Perspectives: A Learner
After graduating with a BSc from the University of Manitoba in the mid-1960’s, Stan followed his mother’s wishes and enrolled in teacher’s college. He tried it for a few months but it wasn’t for him. With a slow smile he says “If I’d kept on with that I probably would’ve had a breakdown from the stress.”
He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming an ironworker and, nearly forty years later, he still believes he made the right choice. So it’s a bit surprising, then, that after nearly four decades of on-the-job learning the self-described ‘old-timer’ would decide to head back to the classroom to become certified in his trade.
Previously designated an ‘unskilled’ trade, the province recently introduced certification standards for ironworkers - Red Seal certification - and a qualifying four-year apprenticeship program that allows Manitoba’s graduates to be recognized across Canada. For existing ironworkers, certification is still voluntary and the province is covering the cost of trade-related and Essential Skills training. Stan didn’t hesitate: “I don’t understand why all the older members aren’t taking it. It’s a chance to upgrade yourself without having to pay anything.” He quips:” Maybe I’m just being cheap or something.”
He becomes serious, though, when discussing worker safety. Stan’s easygoing, thoughtful approach and his years of experience and on-the-job learning eventually led to him becoming a foreman, and for 20 years he’s directed anywhere from 2 to 60 workers at project sites throughout the province. Safety concerns are a constant for someone working 200 feet in the air while one-ton girders swing past, and he’s seen and personally experienced the effects of inexperience or even the tiniest misstep.
The 12-week course – with its emphasis on job-related numeracy and document use - has had a huge impact on his knowledge and understanding of safe practices. The idea of knowing why something should - or should not - be done is very appealing to Stan. While course materials included a wide variety of trade-related specifications and procedures, Stan was particularly interested in the formulas and mathematical equations used in such safe practice areas as stress factors, tolerances and load limits.
Often, workers are told the specifics of their task: not just what to do but how they should do it. Prior to the course, if he saw a beam weighing 2,500lbs that had to be lifted he’d know his crew would need some chokers: steel wires with eyelets on both ends used to cradle beams. And through practical experience Stan would know that 3/8” chokers weren’t strong enough so he’d tell his people to grab some half-inch or 5/8-inch chokers and go put them on. While he’d pick the correct diameters, he couldn’t explain to others - or even himself - how to arrive at that assessment. “But now I know the formula for determining the safest load, and I can show the other guys how to do it, too.”
At age 58, Stan is well aware that he could retire in two years. Even with his Red Seal certification his wage will stay the same, and he says has no plans to work outside the province. So when he tries once again to answer the question of why he decided to go through the process of certification, he reflects for some time before answering. “On a job site, see, most of the time there’s more than one way to do something. In fact, the number of ways you can do something usually equals the number of men on your crew. But as the boss, it’s your job to pick the easiest, the safest and the shortest way to do it for everyone. And if you can explain how you made your decisions, then next time they’ll know how to do it themselves.” Another lesson learned.