“SEAA is great resource of education, safety and steel industry trends."
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Fall 2014 Steel Erectors Provide Groundwork for Ironworker Training and Apprenticeship Programs Written by Tracy Bennett Featured in The NCCER Cornerstone Magazine In 2014, the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) embarked on a journey to provide resources for its members to establish training, testing and apprenticeship programs for ironworkers. The goal is a nationwide network of training and assessment centers operated by SEAA member companies. “This initiative builds on the high-quality ironworker craft training curriculum the association developed years ago in partnership with NCCER, and expands its availability to a wider marketplace,” said Tom Underhill, executive director of SEAA. By the end of 2014, five ironworker craft assessment sites were established in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, and the association received certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for an apprenticeship program for ironworkers. By the end of 2015, SEAA’s goal is for 20 more NCCER Training Units and Authorized Assessment Sites to be approved and in place around the country. Taking the training and assessment site initiative one step further, SEAA’s DOL-approved ironworker apprenticeship program allows SEAA members to create formal training that meets specified standards and is recognized by federal and state governments. With this program, companies can assess current and new employees’ skills and determine training needs for apprentices. NCCER’s customized training prescriptions enable companies to fill any gaps found in knowledge and skills for their journey-level workers. Ironworker credentials distinguish individuals as true craft professionals. NCCER’s Ironworking curriculum is available in three levels, and journey-level training and testing are provided in a variety of formats, including online, classroom and on the job. Written assessments evaluate the knowledge of individuals while Performance Verifications measure their skills. “By providing credentials of this nature, employers can be assured that their workforce is moving forward and training companies can verify to general contractors that their crews are the right ones for the job,” says Steve Burkholder, president of S&R Enterprises and president of SEAA. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company is one of five SEAA training and assessment sites approved by NCCER in 2014. Perhaps what’s most unique about SEAA’s initiative, is that member companies with model training programs already in place have opened their doors to other steel erection companies to share ideas, and to help them get started with establishing their own training and assessment centers. “SEAA members seem to apply the concept that there is no patent on safety,” said Underhill. “Two such companies are LPR Construction and Buckner Companies.” Several times a year, LPR Construction of Loveland, Colorado, holds an 80-hour new hire training program for workers with little to no experience. Last fall, LPR invited other steel erection companies to participate. “We opened our doors to share ideas and to help motivate other steel erection companies as they begin to establish their own ironworker training program,” said Ed Valencia, director of safety and training. Among the companies that participated were Empire Steel Erectors of Humble, Texas, GA West Company of Chunchula, Alabama and The Buckner Companies from Graham, North Carolina. For the 80-hour new hire training program, LPR uses NCCER’s Core and Level 1 Ironworking curricula, which covers introduction to tools, cranes, rigging, fastening, aligning and other topics, as well as OSHA-10 hour training. Many of the SEAA member companies that visited LPR’s new hire training program are in the beginning stages of establishing their own training and apprenticeship programs. However, Buckner has had training programs in place for several years but is always looking for new ideas to make training successful. Buckner became an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and Accredited Assessment Center in 2013. It also maintains a rigger/signalperson endorsement. “We are performing the same type of training and assessments that are done by SEAA, but we are just doing them independently through the Buckner Companies,” said Kevin Leonard, training director for Buckner. Buckner’s apprenticeship program, which is registered and approved by the U.S. DOL and North Carolina Department of Labor, is geared toward hiring inexperienced employees and turning them into well-trained ironworkers. However, Buckner recognizes that it can be a vicious cycle for someone with no experience who is trying to enter the field. “So many companies will not offer a job to someone if he or she does not have experience,” said Leonard. “What type of experience do you expect a person to have if no one will give him or her a shot? We’re attempting to turn that idea on its head and offer chances to individuals who are willing to work and learn.” This is accomplished by a three-year combination of on-the-job training and classroom work, including all three levels of NCCER’s Ironworking curriculum. In addition, the company hosts high school students and educators each year as part of the American Institute of Steel Construction’s Steel Day event. In September 2014, more than 250 students and teachers visited Buckner’s headquarters to learn about steel erection as a career opportunity. Leonard says that attending LPR’s training was an eye-opening experience. “To witness the progress made by trainees over those two weeks really reinforced my belief in the training process and the good that can come out of it, especially for young, inexperienced employees. The ability to provide hands-on training that teaches employees the correct and safe ways to perform work before they ever get into the field is a revolutionary approach being taken by LPR, but it needs to become the norm for all ironworking companies sooner rather than later.” As an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and Accredited Assessment Center, SEAA hopes to provide a template for its member companies to use in establishing ironworker training, testing and apprenticeship programs throughout the country. Companies using these guidelines will help build standardization and consistency in ironworker craft training for the industry. “This is competency-based material, requiring written and practical assessment of skill,” explained Tim Eldridge of Education Services Unlimited and a curriculum consultant to SEAA. “A hands-on Performance Profile is required for each module of the curriculum. Successful completion of both parts of the training earns the candidate industry-recognized credentials.” “A long-term goal of SEAA is to overcome projected craft worker shortages in our industry by creating programs for its members so that they can be prosperous and profitable long into the future,” said Burkholder.
