The Skilled Trades Ontario is inviting subject matter experts to participate in developing standards and examinations to ensure they continue to meet the needs of industry, apprentices, and trades professionals in the province.

“Ontario is internationally recognized for providing top-tier training and certification standards, following best practices and relying on expert advice,” said Melissa Young, CEO/Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario. “Today, we are building on that progress by inviting experts across the skilled trades to have their say as we work to ensure apprentices are trained to the highest standard and have the tools they need to succeed in today’s workforce.”

Standards Industry Advisory Committees will be responsible for providing support to Skilled Trades Ontario as the agency develops or updates standards and examinations. This could include reviewing examination content, skill competencies, and learning outcomes.

If selected, participants will have the opportunity to contribute their expertise through in-person or online workshops and online surveys.

Skilled Trades Ontario is seeking experts working in their sector who have the following qualifications and skills:

• up-to-date, broad knowledge of their trade with specific technical knowledge or experience
• flexibility and commitment to dedicate time and energy to the task at hand
• unbiased attitude
• ability to support Skilled Trades Ontario’s Program Development Specialists
• responsiveness to requests
• communication skills

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Ontario’s council of construction associations has launched a program with the goal of making sure contractors are paid for their work on time.

The Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) has begun an awareness campaign on the Prompt Payment and Adjudication program, which is provided under Ontario law to ensure the timely payment of contractors for their work. COCA has created an online toolkit to help those involved get familiar with the rules.

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As of April 1st, 2023, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) will have the regulatory authority to issue Administrative Penalties. This authority is an important step forward in our efforts to address illegal and unsafe electrical installations across the province. 

Here are some quick facts:

• What are Administrative Penalties? They are an Order to pay a financial penalty for non-compliance with a specified requirement of the Electricity Act or its Regulations. 
• Who Could Get an Administrative Penalty? ESA will use these penalties as an additional tool to address the underground economy. Where appropriate, the penalties will also be part of our escalation response for other types of non-compliance.
• How is ESA Addressing Non-Compliances Now? Currently, ESA addresses non-compliance through tools such as provincial prosecutions, licence suspension, licence terms and conditions, warning letters, defects and other administrative actions. Administrative penalties will be used in addition to these tools and may replace them, in instances where a penalty is a more appropriate response.
• Who Will Issue Administrative Penalties? They will be issued by way of an Order by either a General Manager or the Director of Licensing. They will not be handed out by our inspectors. 
• How much are the Penalties? Each penalty can be up to $10,000 per infraction. There can, however, be multiple penalties per infraction. For example, someone who is outfitting a commercial space and installs lighting without an electrical contractor licence and a notification for the work could have two administrative penalties issued against them.
• What Contraventions may be Subject to a Penalty? Examples of contraventions for which ESA can issue an Administrative Penalty include: conducting electrical work without a licence, advertising electrical services without a licence, repeated failure to comply with licencing requirements, working without filing a notification (permit) with ESA, and hiring or sub-contracting an unlicensed contractor.

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• New ELECTRI Research Available: The Career Mapping Tool
• The ELECTRI Connection Summit
• ELECTRI hosted an event with Mark One Electric Company, Inc. and Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri
• The March Council Room focused on new third-party pre-qualification standards connected to ESG requirements
• This month’s ITea & Coffee focused on the process to get your company from software selection to a fully operational system
• New Think Like a Leader Interview with Tim Speno is available
• New Think Like a Leader Interview with Christeen Speelman-Parsons of Speelman Electric is available
• New Think Like a Leader Interview with Orvil Anthony Jr. of Fisk Electric is available

Read Here

Simplify and improve safety for employees working alone: StaySafe's Lone Worker App

Watch Live: Discover how StaySafe's Lone Worker App can streamline safety, monitor worker well-being, and provide a reliable lifeline in emergency situations.

Join EcoOnline’s product team for a live look at how companies are utilizing the StaySafe app to improve lone worker safety and operations. 

With StaySafe, you can quickly and easily locate, communicate with, and check-in on your employees who are working on their own, alone. Do you or your lone workers struggle with:

• Capturing and reviewing lone worker information, like check-ins and emergency locations
• Communication between workers and supervisors 
• Working in a reactive state – with difficult and tedious manual tasks
• Following safety procedures while working independently 

Join this LIVE webinar on April 14th at 12pm ET, to see the StaySafe app live in action. 

Register now for this must-see event and learn how to keep your lone, field, and remote workers safe and secure.

Register Here

The NECA Project Excellence Awards were created to recognize member companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 13 different market sectors! We want to see the innovative and cutting-edge projects that your company completed in 2022. Get a chance to be celebrated on stage at our annual convention in September where the PEA awards will be presented!

The 13 different categories are:

• Commercial/Institutional
• Design-Build
• Educational
• Energy Solutions/Green Building
• Health Care
• Industrial
• Low Voltage/Technology
• Overhead Transmission
• Residential
• Street Lighting/Traffic Signal
• Substation/Interconnection
• Transportation & Infrastructure
• Electric Vehicle (EV)

The deadline to submit is June 30, 2023. Applications submitted must be based on projects completed in 2022. View more information and rules here.

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT TODAY

May 24 - 26, 2023

Renaissance Nashville Hotel

Nashville, TN

Join ECAO as we are presenting at the NECA Safety Professionals Conference on May 26th at 9:30 am, on Inclusion and Diversity in Health and Safety

The ultimate goal of electrical safety plans is to create a safe working environment for employees and everyone involved in the project. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) is an area that has been lacking in most plans as it impacts mental health and safety within our workforce. This session aims to change the norms of health and safety through DEI&B cultural lenses. Ensure employees know the importance of and are trained in DEI&B incorporation regardless of culture, gender, ethnicity, birthplace and other differences that could impact health.

NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC) is open to all NECA Members, IBEW and the electrical training Alliance! Attendees will experience three days of keynotes and breakout sessions from industry leaders and safety experts. Educational tracks include: Inside Electrical Construction, Leadership, NFPA 70E & Electrical Construction, Safety Management Regulations and Safety Management Risks. There will also be an exhibit hall with all the latest safety knowledge and gear with plenty of networking opportunities!



Learn More and Register Here