School District 27, WorkSafe BC, and local industry continue their team efforts in giving a group of high school students a lesson in “heavy metal” at the Centennial Gravel Pit in Williams Lake today.
Senior Health and Safety Inspector with the Ministry of Energy and Mines based in Kamloops, Steve Rothman, says the Heavy Metal Rocks Program has grown immensely since it first began five years ago.
“We started out with fewer pieces of equipment; a hard time getting stuff.”
“Now everybody shows up. We have a great crew coming back year after year.”
David Corbett Coordinator of Career Programs for School District 27, says the program is a great hands-on experience for students and looks awesome on their resume.
“Well, the students they get experience and training on every piece of equipment in the pit.”
“This year there are 24 pieces and they will have an hour and half of training and experience on each machine with an individual trainer equipping them.”
“The number of companies that are involved, they recognize the program. greatly value and invest in it for the purpose of training young people for careers.”
26 students who completed an application form and were interviewed, are taking part in this year’s Heavy Metals Program.