Fall 2014
Steel Erectors Provide Groundwork for Ironworker Training and Apprenticeship Programs
Written by Tracy Bennett Featured in The NCCER Cornerstone Magazine In 2014, the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) embarked on a journey to provide resources for its members to establish training, testing and apprenticeship programs for ironworkers. The goal is a nationwide network of training and assessment centers operated by SEAA member companies.
“This initiative builds on the high-quality ironworker craft training curriculum the association developed years ago in partnership with NCCER, and expands its availability to a wider marketplace,” said Tom Underhill, executive director of SEAA.
By the end of 2014, five ironworker craft assessment sites were established in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, and the association received certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for an apprenticeship program for ironworkers. By the end of 2015, SEAA’s goal is for 20 more NCCER Training Units and Authorized Assessment Sites to be approved and in place around the country.
Taking the training and assessment site initiative one step further, SEAA’s DOL-approved ironworker apprenticeship program allows SEAA members to create formal training that meets specified standards and is recognized by federal and state governments. With this program, companies can assess current and new employees’ skills and determine training needs for apprentices. NCCER’s customized training prescriptions enable companies to fill any gaps found in knowledge and skills for their journey-level workers.
Ironworker credentials distinguish individuals as true craft professionals. NCCER’s Ironworking curriculum is available in three levels, and journey-level training and testing are provided in a variety of formats, including online, classroom and on the job. Written assessments evaluate the knowledge of individuals while Performance Verifications measure their skills.
“By providing credentials of this nature, employers can be assured that their workforce is moving forward and training companies can verify to general contractors that their crews are the right ones for the job,” says Steve Burkholder, president of S&R Enterprises and president of SEAA. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company is one of five SEAA training and assessment sites approved by NCCER in 2014.
Perhaps what’s most unique about SEAA’s initiative, is that member companies with model training programs already in place have opened their doors to other steel erection companies to share ideas, and to help them get started with establishing their own training and assessment centers.
“SEAA members seem to apply the concept that there is no patent on safety,” said Underhill. “Two such companies are LPR Construction and Buckner Companies.”
Several times a year, LPR Construction of Loveland, Colorado, holds an 80-hour new hire training program for workers with little to no experience. Last fall, LPR invited other steel erection companies to participate. “We opened our doors to share ideas and to help motivate other steel erection companies as they begin to establish their own ironworker training program,” said Ed Valencia, director of safety and training.
Among the companies that participated were Empire Steel Erectors of Humble, Texas, GA West Company of Chunchula, Alabama and The Buckner Companies from Graham, North Carolina. For the 80-hour new hire training program, LPR uses NCCER’s Core and Level 1 Ironworking curricula, which covers introduction to tools, cranes, rigging, fastening, aligning and other topics, as well as OSHA-10 hour training.
Many of the SEAA member companies that visited LPR’s new hire training program are in the beginning stages of establishing their own training and apprenticeship programs. However, Buckner has had training programs in place for several years but is always looking for new ideas to make training successful. Buckner became an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and Accredited Assessment Center in 2013. It also maintains a rigger/signalperson endorsement. “We are performing the same type of training and assessments that are done by SEAA, but we are just doing them independently through the Buckner Companies,” said Kevin Leonard, training director for Buckner.
Buckner’s apprenticeship program, which is registered and approved by the U.S. DOL and North Carolina Department of Labor, is geared toward hiring inexperienced employees and turning them into well-trained ironworkers. However, Buckner recognizes that it can be a vicious cycle for someone with no experience who is trying to enter the field. “So many companies will not offer a job to someone if he or she does not have experience,” said Leonard. “What type of experience do you expect a person to have if no one will give him or her a shot? We’re attempting to turn that idea on its head and offer chances to individuals who are willing to work and learn.”
This is accomplished by a three-year combination of on-the-job training and classroom work, including all three levels of NCCER’s Ironworking curriculum. In addition, the company hosts high school students and educators each year as part of the American Institute of Steel Construction’s Steel Day event. In September 2014, more than 250 students and teachers visited Buckner’s headquarters to learn about steel erection as a career opportunity.
Leonard says that attending LPR’s training was an eye-opening experience. “To witness the progress made by trainees over those two weeks really reinforced my belief in the training process and the good that can come out of it, especially for young, inexperienced employees. The ability to provide hands-on training that teaches employees the correct and safe ways to perform work before they ever get into the field is a revolutionary approach being taken by LPR, but it needs to become the norm for all ironworking companies sooner rather than later.”
As an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and Accredited Assessment Center, SEAA hopes to provide a template for its member companies to use in establishing ironworker training, testing and apprenticeship programs throughout the country. Companies using these guidelines will help build standardization and consistency in ironworker craft training for the industry. “This is competency-based material, requiring written and practical assessment of skill,” explained Tim Eldridge of Education Services Unlimited and a curriculum consultant to SEAA. “A hands-on Performance Profile is required for each module of the curriculum. Successful completion of both parts of the training earns the candidate industry-recognized credentials.”
“A long-term goal of SEAA is to overcome projected craft worker shortages in our industry by creating programs for its members so that they can be prosperous and profitable long into the future,” said Burkholder.