ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION

ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5, JUNE 2009
LABOUR
MARKET
NEWS
Fort McMurray • Wood Buffalo
Heavy equipment operators
Activity expected to pick up over summer
Where to
find work
There are a variety of places heavy
equipment operators can look for work in
the Fort McMurray region.
➡ Look in the Yellow Pages under
Contractors to find contact information
for local employers.
➡ Visit construction sites to ask if theyʼre
hiring (except for mine sites, which have
restricted access).
➡ Go online. Many employers post their job
opportunities on their company websites.
You can find a list of potential employers
online at www.woodbuffalo.net/
linksEMPL7NOC.html.
➡ The Fort McMurray Construction
Association has a members directory
online at www.fmca.net.
➡ Red Link (www.redlink.ca) has a
searchable vendor database of
companies that contract to oil sands
developers.
➡ Check the career pages or help wanted
section of the Fort McMurray Today
newspaper (www.fortmcmurraytoday.com).
➡ Other online job boards include:
• www.jobbank.gc.ca
• www.fortmcmurrayonline.com
• www.ab.constructionjobstores.com
• www.workopolis.com
• www.monster.ca
Over the past several years, heavy
equipment operators have been in
high demand in the Fort
McMurray region. In today’s
economy, work has slowed but
companies are predicting the
current slump won’t last for long.
“It’s slower than it was but I think
it’s starting to pick up a little bit,”
says Charles Iggulden, president of
the Fort McMurray Construction
Association. Many construction
and infrastructure projects are in
the works. This includes the
twinning of Highway 63, the
municipal airport expansion and
new subdivision development.
projects and existing operations,
with another $30 billion to be
spent in 2010.
Besides construction there are
plenty of other jobs in the region
where heavy equipment operators
can put their skills to use. Other
options include working in
landscaping and snow removal, or
operating equipment at the mine
sites.
To learn more about local job
opportunities for heavy equipment
operators, and the training and
skills employers look for, check
out pages 2 to 4.
“There’s a fair amount of
work coming in all areas.
I can foresee later on in
summer and fall the
industrial stuff is going to
pick up, too,” says Iggulden.
While some oil sands
projects have been delayed,
construction activity
continues at several mine
sites. The Oil Sands
Developers Group estimates
$25 billion will be invested
in 2009 on new construction
IN THIS ISSUE
Photo courtesy Suncor
Many heavy equipment operators in the region
work in mining and construction.
NEXT ISSUE…
Heavy equipment operators .......1-3 Heavy equipment technician .........5
Heavy oil=Heavy equipment: Jobs
Resources .....................................6
at the mine sites ............................4
1
Occupational health and safety careers
This publication has been prepared by Alberta Employment and
Immigration. Find us online at www.woodbuffalo.net.
ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5, JUNE 2009
Where can you
find work as a
heavy equipment
operator?
Heavy equipment operators (NOC
7421) can find work in a variety of
industries in the Fort McMurray
region. Construction and mining
are the two largest employers of
heavy equipment operators, but
they’re not the only option.
Construction
Heavy equipment operators help
build roads and bridges. They dig
trenches for oil and gas, sewer and
water pipelines. They work on
industrial, institutional, commercial
and residential construction sites
across the region.
There are many construction
projects underway or about to begin
in the Fort McMurray area.
Government funding has been
approved for new infrastructure
projects to help stimulate the
economy. The Parsons Creek
housing project, which will see the
development of 7,000 housing
units, is expected to start in 2009.
Twinning of Highway 63 and two
new interchanges have also been
approved.
These and other construction
projects will provide employment
opportunities for heavy equipment
operators. “I think we’re going to
be as busy as we were before,” says
Charles Iggulden, president of the
Fort McMurray Construction
Association.
Mining
Major oil sands mining companies
in the Fort McMurray region are
recruiting for various positions. See
page 4 for full details.
Landscaping
Summer and fall are the busy
seasons for landscaping companies
in the region. Heavy equipment
operators
are needed
to run a
variety of
machines,
from skid
steers (also
called Bobcats) to loaders and
excavators.
