Training Programs for Workers and Supervisors of Type 3 Asbestos Operations

As of November 1, 2007 all workers in Ontario who perform Type 3 Asbestos Abatement work and their Supervisors must be certified as per O.Reg. 278/05 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The in-school component is a minimum of 16 hours for a worker plus a minimum of 5.5 hours for a Supervisor. The supervisor must also possess proof of having completed the CSAO “Basics of Supervision” Course or an equivalent.

For Workers and Supervisors with more than 1000 hours of Type 3 experience before November 1, 2007, there is a specific allowance (referred to as Transitional Provision (TP) or Equivalency Recognition (ER)) to simply challenge the Asbestos Worker test. However the worker must have completed an overview of O. Reg. 278/05. It is highly recommended that this refresher training be of the highest quality possible since, if the test is failed (less than 70%), the worker or supervisor has to complete the full training before re-taking the test.

The following PDFs will answer several of your questions and aid you in locating Apprenticeship Fields Offices. (Links to these PDFs are listed in the Table of Contents above and at the end of this newsletter.)

1. Memo to Major Stakeholders involved in Type 3 Asbestos Abatement Work, Sarah VanDuzer, February 19, 2007
2. A list of Local Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Apprenticeship Field Offices
3. Questions and Answers for the Asbestos Abatement Worker (AAW) and Asbestos Abatement Supervisor (AAS) Programs, February 9, 2007 (Note – read this document before proceeding – it is very useful)

In addition to these documents there are other documents which you must obtain from the local MTCU office or fill out with MTCU assistance. Remember you, as the employer (or a joint local union/employer training committee), must be a Signing Authority before the new worker training begins (and this approval as Signing Authority may take up to 4 weeks). These additional documents are:

• Signing Authority Application Form (to be completed with MTCU field staff).
• Guidelines for the Asbestos Abatement Worker (AAW) Program 253W and the Schedule of Training for this course.
• Guidelines for the Asbestos Abatement Supervisor (AAS) Program 253S and the Schedule of Training for this course.

Contractors have to obtain these documents and follow the information (particularly the flow charts). It is very important that all Contractors begin the Signing Authority Application soon, as there will be very little time to complete the whole process by November 1, 2007. There is effectively 6 months for every Type 3 worker and supervisor to pass the MTCU examinations once the program is rolled out fully (and this includes the summer months).

Pinchin Courses - Update Courses for Transitional (Experienced) Staff

Pinchin is planning initially to provide one day courses to update experienced staff training and provide the update to assist your employees to pass the Transitional Provision requirements. We have set the following dates for worker and supervisor updates.

(Note: These courses are no longer provided.)

We understand the importance of your workers successfully passing the MTCU test so we have made both of these courses one full day. This includes a trial examination and take-up of the examination in class to assist your staff in the real examination.

At the current time both the training and examination are available only in English. Note that the examinations can be written with the assistance of a translator provided by the College at which the examination is written (at your cost). Pinchin realizes that some of your staff may be extremely competent and safe in the field but less comfortable in writing a multiple choice, closed book examination so in the event any of your staff fail this one try at the examination, 50% of the update course fee will be credited to a full Pinchin course.

Full Worker and Supervisor Training (253W and 253S)

Pinchin Environmental is well known for our 3 day training course for building owners, contractors, consultants and government officials. This course covers many topics of value which are not essential for the mandatory training (253W and 253S). Therefore we have re-designed two courses to teach specifically to the topics required by the MTCU Schedule of Training.

These courses will specifically address the training topics required to allow success in the MTCU examination given at the Community College level. Persons completing the courses have two tries at the examination. If, in the hopefully unlikely event they are not successful, the cost of attending a second course would be at 50% of the costs quoted in our course schedule.

Details on these courses and current dates are available by clicking here, or by calling or emailing Pinchn via our Ontario Courses Contact Form.

Asbestos Control in Buildings and Industry (3 day)

This course covers all of the mandatory requirements of the MTCU mandated worker course however it is specifically designed to provide a breadth of information well beyond the MTCU training. It presents much more information in the uses of ACM, asbestos in the environment, surveys and identification, asbestos management programs, Type 1, 2 and Glove Bag use, tendering and specifications and testing.

The course would be suitable for the MTCU Worker Course but we believe it is too lengthy and expensive for abatement workers. It is of great value however to building or asbestos management program managers, consultants, government officials, estimators and general contractors.

For current dates and locations please go to our Asbestos Control in Buildings & Industry Course page.

Training Options Summary for Type 3 Asbestos Workers and Supervisors

• Worker Refresher Course
  (for workers with > 1,000 hours Type 3 experience by Nov 1, 2007)
• Worker - 2 Day Course
  (for workers with < 1,000 hours Type 3 experience by Nov 1, 2007)
• Supervisor Course - 1 Day