For contractors who are looking to provide in-house training for their equipment operators, the National Utility Contractors Association has a solution. The organization recently released the 2004 schedule of train-the-trainer classes for its heavy equipment operator training program.
The classroom-based program starts by teaching the trainer how to be an in-house classroom instructor and how to develop an equipment training program for new operators. NUCA President Bill Bowman said the program is targeted at developing successful in-house trainers within construction companies.
“The in-house training concept is ideal for contractors who are looking for good operators and are willing to train and promote from within their own ranks,” Bowman said.
During the program class participants learn teaching techniques and practice their training delivery over a 2 1/2-day period, using multi-media training materials that are part of a master instructor training kit. The kit focuses on the safe and efficient operation of four major pieces of equipment commonly used in utility construction and site work: crawler excavators, backhoe loaders, wheel loaders and crawler dozers. The kit also includes 11 training videos, instructional presentations, classroom handouts and tests, equipment pre-operation check sheets and wallet-sized certificates.
“Whether you are starting from scratch with a new employee or you want to polish the skills of your experienced operators, the program’s training materials provide the right combination of pre-start safety and basic operations tips that will help your people work smart and get the job done,” said NUCA’s Education Committee Chairman Greg Strudwick.
The “train-the-trainer” classes will be offered August 5-7 in Las Vegas; October 25-27 in Raleigh/Durham, N.C., and December 1-3 in Phoenix, Ariz. To get more information or to register online, click on the link to the right.