Dunvegan Gardens in Fort
McMurray, for example, has six to
eight operators on staff during the
busy season, with about three or
four working during winter. “We
are a (career) stepping stone for a
lot of people interested in the oil
sands,” says owner Brad Friesen.
From there, they move on to larger
machinery. Landscaping companies
may also keep their operators busy
in the winter doing snow removal.
Road maintenance
Year-round, heavy equipment
operators are needed to maintain
highways and streets. In spring and
summer, this includes using graders
to plow gravel roads, or
pavers and compactors
to repair asphalt.
Grader operators are
also employed in the
region to plow snow in the winter.
The Regional Municipality of
Wood Buffalo
(www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca) public
works department employs heavy
equipment operators in road
maintenance. Carillion Canada
(www.carillion.ca) has the highway
maintenance contract for Fort
McMurray.
Forestry
Before the oil sands boom, forestry
was a large employer in the region.
There is still logging taking place,
requiring workers who operate
machinery such as feller-bunchers,
delimbers and skidders. Most work
is done in the winter when the
muskeg is frozen and heavy
equipment can go into the bush.
How to get your foot in the cab
Becoming a skilled heavy equipment operator can take years of on-the-job training. So how can
someone with no experience get started? One way is to work as a skid steer (Bobcat) or fork lift
operator. These are small machines that can give you some basic skills in heavy equipment
operation. Jobs are usually in areas such as landscaping or warehousing. Keyano College
(www.keyano.ca) offers one-day skid steer and fork lift certification, although some employers will
provide the certification in-house. Entry-level jobs in road construction, operating a compactor or
roller, can also help you gain valuable experience.
Even with skid steer, fork lift, compactor or roller experience, much more
training is needed to operate larger pieces of heavy equipment. One
way to get that training is to go to school and take a heavy equipment
operator course. Keyano offers different courses—see page 6 for details.
And probably the most common way to get started in this field is as a
labourer. “Become a labourer and work your way up. Get someone to
show you how to operate the machines until you get the hang of it,” says
Niki Taylor, with E Construction in Fort McMurray.
2
ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5, JUNE 2009
Skills are learned over many years
For Gabe O’Rielly, watching a
skilled heavy equipment operator
at work is like watching a violin
virtuoso perform on stage. Not
everyone has the ability to do the
job, and do it well.
“Just being able to operate a
machine and dig a hole is not what
makes an operator,” says O’Rielly,
with H. Wilson Industries, a
general contractor in the region.
Each piece of heavy machinery
requires different skills. The best
operators have developed their
skills after many years of work
experience. “Some people go to
school to learn the basics. Some of
it is on-the-job training and a
natural aptitude for the trade,” says
O’Rielly.
Work conditions
Work is often seasonal for most
heavy equipment operators in the
region. They are the busiest from
spring to fall, when most
construction projects are in full
swing. Layoffs are normal in the
winter, although there are
opportunities to do snow removal.
Some work, such as jobs at the oil
sands mines, is year-round.
Ups or downs in the economy can
also affect how much work is
available for many heavy
equipment operators, especially in
construction.
For seasonal workers, the hours
can be long and overtime may be
required. Some operators work in
shifts, especially at the mines.
Some construction projects are
remote, so operators may live in
camp housing.
Heavy equipment work is done
outdoors in all kinds of weather.
Not all equipment has cabs, so
operators may be exposed to dust,
noise and insects. Operating
machinery can also be physically
demanding. “Depending on the
piece of equipment, you can really
get jolted around, so it can take a
physical toll,” says O’Rielly.
But working outdoors is what
many heavy equipment operators
enjoy about the job. “You’re not
indoors stuck in front of a
computer all the time. You’re out
in the fresh air. It might be dusty,
but it’s still fresh,” he says.
What do employers want?
Employers look for heavy
equipment operators with these
characteristics:
✓ Good vision and depth
awareness
✓ Good hand/eye/foot
coordination
✓ Fast reflexes
✓ Mechanical ability
“Just being
able to
operate a
machine and
dig a hole is
not what
makes an
operator.”
