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BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COURSES
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles and techniques associated with practical maintenance applications in recreation facilities.
Topics include:
- Facility Problem Solving: this session offers participants the opportunity to network with their peers through interactive sessions that will assist in identifying potential problem areas and solutions. Participants should come prepared to discuss problem areas within their own facilities.
- Workplace Inspections: legislation, role of all parties, procedures, checklists, conducting a workplace inspection.
- Custodial Care: washrooms, locker rooms, showers, ceramic floors and grout, general floor care, custodial equipment selection, use and care.
- HVAC: equipment identification, air handlers, filters, belts, economizers, boilers, maintenance and inspection, trouble analysis - this session is conducted off site to allow participants to actually see the equipment.
- Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Safety: types and applications, testing requirements, system maintenance.
- Ladder Safety: straight, extension, stepladders, application, care and safety procedures.
- Customer Service: What is customer service? Why is it important to provide extraordinary service and exceed the expectations of the customers? Who are our customers? What tools or techniques can we use to assist us in dealing with our customers?
- Lighting: influences on lighting, quality, types, energy code compliance.
- Electrical Maintenance Safety: lockout/tag out, electrical awareness safety, fuses and safety switches, fluorescent ballast replacement.
- Building Materials: materials and applications used in construction and renovation (i.e. brick, block, windows, doors, tiles, etc.)
- WHMIS - an overview of the legal responsibilities of the worker, the supervisor and the employer with respect to controlled products, symbols used, supplier labels, Material Safety Data Sheets, and training required
- Snow Loading - an overview of the operator’s responsibilities with respect to roof snow loads and the potential dangers/hazards that can be created
This course provides an in-depth, progressive program of study for personnel who have successfully completed Building Maintenance and Operations or a recognized equivalent course. A detailed study of specialized areas of building maintenance and operations will be covered to provide participants with a competent working knowledge of areas relating to sustainability and preventative maintenance programs.
Topics include:
- Building Code; application to the workplace loads, occupancy, barrier free, structural adequacy
- Roofing System; ridges, exposed roofing felts, membrane flashing, bluberries, ponding, water, blisters, pitch pockets, metal roof, single ply
- Painting Specifications; paint products, coatings, surface preparation, tender specifications, maintenance repainting
- Air Quality/Ventilation; air contaminants, air exhaust system, controls, fans, checklist, filters, airflow rates, healthy building guidelines
- Cost Effective Building Program; air leakage, insulation, vapour barrier, infiltration, ex-filtration, air sealing, repair/replacement
- Boiler Maintenance and Operation; certificate requirement, repair vs. maintenance, boiler startup checklist, operators’ responsibilities, safety system inspection shed, water treatments
- Issues Affecting Building Operation; discuss your concerns as it relates to guidelines, standards, occupational health and safety, healthier buildings, new technologies, liability
- Budgeting: capital and current budgets, limitations of traditional budget process, types of budgeting, performance measurement
- Building Assessments; preventative maintenance life cycle, IESNA, spring and fall inspections, structural adequacy, fire code, risk maintenance
- Contract for Services; Facility staff and managers often find themselves in the position of purchasing services. Methods, legal binding contracts, types of contracts, preparing specifications, awards, how to deal with poor service contractors, errors and
pitfalls will all be discussed
The need to maintain all recreation environments to the highest level of cleanliness is expected by those who use our facilities each day. Recreation buildings are large, have huge amounts of human traffic under all kinds of conditions and are often under staffed with little budget. Understanding the basic requirements of public health regulations as well as how to properly plan and implement a comprehensive work detail can make the task of housekeeping and sanitizing a recreation facility manageable.
This course is designed for front-line staff. It will provide participants with practical proven techniques to safely work through all cleaning jobs aimed at ensuring satisfied users and extended facility life expectancy.
