Questions and Answers

Ontario’s Regulations for Industrial Establishments, Sections 104-106, require employers to provide operators of mechanical harvesting equipment with a three-stage certification program combining classroom instruction, machine-specific pre-work orientation and skill demonstration in actual work situations. The training requirements apply to new workers hired to operate feller bunchers, cut-to-length processors, grapple skidders, forwarder/transporters, delimbers, slashers and chippers. Workers have to successfully complete the classroom training and become registered in the program for the appropriate machine before starting work.

What does the classroom training consist of?

The five-to-six hour classroom session, Mechanical Harvesting Equipment Operator Safety Training (Common Core Module), is taught by accredited instructors. The session is health and safety-focused and provides workers with a solid grounding in areas such as the working environment, knowing your machine, circle check, routine maintenance, danger zones, safe work habits, loading/unloading and fire prevention. Operators of the seven designated mechanical harvesting machines must complete the common core classroom training and be registered in the MTCU certification program before they begin work.

What other training is required for certification?

In addition to the common core classroom training, employers are required to provide on-site machine-specific orientation to all new operators of the designated machines on their first day of employment. Orientation packages prepared for this purpose by the Forestry Tripartite Committee and MTCU will be provided to the employer. The third stage of the process consists of on-the-job skills training by an employer’s designate with the specific equipment in actual work situations. Once the employer feels that the worker is competent, an MTCU-approved evaluator assesses the worker for certification.

What is the registration process?

The employer contacts us or another MHEO Certified Trainer and arranges The Common Core Classroom Instruction. The instruction must be conducted by an OFSWA certified and MTCU approved MHEO trainer. The trainer signs the Classroom training record found in the centre section of the Participants Common Core Classroom booklet. The worker then brings the record to the employer for verification.

After ensuring that workers has completed the Common Core Classroom Instruction the employer ensures that the MHEO machine-specific On-Site Orientation/Training is carried out (Checklist completed) in order to meet all registration requirements and to begin the on-the-job training phase. The machine-specific on-site Orientation/Training checklist (provided by MTCU) must be signed by the employer/designate and the worker. The MTCU Modular Training Application form is then completed and submitted to the apprenticeship office and the worker can now operate the designated machine.

Workers must not be allowed to operate the specified mechanized harvesting machines until the requirements for registration are met.

How do supervisors fit into the training requirements? 

A supervisor engaged in direct on-site supervision of mechanical harvesting equipment operator(s) must successfully complete the Common Core classroom instruction and demonstrate knowledge of the related training units (U5660 - Protect Self and Others, U5661 - Protect the Environment, and U5662 - Perform Operational Checks and Safety Procedures) through an oral or written evaluation. These requirements must be completed before performing supervisory work relating to the seven specified pieces of mechanical harvesting equipment. A transcript will be issued upon successful completion of the program.

Who is qualified to provide the new certification training and evaluation of workers?

The on-the-job orientation/training that takes place in the period following registration and before certification must be conducted by MTCU machine-specific certified operator or a competent person with five years of experience in mechanized harvesting operations.

Only "OFSWA Certified trainers" who meet the requirements as set out below, can provide the MHEO Common Core classroom training and conduct the on-site evaluation for certification of operators that is required within one year following the registration. Candidates for the MHEO Train-the-Trainer course must first qualify by successfully completing the following:

• Common Core Training Module (classroom) - Mechanical Harvesting Equipment Operator Safety Training; and
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in related mechanical harvesting equipment; and
• Generic Train-the-Trainer or equivalent*; and
• Following completion of the TTT course, trainers must first deliver at least one scheduled training of the Common Core Training Module (classroom) - Mechanized Harvesting Equipment Operator Safety Training while being supervised by an OFSWA Consultant Trainer
  

NOTE:
equivalent* means any of our Train-the Trainer-courses such as PCO/PCS, WHMIS etc.

How does the signing authority process work?

A company will be issued one signing authority number for all the seven Mechanical Harvesting Equipment Operator Programs. If a company already has a signing authority number for the Cutter-Skidder Operator Program and operates any of the seven specified mechanical harvesting equipment pieces, the company must re-apply for a separate signing authority for each program (One signing authority number for cut/skid and one for Mechanical Harvesting. (It could be the same person if they meet the MTCU requirements but they still would have two separate numbers.)

Legislation
Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines Summary