July 13, 2010

Ontario road builders concerned about compulsory certification for operating engineers

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

A call for support of compulsory certification among Operating Engineers has drawn some concern from Ontario roadbuilders for their members who are signatory to Local 793, according to documents obtained by the Daily Commercial News.

Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers recently issued an internal memo to its members asking them to review information intended to generate support for compulsory certification for concrete pump, bulldozer, tractor-loader-backhoe and excavator operators.

“As has been demonstrated for crane operators, this is the first step to improving safety standards on Ontario jobsites,” stated the Local 793 memo.

“By supporting compulsory certification, not only are you supporting a reduction in construction site fatalities and deaths, but you will shift the responsibility for certification to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.”

Local 793 explained to its members that implementation of compulsory certification and training “dramatically improves the safety and productivity of the industry.”

The union noted that the fatality rate attributed to crane operators, before the introduction of compulsory certification, was 19.8 per cent. Since certification that rate has dropped by 50 per cent.

The Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) issued an internal alert to its members immediately after having learned about the Local 793 member correspondence seeking compulsory certification support. ORBA wanted its members signatory to Local 793 to know it believes compulsory certification has “many negative ramifications for our industry.”

ORBA also noted that it has taken a position against compulsory certification for both labourers and operators in its industry.

ORBA said, in its internal alert, that its board of directors recently approved a motion that supports mandatory safety training for all labourers and operators. It said it will continue to support programs and training that improve safety industry-wide.

“Mandatory safety training would be governed under the OH&S act (Occupational Health and Safety Act) and would have a direct co-relation to safety in the industry,” the alert stated.

“However, compulsory certification reaches far beyond safety training and would have negative implications on labour availability, apprenticeship requirements and union control on training.”

Local 793 stated, to its members, that it believes voluntary apprenticeship has made no impact on improving safety and that since 1990 approximately 25 per cent of construction fatalities have been directly attributed to heavy equipment operators. Also, it noted, there currently are seven times more heavy equipment operators than crane operators but at least crane operators can prove competency by showing a license.

“And, in the last 10 years, the skill requirement to productively operate ever increasingly large and complex equipments means that the potential legal ramification for employers are escalating,” the union memo noted.

Both Local 793 and ORBA were contacted for comment on their compulsory certification correspondence but both declined the opportunity.

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