Tuesday, May 4, 2010 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS
52475400•05/04/10
Safety & Health Week
May 2 - 8, 2010
North American Occupational
MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE
Established: 1964 (Originally known as Medicine Hat Junior College; in 1969 the College was incorporated into the Colleges Act of Alberta and the “Junior” was subsequently dropped from the College’s name.).
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
About 14,300.
PROGRAMS
Medicine Hat College offers academic, career training, and university transfer programs leading to degrees, diplomas, and certifi cates. The College has 10 bachelor degree options including applied degrees in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership, Paramedic, and Visual Communications, collaborative degrees in Nursing and Social Work with the University of Calgary, and joint degrees in Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Human Services, and Management with Athabasca University. The College also has over 69 university transfer programs with each option transferring to a specifi c university. For students wanting to pursue vocational and/or skills training, the College provides 6 apprenticeship opportunities leading to a career in a skilled trade and 6 pre- employment programs aimed at providing students with the skills which will give them an advantage when competing for employment in the skilled trades. Additionally, the College’s “Conservatory of Music and Dance” offer students courses and programs in the performing arts.
INTERESTING FACTS
Medicine Hat College is a public, comprehensive community college providing educational services to southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. The College has its main campus in Medicine Hat and a satellite campus in Brooks.
Careers in the Trades
Medicine Hat College offers seven apprenticeship programs leading to journeyman status and solid careers in the skilled trades:
Automotive Service Technician
Mostly referred to as Mechanics, AST’s perform preventative maintenance, diagnostic testing, and repairs to cars and trucks. They can adjust, test and repair engines, steering and brake systems, drive trains, suspensions, electrical systems and air conditioning systems, and align wheels. You may complete all four years of this program in Medicine Hat.
Carpenter
Carpenters are the “builders of society” in a sense. They construct, erect and repair buildings and other structures made of wood, wood substitutes, steel, and other materials. Duties that carpenters perform vary with each job. You may complete all four years of this program in Medicine Hat.
Electrician
Plumber/Gasfi tter
Plumbing is one of the “pipe trades.” Plumbers plan, install and service plumbing systems, fi xtures, piping equipment and controls. The piping systems may be used to transport water, waste, gases or hot liquids. Other “pipe trades” include steamfi tter-pipefi tter, refrigeration mechanic and sprinkler systems installer. You may complete all four years of this program in Medicine Hat.
Rig Technician
Electricians install, alter, repair and maintain electrical systems in buildings. These systems may supply heat, light, power, controls and signals or fi re alarms.
Heavy Equipment Technician
Heavy Equipment Technicians maintain, repair, overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial equipment which may include: internal combustion engines and components, both stationary and mobile tracked equipment, commonly called crawler tractors, ground engaging equipment and components, including rippers, ditchers, backhoes, trenchers and similar equipment, towed earth moving equipment, commonly called scrapers, self-propelled earth moving equipment, commonly called motor scrapers, rubber tired equipment, commonly called tractors, on-highway and off-highway motor vehicles, commonly called trucks, towed on-high and off-highway vehicles, commonly called trailers.
You may
complete fi rst and second year of this program in Medicine Hat.
Rig Technicians operate oil and gas drilling rigs. Rig Technician 3 journeyman certifi cation confi rms the journeyman can also perform the tasks of a Rig Technician 2 and a Rig Technician 1 credential. Job titles (i.e. task) commonly associated with each of the three levels are Motorhand (Level 1), Derrickhand (Level 2) and Driller (Level 3). To work as a Rig Technician in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certifi ed journeyman or hold a recognized Alberta Occupational Certifi cate. A Rig Technician who holds a certifi cate equivalent to the Alberta Rig Technician journeyman certifi cate may apply for an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document. Rig Technician 3 will be offered at the Brooks Campus (in cooperation with SAIT) if there is suffi cient demand. Interest apprentices must indicate in their application form that they would prefer to take their training in Brooks.
Steamfi tter-Pipefi tter
Steamfi tters-pipefi tters lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain, and repair piping systems that carry water, steam, chemicals or fuel used in heating, cooling, lubricating, and other processes. They also remove and replace worn components, do general maintenance work and may work on plant shutdowns. You may complete the fi rst and second years of this program in Medicine Hat.
If carpenters are “builders”, then welders are “joiners.” They join and sever metals in beams, girders, vessels, piping and, other metal components. They also make metal parts used in construction and manufacturing plants, and/or weld parts, tools, machines and equipment. You may complete all three years of this program in Medicine Hat.
WHAT IS APPRENTICESHIP?
Apprenticeship is a combination of on- the-job and technical training that leads to certifi cation as a journeyman. The apprenticeship program is administered by Alberta Learning through their Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
HOW APPRENTICESHIP WORKS
Apprenticeship involves learning a trade through observing, practicing, studying, and attending short technical courses. These courses run from six to twelve weeks in length in each period of your apprenticeship. In the fi eld you will work under a qualifi ed tradesperson and learn the principles, skills, tools, and materials of the trade.
The term of apprenticeship varies in length depending on the trade. It can be from two to four training periods (2 to 4 years.) During this time, you are indentured to an employer who has agreed to provide an opportunity for you to gain work experience in the trade. You are obligated to perform the job to the best of your ability. You must also supply your own tools for most trades.
