Skills and Training

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Contractors rated the skills of Insulators as satisfactory on average, although some skills were rated slightly lower than satisfactory. There is a significant correlation between the percentage of Insulators who have completed formal training in a specific skill area and the contractor ratings of satisfaction. There is also a clear relationship between the completion of training in a specific skill area and securing work in that area. Out of eleven skills identified in the industrial sector of Insulator work, less than 20% of the survey group had completed formal training in all eleven areas. About one fifth of the survey group had not had formal training in any of the eleven skill areas. A similar picture emerged with respect to commercial and marine work.

Health and safety is an important aspect of Insulators’ work. They are often working with hazardous materials and in dangerous conditions such as extreme temperatures and confined spaces. Although health and safety training appears to be provided on job sites and through apprenticeship training, there are still some Insulators who do not have certification in areas such as WHMIS and asbestos and many are indicating a need for more health and safety training.

The most acute problem with respect to barriers to training is the lack of availability of programs. This is consistent across the country.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and Ontario do not have recognized apprenticeship programs. Ontario does provide an apprenticeship program through the union but the provincial government does not officially recognize it. In some of the provinces/territories that do have an apprenticeship program, the research found little training activity. Where there are apprenticeship initiatives, there are differences in the duration, content of the training, ratios and other aspects of the program among the provinces/territories.

Insulators and contractors were asked to rate how satisfactory the apprenticeship system is in meeting their needs, on a 5-point scale. The Insulators gave the apprenticeship system an average satisfaction rating of 3.5, while the contractors gave an average rating of 2.6. Almost half of the contractors gave a rating of less than satisfactory. The Insulators’ ratings varied across the country. Reasons for poor ratings of the apprenticeship system were that it is incomplete, not current, costly, too long, and provides poor on-the-job training.