A Heavy Equipment Operators one-month training course wrapped up on Thursday at the City of Weyburns landfill, put on by the Southeast Regional College.The students, along with SIAST instructor Bob Mortimer, have been practising with a grader, trackhoe and a front-end loader at the city landfill since June 15.In addition to digging holes and moving dirt, the students have completed some in-class studies, exams and received certification in CPR and First Aid, WHIMIS and Ground Disturbance. Each student will receive certification on two of the pieces of equipment.
The colleges ability to offer this training relied on a number of partnerships with businesses which supplied some of the equipment.The Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services provided funding to all the students in the course, as the tuition is $10,900 per student.The City of Weyburn also supplied grease, fuel and the landfill as a project site. Blaine Frank, the director of engineering for the city, made the landfill available to the college, and said he was pleased with the work done by the students.Wed be happy to do it again in the future, he added.Of the five students, one began a job on Tuesday, one had an interview on Monday, and one has a job offer on the table.The students noted that heavy equipment operators can start out earning between $18 and $38 per hour, depending on the employer, the type of job and the type of equipment being used.Were thrilled with this program. The partnerships really made this training opportunity all come together, and as of Thursday, we have five qualified operators who can work immediately, said Randy Uhren, a training consultant with the college.
