled maintenance requirements 

  • Plan work procedures 

  • Comply with grades and stakes 

  • Operate excavator: 

    • Set up equipment 

    • Grades and layout 

    • Excavate trenches in compliance with proper slope ratios 

    • Excavate basements 

    • Backfill using various techniques 

    • Load trucks 

    • Stockpiles materials 

    • Cut and fill materials 

  • Follow shutdown procedure

  • Load Excavator on transport vehicle

 

Participant/Instructor Ratio:  

• 6 participants to 1 instructor 

Participant Seat Time: 

• Participant will always be operating an excavator on a continual basis of 8 hours per day for 4 weeks of practical training

 

Total Course Duration:

• 8 weeks - 300 hours

 

* Participants returning to be trained for another piece of equipment are exempt from the On-line Self Study (1 week) and Fundamentals of Heavy Equipment (2 weeks – 80 hours)

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