Topics include:
- Understanding the recreation cleaning environment challenges: aquatic, dry-floor, ice, change rooms and common areas
- Preventing accidents in the workplace - accident reporting
- Legislation that guides facility staff - Public Health Regulations, OHSA
- The role of front-line staff in maintaining a clean safe facility
- Working when the public is in the building
- Working safely with chemicals in the workplace
- First Aid
- Electrical safety
- Proper lifting
- Bacteria and disease control
- Blood borne pathogens and their risks
- Cleaning with steam
- Understanding mould
- Fire prevention
- Confined spaces
- Fall protection
- Safely working at heights
- Use and care of Personal Protective Equipment
- Cleaning food preparation areas
- Wall types and cleaning
- Cleaning windows, trims, ceilings, fans and beams
- Floor types and cleaning requirements
- Stripping, waxing, buffing
- Carpets and furniture
- Restrooms: sinks, urinals and toilets
- Specialized cleaning: lights, computers, leather and grout
- Dealing with garbage and recycling programs
- Controlling stock and inventory
- Dealing with community disasters that elevate facility use and cleaning requirements
- Policies, procedures and record keeping: tracking cleaning tasks to maximize budge allocations
This course will also include a “janitorial rodeo’ which will allow participants to view and try various pieces of janitorial equipment.
This Ontario Recreation Facilities Association course is designed to introduce recreation facility personnel to the principles and techniques of parks maintenance and operations. It will be of interest to those professionals who maintain parks as a part of their responsibilities, or to those who wish to develop new knowledge and skills in this area. Facilitators will provide demonstrations and tours emphasizing practical applications of the course content.
Topics include:
- Parks maintenance and operation principles and techniques
- Horticultural landscaping and maintenance
- Estimating, tendering and construction of parks facilities
- Playground equipment maintenance, inspection and standards
- Site fixtures and furniture
- Sports facility and sports field maintenance and operation
- Turf maintenance and techniques
- Safe use and operation of equipment
- Current issues and trends
This Ontario Parks Association course is designed to help enhance the competencies of experienced employees, while setting the right foundation blocks for those being introduced to the world of green space maintenance and management. Working safely in a parks environment requires a comprehensive understanding of the tasks at hand and the equipment designed to effectively and efficiently perform the work.
Participants will gain first hand exposure to industry best practices, and are expected to complete their professional development experience by participating in workplace specific training once they return to the workplace. With the knowledge gained from Parks Maintenance and Operations and the Sports Turf Management and Maintenance courses, participants will learn the skills required for the safe operations of small hand tools and larger grass cutting and turf care equipment.
Topics include:
- Equipment dealership tour for a ‘ride and drive’
- On-site safety demonstrations of a farm tractor, loader and wide area mower
- Fuel safety awareness and small tools safety
- Fleet and maintenance management, commercial vehicle operators registration, licenses, log books, weight and trailer use, etc.
- Hands-on training for equipment, grass mowers, push mowers, weed trimmers and chain saws
- Latest industry-related information on: accident reporting, sun exposure, personal protective equipment, West Nile virus, needles/disposal, Bill C-45, bee stings, poison ivy, etc.
- Litter collection and recycling equipment
Mandatory Equipment Requirement: Participants must come prepared with proper protective equipment including rain gear and CSA-approved work boots. Failing to arrive with these items will limit participation in hands-on activities to viewing from a safe distance. There will be no exceptions to this requirement.
This Sports Turf Association course is designed to introduce the latest principles and techniques of managing and maintaining sports turf. The course will be of interest to those who manage or maintain sports turf, other turf areas, and/or those who wish to develop additional knowledge and skills in this important field. The course offers a range of options to deal with issues such as restricted pesticide use, restricted water use, and how best to manage with limited financial resources.