3
Prepare now for
the upswing
Thereʼs no time like the present to prepare for
the expected upswing in the economy. Charles
Iggulden, president of the Fort McMurray
Construction Association, says heavy
equipment operators who are ready will have a
better chance of finding employment.
“The key thing for everyone is to make sure,
while itʼs slow, to renew all their safety tickets
and update their resumés,” he says.
Safety tickets that employers may require
include CSTS and First Aid. For details, go to
www.woodbuffalo.net/trainSAFE.html.
Various career and
employment
services in Fort
McMurray can
help with resumé
writing. See page
6 for locations.
✓ Ability to work in a team
✓ Positive attitude
Employers also look for people
who put safety first. “You need a
good sense of safety and a
realization of just how much
damage you could do if you’re not
paying attention,” says O’Rielly.
Some employers require a Class 5
driver’s licence, a clean driver’s
abstract and drug or alcohol testing.
Pay
According to the 2007 Alberta
Wage and Salary Survey, heavy
equipment operators in the Wood
Buffalo-Cold Lake region earn an
average of $23 to $32 per hour
(before overtime)
Career paths
Heavy equipment operators can
move up to larger machinery. They
can become crew leaders or
supervisors. They could become
safety officers or trainers or even
start their own contracting
business.
ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5, JUNE 2009
Heavy oil =
Heavy
equipment
Jobs at the mines
Driving a piece of heavy equipment
the size of house is all in a day’s
work for heavy hauler operators at
local oil sands mining sites. These
heavy hauler operators are just one
of the many heavy equipment
operators directly employed by the
region’s major oil sands mining
companies.
From graders, loaders, backhoes
and excavators to the enormous
heavy haulers and mining shovels,
a variety of regular and specialized
heavy equipment is used in day-today mine operations.
“The magnitude of the equipment
and dynamics of mine operations is
often commented on by new
employees,” says Kim Brassard,
recruitment manager for Shell
Albian Sands.
It’s exciting to be a part of the
giant-scale mining, agrees Justin
Boyd, recruitment representative
for Syncrude. “You get to work
with the largest equipment in the
world,” says Boyd.
In mining operations, most heavy
equipment operators start out
driving heavy haulers. From there,
they can progress to other heavy
equipment, such as graders and
ARE THEY HIRING?
The need for operators is always
changing, based on factors such as
employee turnover and company
expansions.
➡ Syncrude, Suncor, Shell Albian Sands
and CNRL are all recruiting in 2009 for
either entry-level or experienced
operators, or a mix of both.
➡ There will be many opportunities in the
long-term as the companies grow.
Check company websites regularly for
new job postings. Heavy hauler operator is an entrylevel position at oil sands mining
sites, but there is plenty of room
for career growth.
loaders, and finally to the senior
position of shovel operator.
Job requirements
All mine companies require a
minimum Grade 12 diploma or
equivalent. Companies typically
ask for at least six months to five
years heavy equipment experience,
preferably in an open pit mining
environment. Depending on the
company, candidates may also be
considered if they have several
years experience operating heavy
equipment in an industrial
environment, or driving trucks with
trailers. To find out the specific job
requirements of each company, it is
best to check their websites
directly:
Advancement
Mining companies provide on-thejob training to help operators work
their way up to positions that
require more skills. With
experience, they can advance to
supervisory roles, such as crew
leader. There are also opportunities
to learn a trade or go into areas like
mine operations planning.
Work conditions
www.syncrude.com
Mines operate 24/7 for 365 days a
year. Operators work rotational day
and night split shifts. They work
outdoors in a dusty, noisy and fastpaced environment.
www.suncor.com
Pay and other benefits
www.shell.com/oilsands
www.cnrl.com/horizon
Companies provide new employees
with extensive mine orientation and
safety training.
Other skills
Besides work experience, oil sands
companies look for a variety of
other soft skills. “It is critical that
our heavy equipment operators
have a positive attitude, be good
communicators, value the
importance of teamwork and
always put safety first,” says
Brassard.
