Quick Links
Customer Centres
WorkSafeBC says Project Heavy Duty is training future industry leaders
Fort St. John, B.C., May 28, 2008— WorkSafeBC has again partnered with Project Heavy Duty, an alliance of the North Peace business community and Fort St. John School District #60, to provide participating students with an opportunity to experience heavy equipment training, a key part of which includes rigorous safety orientation.
Twenty-three Grade 11 and 12 students attended safety orientation and training provided by WorkSafeBC, Flint Energy Services Ltd. and School District #60 prior to the start of a week of intensive heavy duty equipment experience.
At the session, David Vince, WorkSafeBC’s Regional Prevention Manager said, “Project Heavy duty has become a major local event only because of the commitment of this community. The contribution and volunteerism of the skilled operators and their employers has created an exceptional program”.
Speaking with the students, Vince added, “Many of you will go on to work in this industry - maybe owning your own companies. What you learn this week will develop your skills and prepare you to pass on the safety skills you learn to the next generation. The community is extremely proud of all of you.”
Work on the site began Monday, May 26, 2008 at 6:30 a.m., when the young workers received breakfast and a site orientation. For the next five days, they’ll have hands-on experience with excavators, side boom cats, backhoes, bulldozers, graders, feller bunchers, skidders and articulating dump trucks under the watchful eyes of professional heavy equipment operators.
Site supervision is supplied by Lynda Brown of Flint Energy Services Ltd. Safety Division, Richard Koop, Career Programs Coordinator, School District #60 and Project Site Superintendant, and Don Goodbun of ENT Ltd. who have been the leaders of this program since it began in 2002.
More than 60 local businesses have provided the vast support needed to create a successful project. The business community donated approximately $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. On site, the North Peace Culinary Arts program guided by Chef Andre Paumier donated the food services.
Many of the graduates of previous Project Heavy Duty training are now teaching the program and donating equipment.
This large job site was donated by Bruce Reid of W.L. Construction, a company that has been very generous in its support for the project. The practical work experiences developed for this site reflect the numerous heavy construction activities in the North Peace. The students will construct a standard oilfield lease, lay a pipeline, excavate and strip soil, build roads and be part of active logging operations.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves nearly 2.3 million workers and about 197,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born out of a compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. The organization is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits to workers injured as a result of their employment.
|
For more information, contact: |
|
| Gladys Johnsen |
David K. Vince |