MATERIAL HANDLER SKILLS UPGRADING PROJECT

Material Handling Occupational Standards

The primary purpose of this project is to provide the tools necessary for sector stakeholders to clearly enunciate the occupational, training and certification standards associated with material handling in the supply chain sector.

There is a critical need to standardize the certification requirements for forklift/reach-truck operators on a national basis throughout the sector. In addition, there is significant demand for qualified workers, and this occupation lends itself well to facilitating entry to the sector.

The apprenticeship model is ideally suited for this occupation and is supported widely by industry and governments. There are many people, particularly among under-represented groups, interested in apprenticeship opportunities.

The expected benefits of this project are:

For workers: greater knowledge and information regarding entry-level career opportunities in the sector and, consequently, increased access, particularly by under-represented groups.
For employers: the ability to more effectively recruit and retain workers by offering entry-level apprenticeship opportunities that are nationally recognized.

Through this project, the CSCSC will:

Complete a review of apprenticeship frameworks for occupations consistent with material handlers from other sectors;
Develop essential-skills requirements for material-handling occupations;
Identify existing training providers and match training curricula to skill requirements;
Establish an accreditation framework for training providers; and
Promote the accreditation program within the sector.

The results of this project will include the development of a process that will ensure that material handlers, specifically forklift and reach-truck operators, have the requisite skills and competencies to operate their equipment safely and efficiently in workplaces throughout the sector and that the acquisition of such skills can be clearly demonstrated so as to be accepted and recognized nationally by the sector.

Material Handling Occupational Standards

Five occupational standards have been developed by stakeholders in the material-handling industry.

Project Working Group

Committee Role	Name	Company/Organization
Chair	Brent Ellis	Wills Transfer Limited Brockville, Ont.
Members	Tom Aldred	Schenker of Canada Limited Toronto, Ont.
	Carmine Benedetti	Transportation Health & Safety Association of Ontario Toronto, Ont.
	Sharon Browne	MicroSkills Etobicoke, Ont.
	Peter Charlebois	Hansler Industries Ltd. Brockville, Ont.
	Barry Coish	Liftow Limited Brampton, Ont.
	Owen Cooke	Nestlé Canada Inc. Mississauga, Ont.
	John Elson	J. H. Ryder Machinery Ltd. Toronto, Ont.
	Patti Galbraith	Canadian Food Industry Council Toronto, Ont.
	Jim Hambrook	Liftow Limited Brampton, Ont.
	Mark S. Henry	East Penn Canada Anjou, Que.
	Kevin P. Jones	3M Canada Company Brockville, Ont.
	David Long	International Warehouse Logistics Association – Canadian Council Toronto, Ont.
	Dennis MacDonald	Liquor Control Board of Ontario Mississauga, Ont.
	Rick Masson	J. H. Ryder Toronto, Ont.
	Susan Murrin	St. John's, Newfoundland
	Paul M. Pires	G.N. Johnston Equipment Co. Ltd. Mississauga, Ont.
	Sylvia Provenski	Assiniboine Community College, Adult Learning Division Brandon, Man.
	Nenad Rakocevic	Logistics Specialist Toronto, Ont.
	Vasco Rebuli	Toyota Canada Inc. Toronto, Ont.
	Jeff Rook	Rook Safety Services Toronto, Ont.
	Sunil Sheoran	inolence inc. Windsor, Ont.
	Doug Westlake	Williams Machinery LP Richmond, B.C.
	Keith Yip Choy	Guelph, Ont.
Staff	Beverly Myers	Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council Mississauga, Ont.
	Dale Ross	Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council Mississauga, Ont.