4
Depending on experience and the
position, oil sands companies in the
region pay heavy equipment
operators from $30 to $50 per hour.
Group benefits, retention bonuses
and stock options are some of the
perks that may also be offered.
Mine companies don’t provide
camp housing for heavy equipment
operators, but they may help with
moving and housing costs.
Keyano College
Keyano College (www.keyano.ca)
offers a Mine Operations course
that can lead to employment at the
mine. See page 6 for full details.
ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5, JUNE 2009
Heavy equipment TECHNICIANS
Working as a heavy equipment technician
(NOC 7312) is never boring for Ron Neville. One
day he could be fixing a 400-ton heavy hauler on an
oil sands mining site. The next, he could be in the
shop at Hammer Equipment doing basic
maintenance on a dozer or overhauling the engine
of a highway truck.
“With heavy equipment you don’t know what kind
of machine you’re going to be working on next. We
work on anything,” says Neville. “I like the variety,
the challenge. Every day is something different.”
Neville was an automotive technician for 23 years
before switching to the heavy equipment
technician trade three years ago. He is now the shop
foreman at Hammer, located in Fort McMurray’s
Gregoire Industrial Park.
Heavy equipment techn
ician Ron Neville.
offer them an apprenticeship,” says George Williams,
manager at Bucyrus, a mine equipment dealer with an
office in Fort McMurray. Labourers often assist
tradespeople, which can help them learn more about
the trade and whether it’s a job they will really enjoy,
adds Williams.
Work conditions
Heavy equipment technicians in Fort McMurray work
mostly on large trucks and heavy equipment of all
types. They could spend most of their day in an indoor
shop environment, or they could be working outdoors
on an industrial or construction site, or even on the
side of a highway making emergency repairs.
Another way workers can show employers they’re
serious about an apprenticeship is by enhancing their
skills through a pre-trades program, such as the 24week Mechanical and Construction Trades preparation
certificate at Keyano College (www.keyano.ca).
Keyano College also offers in-school technical training
for first to fourth-year apprentices.
The work can be tough on the body. “It’s physically
demanding. You’re up and down, bent over and lifting,
on your feet all day, on your knees, on your back on a
crawler, or up and down a ladder if it’s a high piece of
equipment,” says Brian Miller, branch manager at
Hammer Equipment.
Pay
Wages in Alberta range from $25 to $40 an hour for a
journeyperson heavy equipment technician. In Fort
McMurray, they can earn up to $50 an hour.
Heavy equipment technicians in the region typically
work eight to 12 hour shifts. Depending on their
employer, they may have to work day, evening or
overnight shifts and they may be on call.
Job forecast
Over the past few years, there has been a high demand
for heavy equipment technicians in Fort McMurray.
While work has slowed due to economic conditions,
many employers in the region continue to hire and
companies like Hammer and Bucyrus anticipate a
continued need for heavy equipment technicians.
Apprenticeship trade
In Alberta, heavy equipment technicians learn the trade
by working for an employer as an apprentice. The
apprenticeship typically takes four years to complete.
It includes a minimum 1,500 hours of on-the-job
training and eight weeks of technical training each year
(see www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca for full details).
“In summer time, with infrastructure work taking
place, we’ll gear up again. It will start picking up,”
predicts Miller.
It can be a challenge for workers to find a local
employer willing to hire them as a first-year apprentice,
but it’s not impossible. Employers sometimes look for
people with past trades experience, such as a millwright
or another type of mechanic. Another common way to
get into the trade is to start working for an employer as a
shop hand or labourer.
FINDING EMPLOYERS
Many employers post jobs on their own websites. For website
links to local employers who hire heavy equipment technicians,
visit www.woodbuffalo.net/linksEMPL7NOC.html.
➡ Try online job boards such as www.jobbank.gc.ca or
www.fortmcmurraytoday.com.
➡ Word of mouth is always important in Fort McMurray. Talk to
people in the industry, and maintain a good reputation.
