Twenty-two high-school students from School District No. 27 learned to operate 13 different pieces of heavy construction equipment this month as part of the annual Heavy Metal Rocks program.
Sponsored by local industry and WorkSafeBC, the four-day training program ran from April 13 to 16, with hands-on activities happening at Centennial Gravel Pit on Bond Lake Road.
Heavy Metal Rocks is designed to provide on-the-job experience to senior students considering career options in the construction industry, say Heather Young of WorkSafeBC and Gordon Armour who co-ordinated the program for School District 27.
To prepare themselves for the program the students received training on the safe use of hazardous materials and general work site training from WorkSafeBC and Mount Polley Mining Corporation. They also completed their Occupational First Aid, Level 1 and WHMIS certification outside of class time, Armour says.
During the hands-on training, students rotated through a series of stations, learning to safely manage the controls of 13 different pieces of heavy construction equipment.
Their lessons take place under the direction of experienced operators, who also act as their mentors, Armour says.
He says approximately 20 companies and sponsors, along with a large number of individuals, have volunteered their time, equipment, and supplies to make this program a success.