Masonry Magazine February 1993 Page. 20
Ontario Masons Develop
Dynamic Apprentice Program
The Ontario Masonry Contractors Association and the Ontario Provincial Conference of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen established a partnership to address the concern of the apprenticeship training within the province for the trowel trades industry. An Ontario Trowel Trades Training Trust Fund was initiated and developed a partnership with federal and provincial agencies. The agencies have provided consultation expertise and income support for the trainees. The concerted effort of the current apprenticeship programme and the enthusiasm through the trades training instructional plan, will be of benefit in the development of properly trained trades people for the foreseeable future. All partners in this endeavour have a stake in producing a vitally skilled trades force, increase the man hour productivity, remain competitive and, by offering the course, may help in reducing the number of individuals on unemployment.
By DON ATTFIELD
The demands of construction today requires that people enter the work force knowing the essential skills of the trade. Contractors have no time for on-the-job training due to productivity requirements. The general workforce at the present time is aging and the eventual loss of skilled trades people will be the consequence. To reverse the current direction, the Ontario Masonry Training Centre has been instructing apprentices for over five years. The first three years the industry funded venture instructed trainees in rented warehouse facilities. Two years ago, the present training centre was built as part of the new Canada Masonry Centre project alongside the offices of the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association.
The current instruction of the Modified Apprenticeship Programme includes a total of 32 modules over a 42 week training period. Within the 1,680 hours, provisions are made for each candidate to master the essential skills for use over the lifetime of the apprentice. Each 40 hour week of training consists of 7 hours of technical presentations and 33 hours of practical hands-on training. The Modified Apprenticeship Programme allows the candidate to progress more complex tasks in the use of brick and stone. Competency based training is implemented through the application of performance objectives, (a form of task analysis), to the technical and practical skills of the individual, and the measurement of performance against stringent evaluation and standards. Accurate records chart the apprentices' performance and progress and they are used in reviews with the apprentice identifying strengths, and challenges in areas for improvement.
Safety Is A Common Theme
Safety, which includes back care, is a common theme in every activity during a day from the warming and stretching exercises at 7 a.m. to site organization and the operation of power equipment. Installation of clay and concrete units, the construction of the various types of masonry walls, the application of air barrier systems and insulation and project estimation requirements are some of the modules within the course of instruction. Onsite work experience gives the apprentices the opportunity to use the skills that they have been taught while alongside the project journeymen and their apprentices. Each training apprentice is required to evaluate their own performance relative to the onsite tradesmen. The project employer also produces a performance report of the trainee for comparison purposes. A second worksite experience is approached with the intention of employment possibilities once the trainee completes the 42 weeks of training.
Upon completion for the formal training programme, the apprentices Continued on Page 88
PORTION OF A WALL, above, built by Ontario apprentices at their newly dedicated training centre.
20 MASONRY-JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 1993