As an apprentice, you are an employee, and are usually paid an hourly wage. Wages increase according to experience in trade and the current journeyman’s rate of pay. Depending on the trade, wages range from 50% to 90% of a journeyman’s wages.
Welder
Funding
• Human Resources Development Centre may provide some fi nancial support when you attend technical training courses. Contact your local Canada/Alberta Service Centre for more information. • Other funding is available through Student Finance in the form of grants based on fi nancial requirements
HOW TO BECOME AN APPRENTICE
To become an apprentice, you must be at least 16 years old and have the education required for the trade you want to enter. It is to your advantage to get as much education as possible. The further you go in school, the better your chances will be of becoming an apprentice and succeeding in your training.
In trades where a minimum level of education is required, you must present a transcript of your school marks to the local apprentice offi ce when you apply for apprenticeship. If you cannot get a school transcript, you will have to write an entrance examination. In some trades, all applicants must write an entrance examination. If you do not pass this exam, you must take the necessary upgrading courses.
Perhaps the most diffi cult admission requirement is fi nding a job with an employer who is a journeyman or who employs a journeyman in the trade of your choice. To apply for an apprenticeship position, you should go in person to fi rms in your chosen trade. You may have to apply to several fi rms before you fi nd an employer who has a position for an apprentice.
To take part in regular apprenticeship training, you must be a registered apprentice.
HOW TO APPLY
Once you are employed, both you and your employer must sign the apprenticeship application form. You can get these application forms from Apprenticeship and Industry Training regional offi ces. If you think you have related work experience or training, or both, discuss it with your employer. It could be credited towards your apprenticeship if you request credit on the application form.
You will become registered as an apprentice with Apprenticeship and Industry Training once your apprenticeship application is approved and your school transcript or entrance exam marks are recorded.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSES OFFERED AT MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE
OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSES
Take just one course, or earn the full University of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Certificate. For more information, call 403.529.3849
• Health & Safety Committees
Saturday, May 29, $299 + GST
• Behaviour-Based Safety
Saturday & Sunday, June 12 & 13, $449 + GST
• Noise and Hearing Conservation
Saturday, June 19, $299 + GST (text extra)
REGISTER EARLY!
www.mhc.ab.ca/continuing-studies
Workplace Health & Safety
403.529.3844
FIRST IN SAFETY
403-526-3337
www.lafargenorthamerica.com
ATCO Midstream on behalf of the Empress Gas Liquid Joint Venture Owners would like to congratulate the employees at the Empress Gas Liquids Plant on another accident free year and receiving the GPAC Safety Award in recog- nition of 10 years of accident free operation in the gas processing industry.
Terry Timoruski Michael Loo Travis Ulbricht Peter Braat Tyler Lethbridge Derek Shillington
Craig Metheral Rick Krause Lorne Krupnyk Rita Schmitt Sheryl Jassman Brent McKay
Blaine Mason Bill Hertz Jeff McLaren Daryl Thomas Matt Heidinger
“Safety Is Our Culture”
Medicine Hat College has a well established Occupational Health and Safety management system that integrates internal policies and procedures, regulatory requirements and recognized best management practices. This integration of resources provides a system which helps ensure health and safety as a priority within all aspects of college operations. This spring the College will have this system audited to ensure that it meets
provincial standards and
may receive the “Certifi cate of Recognition” (COR) recognizing this programme as meeting best practises.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
The college has an active Health and Safety Committee that maintains a cross-functional membership representative of all departments and stakeholders. The committee meets monthly to ensure that the Health and safety programme continues to identify and control unhealthy or unsafe situations in the college and promote safety and health awareness.
OHS TRAINING
OHS information sessions and program training are offered for all College employees through the Environment Health and Safety Offi ce in a number of formats. Training is available, through online e-learning
modules and in regularly scheduled facilitator-led sessions.
INCIDENT REPORTING
Incident reporting is critical to the success and continued improvement of our occupational health and safety program. Reporting helps identify health and safety hazards and aids in the prevention of further incidents. All incidents, injuries, hazards, and near misses must be reported to the Environment Health and Safety offi ce.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
The College is in the fi nal stages of a complete re- writing of its Emergency Response Plan to ensure compliance with CSA Standard Z 1600-08, emergency management and business continuity programmes. This plan uses an “all Hazards” approach to ensure that all unusual events are dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner. Medicine Hat College works in conjunction with local emergency response agencies to provide a safe work and learning environment.
Health and Safety Orientation and Hazard assessment All MHC employees and contractors must complete an environmental, health and safety orientation
Materials for building our world
prior to working on campus. All students receive an orientation at the beginning of each term and receive Health and safety training as part of their programs. These orientations provide information on how individuals need to react to emergencies or hazards in the workplace. Hazard assessments are completed for all College employees on an annual basis and assist Supervisors and the EHS offi ce in controlling workplace hazards.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION
The objective of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is to inform employees about the hazards of the controlled products they work with so that employees will be able to take the appropriate steps to protect themselves and respond to emergencies involving controlled products. WHMIS training is provided to all employees working with these substances on a regular basis.
For questions on any Health and Safety related question contact the EHS Offi ce by email at
rsloan@mhc.ab.ca. For information on any of the Occupational Health and Safety Certifi cate program courses, contact the Continuing Studies Department at 403-529-3849 or
lmulrooney@mhc.ab.ca
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