The final ten participants were selected based on their answers to questions on the intake form and a construction suitability survey (see Appendix B) that the participants completed at the information sessions. The most important criteria screened for included: (a) valid class 5 driver’s licence, (b) any construction experience or a related field, i.e., landscaping, and (c) availability. This selection process decreased the pool from 24 applicants to 13, and of the 13 applicants, 10 were accepted into the program.
The demographics of the participant group selected ranged by the following:
The group closely reflected the demographics of a typical job site. It is important to note that all of the participants were male. The only woman who showed interest in participating did not have a valid driver’s license, one of the required criteria to participate in the program. It is also important to note that due to the nature of this pilot program, Employment Insurance did not support the training for clients, because it was not a recognized training or employment program. This made it difficult for E.I. recipients to participate in the program without consequence.
The pilot was delivered April 17 to April 28, 2006, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. OETIM arranged the training locations for the field assessment and offered classroom space at their office. The field assessment was held on the property of A.P.E. Construction site in Woodlands, MB. The participants provided their own safety boots and hardhats. Acklands Grainger Inc. donated hearing protection and safety glasses for the participants in the program. The participants committed to attending the course free of charge and received no monetary compensation for their time spent.
The program was designed to mimic the worksite in as many ways as possible. The participants were informed to bring lunch conducive to a worksite where microwaves and fast food may not be readily available. Also, as on a typical construction site, every morning a tailgate meeting was held to discuss the prior day and outline the current day’s events. At the end of every day, timesheets were completed reflecting the work they completed. In addition, the group also elected a safety representative in the event of any incidents. The program provided the participants with First Aid Certification and WHMIS Information Certification.