Trade Particular: Enthusiasm for B.C.’s Licensed Concrete Pump Operator program constructing throughout borders

Concrete {industry} stakeholders main the drive for certification

British Columbia approaches a regulatory requirement for all concrete pump operators to be licensed by Jan. 1, 2024. But it surely’s vital to recollect the industry-led improvement of the Licensed Concrete Pump Operator (CCPO) program by the BC Development Security Alliance (BCCSA) preceded the introduction of rules. It’s a message the BCCSA has been sharing with the development {industry} throughout Canada and the U.S.

“It’s no secret that just about anybody may lease a concrete pump after which deploy it at a development web site,” says Ammar Kavazovic, director of packages and initiatives with the BCCSA. “We’ve seen many instances of concrete pump accidents and fatalities, and that’s solely highlighted the necessity for coaching and certification of employees working gear that requires a excessive stage of talent.”

The BCCSA program is the primary of its sort in North America and assesses competency by combining a take a look at of theoretical information with a sensible examination. Nevertheless, a certifying group can’t prepare candidates. That’s why concrete pump security coaching is obtainable by organizations together with Concrete BC, and the American Concrete Pump Affiliation (ACPA).

To this point, 104 CCPO certifications have been issued in British Columbia a yr or extra earlier than necessary certification takes impact, demonstrating employers could make a distinction by committing to a safer concrete {industry}.

It’s a message the BCCSA is taking over the street to the Canadian Concrete Expo in Toronto, Feb. 16 and 17, as exhibitor and presenter.

“The CCPO program is predicated on {industry} greatest practices and was designed with nationwide applicability in thoughts,” says Mike McKenna, government director of the BCCSA. “We imagine that security needs to be constant throughout all jurisdictions.  What works in B.C. must also work in Newfoundland — and in every single place between — in order that any jurisdiction can leverage the advantages of certification.”

The BCCSA has already met with Concrete Alberta, for instance, relating to the potential for deploying a CCPO pilot in that province.

“I feel there’s a necessity for certification,” says Erik Duiker, proprietor of Cancrete Gear Ltd., with headquarters in Mississauga, Ont. “There’s the protection facet of working with extremely pressurized pipelines, however a lot of the hassle we’re seeing is expounded to the soundness of the truck and simply figuring out the place to position the outriggers in several terrain. There’s additionally coping with powerlines and different obstacles.”

Whereas he notes CCPO certification in Ontario could come right down to authorities regulation, he believes there’s a task for big contractors and unions to start demanding certification now.

“When the large generals inform you that you would be able to’t pump concrete on their venture until you’re licensed, issues will start to alter,” he says.

Christi Collins, government director of the ACPA, notes her group collaborated very early on with the BCCSA to make sure the CCPO program replicated the identical coaching supplied by her group.

“A concrete pump may be extraordinarily harmful if operators don’t know what they’re doing,” Collins says. “We’re working to our power as a coaching physique by offering operator coaching. However third-party sensible evaluation units the CCPO program aside. It permits the {industry} to evaluate not solely what the operator is aware of, however what they don’t know with the intention to fill within the gaps of their studying.”

She notes that, even within the absence of regulation, the provision of the CCPO program locations an moral accountability on concrete pump house owners and employers to assist the introduction of certification of their jurisdictions.

“We assist any program that gives that extra layer of assurance,” she says. “CCPO is an excellent program that took its time to get it proper.”

These attending the Canadian Concrete Expo are invited to attend a BCCSA presentation on the CCPO program on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10:45 a.m. in Pegasus Room A, or to go to the CCPO workforce at sales space #15117.

This content material is an Trade Particular by BCCSA in collaboration with ConstructConnect® Media. To study extra about BCCSA, go to www.bccsa.ca. To study extra concerning the CCPO program, click on right here.