News Archives: GPRC Partners with Keyano College for HEO Simulator Training
Tuesday, October 31st, 2017
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Grande Prairie Regional College, in partnership with Keyano College, has been training students on a state of the art heavy equipment simulator giving them the skills they need to enter in-demand careers in local industry.
The Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program was held in October for the first time in Grande Prairie through GPRC’s Continuing Education program. The HEO program is held in a 53-foot mobile unit from Keyano College, which holds the simulators for the heavy equipment training.
The comprehensive five-week simulator program not only provides students with the training they need to safely operate heavy equipment, it also ensures they receive the safety tickets necessary to get them industry workforce ready.
“Through Keyano College we go mostly around the Northeastern side from Fort Chipewyan down to Conklin each year. And of course, now we’re involved with partnerships with other Colleges throughout Alberta as well,” explained Heavy Equipment Simulator Instructor Les Howlett.
Offering this program at GPRC Grande Prairie allows students the opportunity to continue their education and gain new skills that can help them improve their careers right here at home.
“I’ve been working construction for the past ten years, I’ve always been working alongside heavy equipment, and since I was a child I’ve been mechanically inclined, so I was naturally drawn to this program,” said Bilè Hassan, a student of the HEO program.
This exciting program uses simulators with five different types of equipment including an articulated truck, a dozer, a hydraulic excavator, an m-series motor grader, and a small wheel loader. This variety of equipment allows students to try out and learn about the different machines.
“My favourite part is being able to find out which one I like the best,” says HEO student Crystal Labrecque. “For me, it is the bulldozer. You can move a lot of earth with that and it’s just really fun to operate.”
The simulator allows students to become familiar with various aspects of the equipment, as well as job site safety. Scenarios include machine walkaround, control familiarization, driving, and the various functions of the specific equipment. Once finished a scenario a report is produced with the opportunity to review. This direct feedback allows students to identify any areas they need improvement. The various scenarios also allow students to explore the equipment with less hesitation or anxiety.
“It takes the stress away from actually being on a $500,000 piece of equipment without knowing what to do, and it also takes the risk away for employers having that expensive machinery in the hands of an entry-level heavy equipment operator,” explained Hassan.
After the students have completed their five weeks of simulated training and received their safety tickets, they will attend a two-week practicum with a local employer. Through these industry partnerships, students are able to get experience working on-site as an HEO. This cooperation allows local companies to assist in the growth of this program while keeping an eye on new, talented, prospective employees.
At the end of the program, students are able to operate heavy equipment in a safe and efficient manner. Students are also given a USB that shows their employer the reports and results of their simulation training, including how many hours they practiced, how efficient their fuel usage was, how productive they were, and a number of other variables.
If the program is successful and there is demand for it from the industry there could be an opportunity for GPRC Continuing Education to work with Keyano College to bring the program back to Grande Prairie.