Topics include:
- Turf species and their uses, characteristics and benefits, emphasizing the latest and best varieties for particular uses
- An overview of the identification, monitoring and control of diseases, insects, and weeds in sports turf
- Integrated pest management (IPM) programs to recognize and monitor infestations of diseases, insects and weeds, to identify thresholds, to reduce pesticide use, and to utilize biological and cultural methods to control/reduce infestations
- Soils as a much needed medium for growth and fertility and often the basis for resolving many problems
- Water management including sub-surface and surface drainage systems, irrigation practices and systems and the efficient use of water and weather information for managing improvements under water restrictions with a full module on irrigation
- Cultural practices which enhance and promote good turf and improved playing conditions
- Sports field construction including proper design, layout,
- orientation and the hidden aspects for good turf
- Renovations and restoration methods for poorly performing fields and best practices which promote good conditions and improved maintenance practices
This course will provide information on the legislative framework under the Planning Act as to how parks and open space fit into the overall plans for a new subdivision. Components include the Planning Act, development charges, needs analysis, budget, community development and maintenance/design considerations. The course is a case study and presentation style course where team work and research and group interaction is required. Participants will be given the tools necessary to complete a project and they will learn how to assemble the information and present their options and findings for group analysis.
Participants should have a base knowledge in parks management, equipment maintenance and playground inspection as well as facility maintenance.
The Ontario Parks Association has developed the Ontario Playground Academy to meet the needs of those involved and responsible for the hands-on inspection and maintenance of public playspaces and playground facilities.
OPA places a high priority and commitment to the provision of safe and accessible play structures in public spaces. OPA also emphasizes the strong need to educate caregivers, supervisors and others about the benefits of positive and safe play experiences for our children.
Participants will learn how to significantly lower the risk of injuries in play areas by providing a safe outdoor learning experience for all. The Ontario Playground Academy uses the CAN/CSA-Z614-03, Children’s Playspaces and Equipment as the base document for the three independent courses of the Academy.
This course is designed for experienced individuals who, ideally, perform hands-on monthly inspections of public play structures and who have a good understanding of the relevant CSA standards. Participants may have already taken a playground certification program.
The Ontario Playground Academy instructors include experts from the industry including an architect, liability expert, lawyer, representative of the Canadian Standards Association and others to give in-depth classroom-based training as well as on-site demonstration at a local playground structure.
Topics include:
Playspace Strategies
- space requirements
- playability
- access/egress requirements
- playspace design
- age appropriate issues
- playspace materials
- playspace construction
Playspace Evaluation
- playvalue and hazard identification
- inspection and maintenance
- surfacing evaluation
- record keeping
- CSA overview
- corrective actions
Playspace Management
- liability and insurance
- due diligence
- contractual obligations
- risk management
- owner/operator responsibilities
- employee/manager responsibilities
- playvalue and practical choices
Participants who complete this program and achieve a passing grade in the written exam will be registered by the Ontario Playground Academy as a “Playground Practitioner”.
The Cemeterian Operations Level I course is the first of a two-part cemetery program which is designed to educate and raise the level of professionalism of the cemetery operator. The Cemeterian Operations Level I is a three-day, in-class session with invited guest speakers who represent funeral directors and government officials. The Cemeterian Operations Level I course addresses topics that a cemetery operator must be aware of in their day to day duties. Each cemeterian will share their experiences as we discuss each of the presented topics.
Topics include:
- A history of cemeteries
- Understanding how to work safely in a cemetery environment
- Maintaining risks associated with cemetery operations
- Cemetery By-Laws - what they can and cannot control
- Understand the Cemeteries Act and the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act
- Proper grave set-up, grave opening and closing procedures, foundation layout, marker Installation, lot layout procedures
- Cremation interment options
- Understanding the importance of proper record keeping
- Dealing with the bereaved families in a compassionate and professional manner
The Cemeterian Operations Level II course is a two-day field training session with invited guest speakers who represent monument builders and cemetery designers. Participants will visit cemetery operations and spend time on cemetery grounds and in maintenance buildings, chapels and mausoleums.
Topics include:
- Receive and document funeral information accurately and professionally
- Perform proper grave layout, opening, set up and closing techniques
- Perform proper marker installation
- Perform and document monument safety inspections
- Perform cremation layout, opening, set up and closing duties
- Perform columbarium layout, opening, set up and closing duties
- Review cemetery equipment and safe working practices
- Review cemetery design opportunities to include memorial trees and benches
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