TNDC News

TNDC Employees & Tahltan Members Complete Training in Confined Space Safety & Traffic Control

Group Achieves a Collective 100% Pass Rate

Eighteen (18) Tahltan members, including eight (8) TNDC employees are now ready to work in confined spaces and traffic control after completing training arranged by TNDC in preparation for the 2018 work season. TNDC contracted health, safety and security training provider DOMCOR to deliver Confined Space Safety and Traffic Control Person training in Dease Lake in April.

TNDC operates in a remote region, which means that industry training is not readily available. Bringing training to the community assists TNDC in building a flexible and multi-skilled workforce. Extending the training opportunity to Tahltan members aids in expanding their skillset, which benefits industry and TNDC business partners.

“Ensuring that our employees have the knowledge and training to carry out their work safely and to industry best practices are top priorities for TNDC. Having a roster of trained employees enhances TNDC’s qualifications for contract bids in our heavy construction, road building and maintenance division, while also ensuring compliance with provincial occupational health and safety regulations,” says TNDC’s CEO Peter Arendt.

Combining classroom discussion and skill-based training, the Confined Space Entry Awareness & Basic Rescue course helps workers identify confined spaces, understand and assess the risks and hazards, take steps to protect themselves and others, and develop the ability to initiate and conduct non-entry confined space rescue. Participants learned hazard identification, assessment and control, incident response regulatory requirements for entry and rescue, first responders’ roles and responsibilities and limitations of standard and specialized confined space equipment.

The Traffic Control Person (TCP) Certificate Program included several courses. The TCP course covered the responsibilities, regulations and standards, hazard identification and assessment, traffic control devices, and work zone setup and maintenance. The advanced courses addressed Supervisor Responsibility, Risk Assessment Training, Two-Way Radio Procedures, Road Hazard Awareness, Crew Talk, Violence in the Workplace and Lane Tech Training. A practical skills exam tested knowledge in setting up and removing a work zone.

“The rescue component of the confined space course was most interesting. We learned safety watch responsibilities, how to prepare a rescue program and the lifting-assist devices used in rescue. Our knowledge was put into practice with a rescue scenario at the end. In the traffic control program, I found the Supervisors Skills for Safety course, delivering a crew talk and lane closure technician (for high risk traffic control and lane closure) courses the most insightful for my position,” says Pardner Payne, TNDC’s Safety Coordinator, who participated in both training sessions.

DOMCOR reported an impressive 100% pass rate on both training courses. Participants were tested and received completion certificates for each course. The courses were led by qualified professional instructors, combined theoretical and practical teaching, and met WorkSafe BC, Occupational Health & Safety and BC Construction Safety Alliance regulations.