NORCAT would like to provide you with an important update on NORCAT’s management plan during the COVID-19 crisis that we all are collectively dealing with. Please keep in mind, we are working in unchartered waters and our plan will evolve / pivot as new information comes to light. At this stage, the NORCAT Leadership Team is meeting on a daily basis to ensure we continue to operate a safe workplace to protect the health of employees, customers, and visitors and to ensure the continuity of our business operations. We are currently open for business, but understandably operating under enhanced health and safety parameters.
As a trusted source for contractor induction training across Ontario, NORCAT has communicated with our mining partners to further mitigate risk with a plan to further reduce the volume of trainees attending training at NORCAT facilities.
Effective immediately, all contractors taking induction training programs will be able to complete the entire program on-line from a remote / home location. This includes all final tests that normally are required to be completed in our NORCAT proctored training facilities. This feature is now open for all to complete training either at their own facilities or in a private setting.
We recognize some mining sites require contract workers to present a NORCAT card in order to gain access to site via digital control mechanisms such as kiosks or gate systems. These include Lake Shore Gold and Glencore / Sudbury INO sites. These requirements have not been waived, and therefore upon completion of online training, trainees will be required to briefly visit a NORCAT training centre to get an updated NORCAT card so they can gain access to the controlled site. We have offered this option to minimize the amount of time workers need to spend in NORCAT facilities and reduce the volume of trainees in our facilities.
IMPORTANT: Contractor induction training must still be completed, and proof of training must be presented at site. Therefore, for sites that do not require a NORCAT card to operate a digital site control, workers must print off proof of training upon completion of the induction programming. This can be performed directly through NORCAT’s eLearning system.
For workers who are unable to complete their induction training at their own location, NORCAT computer labs are still open and available until further notice. Therefore, workers may still attend a NORCAT site to complete their site-induction program if they have no other option. Please note, we encourage all to make best effort to complete the training in their own location if possible.
Trainees who have travelled outside of Canada are asked to refrain from attending a NORCAT site until 14 days after the person has returned to Canada. If trainees are feeling ill they are asked not to attend a NORCAT facility and if a NORCAT staff witnesses symptoms of illness they will ask the trainee to please leave the facility until such time that the worker is no longer exhibiting symptoms of illness.
The contractor site-induction programs that can now be completed online includes the following:
- Glencore / Sudbury INO
- Detour Gold
- Kirkland Lake Gold
- Lake Shore Gold
- McEwen Mining
- DeBeers
- City of Greater Sudbury
Technical support will be available for workers who participate in online training at their own location. Please refer to the information below for registration and technical support information for the NORCAT location closest to you. Registration can be complete online at https://www.norcat.org/register/ or by calling a NORCAT office.
To enroll your workers in training or for technical support please contact NORCAT at:
NORCAT Sudbury
Registration and Technical Support
705-521-8324 Ext. 450
sudbury@norcat.org
NORCAT Timmins
Registration and Technical Support
705-269-0040
705-465-0352 – Ken Stewart, Manager NORCAT Timmins
timmins@norcat.org
NORCAT Thunder Bay
Registration and Technical Support
1-855-966-7228
thunderbay@norcat.org
NORCAT Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Registration: 647-317-0915
Technical Support: 705-521-8324 Ext. 450
gta@norcat.org
Thank you for your understanding and continued trust as we manage through this time together. As you can imagine, this is a very fluid situation and NORCAT urges everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials to keep our workplaces, families, and communities safe and healthy.