Technology can be a very powerful tool – and it has a lot to offer the construction industry. It can make our work easier, help us communicate more effectively, learn more quickly and work more safely. At the CSC, our goal is to harness technology and make technology work for everyone, from the student who wants to know more about a trade to the worker who wants to take his skills to another province.

Three technology-based CSC programs are currently underway or in development:

Computer-based Safety Training for Pipeline Construction
E-learning Gold Seal Program
Skills Data Card Initiative

Computer-based Safety Training for Pipeline Construction

Working with the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations the CSC is developing a national computer-based training program for pipeline construction. This program will make it easier for pipeline workers who routinely cross provincial borders and contractors to reduce workplace injuries and their associated costs.

The program will pool the expertise of labour and employer groups, as well as provincial safety associations, to create a standardized core curriculum that can be adapted to suit regional needs. So – whether the job site is downtown or out-of-town, consistent Canada-wide safety standards for pipeline workers can be maintained.

Download PDF: Mobile Learning for the Mobile Worksite
Computer-based Pipeline Construction Safety Training

E-learning Gold Seal Program

The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Gold Seal Certification Program is a national certification program for construction project managers, superintendents and estimators. To date, more than 5,000 people have been certified under the Gold Seal program.

In partnership with the CCA, the CSC will build on the current Gold Seal program by developing standardized on-line courses and managing the certification process in an e-learning platform. The initial work will focus on assessing the readiness of potential users; developing e-learning guidelines; finding the most appropriate technology for delivery; and putting together a strategy for developing an e-learning Gold Seal program.

To learn more about the Canadian Construction Association’s Gold Seal Certification Program, visit www.cca-acc.com/goldseal/index.htm.

Download PDF: Log on to learn: Computer-based training for construction managers

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Skills Data Card Initiative

The implications of smart-card technology – the storing of information on a small credit card-like plastic card – are enormous for the construction sector. Smart cards could help both workers and employers track certification and training credentials achieved, as well as payroll and personal information. Workers carrying smart cards would no longer have to go through an intensive and time-consuming documentation process each time they arrived at a new job-site.

The CSC worked with Waiward Steel Fabricators in Edmonton, Alberta, on a pilot project to test the real-world reliability of the smart-card technology. A number of employees used the card to find out if it really does save time and money. Guidelines for implementing smart-card technology have been produced and made available to the construction industry.

Download PDF: A How-to Guide on Smart Card Technology

If you would like information on these or any other CSC programs or initiatives, please contact us at info@csc-ca.org

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