“Once they get into the pool as a labourer, if an
opportunity opens for a technician, the employer may
5
ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5, JUNE 2009
Alberta Employment and Immigration
career and employment services
Fort McMurray
Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information
Ph. 780-715-0222
[email protected]
Canada-Alberta Service Centre
Labour Market Information Centre
Provincial Building, 9915 Franklin Avenue
Ph. 780-743-7192, employment.alberta.ca
Other career/employment services
Fort McMurray
Ever wondered what it would be like to drive the largest piece of heavy equipment
in the world? Keyano students can learn how on high-tech computer simulators.
Heavy equipment training at Keyano College
If you would like to work as a heavy equipment operator, Keyano College in Fort
McMurray (www.keyano.ca) offers different training programs to help students
learn entry-level skills and gain valuable work experience.
Mine Operations program
This three-month program gives students the basic skills needed to operate
Caterpillar 797 haul trucks, the largest heavy equipment in the world, as well as
other pieces heavy equipment, such as dozers and graders.
The program has an optional three month co-op with a local mining company
(either Syncrude, Suncor or Shell Albian Sands). The co-op may lead to
employment with one of the companies, although it is not guaranteed. A studentʼs
grades, attendance, attitude and other factors are all considered. About 90 per
cent of program graduates find employment at the mines. A Grade 12 diploma is
required for co-op placements, although the entry requirement for the program is
Grade 10.
The college is looking at shortening the Mine Operations program so that more
students can go through it each year. The program may also be changed to focus
only on haul truck operator training. “With the new mine program, we hope to
expand our other heavy equipment operator programs,” says Brendan Clarke,
associate dean for the collegeʼs Trades & Heavy Industrial division.
Other heavy equipment courses
Keyano offers short courses to teach students the basics of operating a variety of
equipment, from dozers and graders to excavators, scrappers, packers and frontend loaders. “We have quite a fleet of equipment,” says Clarke.
Post-secondary training is an asset that many employers look for. And once the
student finds work in the field, employers provide even more on-the-job training.
“It takes many years experience to be able to operate a piece of equipment
competently,” notes Clarke.
To find out what heavy equipment courses are currently available, check the
collegeʼs website or call the campus toll-free at 1-800-251-1408.
For information on resources and career decisions in
Fort McMurray, contact us at:
Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information
780-715-0222
Email: [email protected]
Online: www.woodbuffalo.net
employment.alberta.ca
6
Fort McMurray Association for Community
Living - CHOICES Employment Services
10010 Franklin Avenue, Ph. 780-791-3355
www.fmacl.ca
YMCA - Youth Connections
(in-school services only)
Ph. 780-791-7520, www.ymcaes.com
YMCA – Immigrant Employment Services
#201, 10011 Franklin Avenue
Ph. 780-791-1115 www.ymca.woodbuffalo.org
Franco Job
312 Abasand Drive, Centre Communautaire
Scolaire, Boréal, Ph. 780-791-9779
www.acfawoodbuffalo.ab.ca
Athabasca Tribal Council Employment
9206 McCormick Drive Ph. 780-791-7445
www.atc97.org/employment
Keyano College Career Employment
Services Ph. 780-799-1589 www.keyano.ca
Métis Employment Services
Ph. 1-877-623-7203, www.albertametis.ca
Career Planning Services
Toll free: 1-866-776-7773, www.olcconsulting.ca
Fort McKay
Fort McKay First Nation Employment &
Training Office
Ph. 780-828-2430, www.fortmckay.com
Conklin
Conklin Employment Services
Nakewin Centre, Conklin, Ph. 780-559-8995
Employment and Training
Aboriginal Mine Works Program
Ph. 780-791-9946 www.aboriginalmineworks.ca
Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiative
Ph. 780-747-6500
(previously Aboriginal Apprenticeship Project)
Immigrant services
YMCA – Immigrant Settlement Services
#201, 10011 Franklin Avenue
Ph. 780-743-2970, www.ymca.woodbuffalo.org