Ice Maintenance and Equipment Operations (OLSS)

Ice Maintenance and Equipment Operations (OLSS)

This online self-study course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

Recommended Prerequisites: Participants that have completed a) Basic Arena Refrigeration or the Advanced Refrigeration Facility Operator course; b) and the Ice Making and Painting Technologies course; and c) have two years of practical artificial ice knowledge with some ice resurfacer operational experience will be better prepared in understanding some course content.

An ice resurfacer is a complicated piece of heavy equipment that requires a concise understanding of how it works, what adjustments must be maintained and what regular maintenance must be performed or monitored by the operator to ensure trouble-free operation.

This course is not designed to make a “competent” ice resurfacer operator. It has been developed using industry best practices that demonstrate the operation and care of the most critical piece of ice sheet maintenance after the refrigeration plant. Participants will be exposed to proven skills and techniques to create exceptional ice, troubleshoot poor ice conditions, perform ice maintenance, and safely operate and maintain all ice maintenance equipment.

The ORFA has developed this training session in partnership with ice resurfacer manufacturers to help ensure the accuracy of the provided information however, it must be noted that the manufacturer is always considered the authority on any training, operation, or safety matter specific to their equipment. They should be consulted as required.

Topics include:

• History of ice maintenance
• Operator safety
• The conditioner
• The cutting blade
• Snow & ice collection systems
• Water systems
• The vehicle
• Fuel and power source safety
• Facility air quality awareness
• The role of the circle check
• How to safely operate an ice resurfacer
• Other industry ice maintenance tools
• Effective ice maintenance techniques

Workplace-Specific Training: Please note this course does not provide participants with hands-on training in driving an ice resurfacer. A reminder is given to facility supervisory staff that to complete the educational process successful participants must return to work and be provided with specific workplace-specific training.

This course is worth 28 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation