Major Work Activity A - Performs common occupational skills

Table of Contents

• Task A-1 Performs safety-related functions
  • A-1.01 Uses personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment
  • A-1.02 Maintains safe work environment
• Task A-2 Uses tools and equipment
  • A-2.01 Uses hand tools
  • A-2.02 Uses power tools
  • A-2.03 Uses measuring equipment
• Task A-3 Organizes work
  • A-3.01 Uses documentation
  • A-3.02 Determines material requirements and quantities
  • A-3.03 Sequences work procedures
• Task A-4 Uses communication and mentoring techniques
  • A-4.01 Uses communication techniques
  • A-4.02 Uses mentoring techniques

Task A-1 Performs safety-related functions

Task Descriptor

Concrete finishers are exposed to hazards on a daily basis. Therefore, they must comply with regulations, company policies and manufacturers’ instructions regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), safety equipment, and safe work practices to ensure safety of themselves and others.

Essential Skills: Thinking, Continuous Learning, Oral Communication

Range of Variables

• PPE includes: breathing apparatus, air purifiers, eye and ear protection, hard hats, high visibility clothing, safety vests, fall arrest equipment, skin protection, hand protection, foot protection
• safety equipment includes: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash stations, spill kits, gas sensors

Range of Variables

• PPE includes: breathing apparatus, air purifiers, eye and ear protection, hard hats, high visibility clothing, safety vests, fall arrest equipment, skin protection, hand protection, foot protection
• safety equipment includes: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash stations, spill kits, gas sensors
• hazards include: silica dust, falling objects, chemical spills, slips, trips, uneven ground, heights, carbon monoxide
• effects of exposure include: dermatitis, burns, respiratory damage (e.g. silicosis)

Essential Skills: Thinking, Working with Others, Oral Communication

Range of Variables

• safety equipment includes: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash stations, spill kits, gas sensors
• regulations include: Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), jurisdictional regulations
• workplace hazards include: embedded objects (e.g. post-tensioning cable, electrical conduits, dowels, rebar), carbon monoxide, inadequate shoring, toxins, falling objects, poor ventilation, vehicular hazards, silica dust
• safety-related documentation includes: field risk assessments, job hazard assessments, incident reports, equipment and PPE inspections, tool box/tailgate talk documents, safety meeting minutes, WHMIS documents

Range of Variables

• workplace hazards include: embedded objects (e.g. post-tensioning cable, electrical conduits, dowels, rebar), carbon monoxide, inadequate shoring, toxins, falling objects, poor ventilation, vehicular hazards, silica dust
• safety equipment includes: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash stations, spill kits, gas sensors regulations include: Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), jurisdictional regulations
• worksite issues include: confined space entry, asbestos removal, fall protection, vehicular traffic

Task A-2 Uses tools and equipment

Task Descriptor

Proper use of tools and equipment is very important to perform the tasks effectively and safely in the concrete industry.

Essential Skills: Thinking, Continuous Learning, Working with Others

Range of Variables

• types of hand tools: see appendix B

Essential Skills: Oral Communication, Thinking, Continuous Learning

Range of Variables

• power tool maintenance includes: checking oil, gas and air filters, cleaning, storing, lubricating, testing
• features include: kill switches, machine guards, bolts, electrical cords, handles, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), drive belts

Range of Variables

• types of power tools include: electric tools, pneumatic tools, hydraulic tools, gas-powered tools, powder-actuated tools
• features include: kill switches, machine guards, bolts, electrical cords, handles, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), drive belts
• power tool maintenance includes: checking oil, gas and air filters, cleaning, storing, lubricating, testing

Essential Skills: Numeracy, Thinking, Document Use

Range of Variables

• measurements include: weights, volume, elevations, areas, distances, slopes, tolerances, angles

Range of Variables

• types of measuring equipment include: scales, laser levels, measuring tapes, builder’s levels, hand levels, measuring vessels

Task A-3 Organizes work

Task Descriptor

Concrete finishers use organizational skills such as determining materials and scheduling work to perform their tasks as well as advance in their careers. Concrete materials and weather conditions impact the timing of placing, setting and curing of concrete which in turn affects the scheduling of work. Also, concrete finishers must be able to use various types of documentation to perform their tasks.

Essential Skills: Document Use, Reading, Thinking

Range of Variables

• standards documentation includes: Canadian Standards Association (CSA), American Concrete Institute (ACI), International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI)
• drawings include: as-built, working, shop, blueprints, electronic drawings

Range of Variables

• safety documentation includes: safety data sheet (SDS), WHMIS symbols
• standards documentation includes: Canadian Standards Association (CSA), American Concrete Institute (ACI), International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI)
• drawings include: as-built, working, shop, blueprints, electronic drawings

Essential Skills: Numeracy, Thinking, Document Use

Range of Variables

• calculations include: weight, volume, area, perimeter, Pythagorean Theorem
• materials include: concrete materials, base materials, aggregates, membranes, formwork materials, reinforcement materials, grouts, repair materials, admixtures, cement types, epoxies, supplementary cementitious materials, exotic products, sealers
• factors include: cost, down-time, structural/architectural requirements, location of repair, weather conditions, time restrictions
• concrete chemistry includes: accelerated concrete setting (hot load), pot life

Range of Variables

• materials include: concrete materials, base materials, aggregates, membranes, formwork materials, reinforcement materials, grouts, repair materials, admixtures, cement types, epoxies, supplementary cementitious materials, exotic products, sealers
• hazards include: respiratory, contaminants, chemical burns, material ingestion and absorption
• safe work practices include: adequate ventilation, use of PPE and WHMIS
• types of base materials include: gravel, clay, recycled crushed concrete, sand, pea stone, clear stone
• types of membranes include: evaporation reducer, polyethylene, insulating, water-stop, vapour retarders
• types of reinforcement materials include: rebar, welded wire mesh, synthetic and steel fibres, post-
• types of grout include: cementitious, epoxy, polyester
• types of formwork material and systems include: dimensional lumber, steel forms, plywood, form liners, decorative liners
• calculations include: weight, volume, area, perimeter, Pythagorean Theorem

Essential Skills: Thinking, Oral Communication, Working with Others

Range of Variables

• factors include: weather conditions, environmental conditions, work of other trades, material properties, public safety, accessibility to work area for conveyance of materials and equipment, pre-construction meetings

Range of Variables

• factors include: weather conditions, environmental conditions, work of other trades, material properties, public safety, accessibility to work area for conveyance of materials and equipment, pre-construction meetings

Task A-4 Uses communication and mentoring techniques

Task Descriptor

Learning in the trades is done primarily in the workplace with tradespeople passing on their skills and knowledge to apprentices, as well as sharing knowledge amongst themselves. Apprenticeship is, and always has been about mentoring – learning workplace skills and passing them on. Because of the importance of this to the trade, this task covers the activities related to communication in the workplace and mentoring skills.

Essential Skills: Oral Communication, Working with Others, Continuous Learning

Range of Variables

• active listening includes: hearing, interpreting, reflecting, responding, paraphrasing
• non-tradespeople include: consultants, engineers, architects, owners, product representatives
• tradespeople include: concrete finishers, carpenters, ironworkers, construction craft workers, crane operators, heavy equipment operators, plumbers, construction electricians

Range of Variables

• non-tradespeople include: consultants, engineers, architects, owners, product representatives
• tradespeople include: concrete finishers, carpenters, ironworkers, construction craft workers, crane operators, heavy equipment operators, plumbers, construction electricians
• sources of information include: regulations, codes, standards, OH&S requirements, requirements of local authorities, drawings, specifications, company and client documentation, experienced journeypersons
• learning styles include: seeing it, hearing it, practicing it
• harassment includes: objectionable conduct, comment or display made either on a one-time or continuous basis that demeans, belittles, or causes personal humiliation or embarrassment to the recipient
• discrimination includes actions that are prohibited based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for which a pardon has been granted

Essential Skills: Oral Communication, Working with Others, Continuous Learning

Range of Variables

• steps required to demonstrate a skill include: understanding the who, what, where, when and why, explaining, showing, giving encouragement, following up to ensure skill is performed correctly
• practice conditions means: guided, limited independence, full independence

Range of Variables

• essential skills are: reading, writing, document use, oral communication, numeracy, thinking, working with others, digital technology, continuous learning
• learning needs include: learning disabilities, learning preferences, language proficiency
• strategies to assist in learning a skill include: understanding the basic principles of instruction, developing coaching skills, being mature and patient, providing feedback
• personal responsibilities and attitudes include: asking questions, working safely, accepting constructive feedback, time management and punctuality, respect for authority, good stewardship of materials, tools and property, efficient work practices
• teaching skills include: identifying the point of the lesson, linking the lesson, demonstrating the skill, providing practice, giving feedback, assessing skills and progress

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