sheet metal workers local union no. 285: ratio · pdf filesheet metal workers local union no....

Sheet Metal Workers

Local Union No. 285: Ratio Review

Submission to Ontario College of Trades Re: Ratio Reviews

Background

The Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 285 represents 1,200 members, most of whom work

in the residential sector of the trade of sheet metal, performing over 90% of all new residential

work in the Greater Toronto Area. The Local 285 Training Centre is a non-profit organization

with the aim of providing valuable education and training to the industry and its members.

Together the Training Centre, the union and contractor members of the Residential Heating

Ventilation Contractors Association and the Residential Gas Fitting Contractors Association of

Ontario provide a state of the art facility with exceptional equipment and curriculum to

apprentices in both 308 A (Sheet Metal Worker) and 308 R (Residential Low- Rise Sheet Metal

Installer) as well as programming for gas fitting.

The partners jointly sponsor a Local Apprenticeship Committee (LAC), which has long served

the needs to the sheet metal and air handling industry and continues to work collaboratively with

the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Ontario College of Trades.

Local Union 285 is also a member of The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and

Transportation Workers (SMART) with nearly 200,000 active and retired members throughout

the United States and Canada.

SMART strives to establish and maintain desirable working conditions for its members through

their employers. Doing so provides them that measure of comfort, happiness, and security to

which every member is entitled to, in return for his or her highly trained and skilled labour.

Local 285 Ratio Review Submission: Sheet Metal Worker

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The industry has been well served by the current apprenticeship system and its features

including the regulated ratios. The current 1:1 ratio (journeypersons: apprentices) for first

apprentice and 3:1 thereafter, has ensured a proper level of supervision increasing the quality of

training as well as the health and safety of the workplace. The ratio also ensures that the

environment is protected and that consumers are not subjected to shoddy installations and

maintenance.

i.The Scope of Practice of the Trade

Generally the term "sheet metal" refers to any metal that can be formed into flat pieces of

varying thicknesses. Using specialized tools and equipment, sheet metal workers cut, roll, bend,

and shape these pieces to make a wide variety of objects such as:

Ventilation systems Ductwork Hoods and Exhausts Kitchen Equipment Refrigeration units Medical tables Lockers and storage units Building facades Signs

Sheet Metal Workers are unique in the construction industry as the only trade that designs,

manufactures and installs our own products. Our skilled crafts persons take ordinary types of

flat metal and make them into specialized products for various duct and ventilation systems, as

well as architectural and specialized metal fabrication.

Local Union 285 members specialize in the residential sector, specifically working in low rise

and high-rise construction and maintenance. The trade primarily focuses on air handling

systems, such as exhausts, ventilation, heating and cooling. All of these systems are designed

to maintain a proper balance of indoor air quality.


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Sheet metal workers (308A) fabricate, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products. Those

in the field can expect to perform duties including but not limited to :

Reading drawings and sketches of work to be done, and laying out, measuring and marking sheet metal according to drawings or templates

Operating light metal working machines such as shears, brakes, punches and drill presses to cut, bend, punch drill, shape or straighten sheet metal

Operating laser or plasma cutting equipment to cut sheet metal

Grinding and buffing seams, joints and rough surfaces

Fitting and joining sheet metal parts using riveters, welding, soldering and similar equipment to fabricate products such as ventilation shafts, eaves troughs, partition frames, air and heat ducts, roof decking and sheet metal buildings

Working alone with minimal supervision to complete a project A Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer (Branch 2 - 308R) is a new branch of an existing

Sheet Metal Worker trade designed specifically for individuals who install residential (low rise)

sheet metal air handling or ventilation systems. People who work in this trade perform the duties

of Sheet Metal Workers within specific conditions laid out for this new branch of the trade.

Duties do not include manufacturing, fabrication and metal cladding.

The work performed is subject to the following conditions:

Work must be performed in a self-contained single family dwelling or within a low rise residential building consisting of wood frame construction, for example – a single-detached house, a semi-detached house, town house or linked house

The building must have no common conditioned areas and be four stories or fewer

The air handling or ventilation system may not penetrate any fire-rated separations, and must be either:

A low velocity system with static pressure of no more than one inch water column and maximum air flow of 2000 cubic feet per minute or:

A high velocity system with static pressure of no more than three inches water column and maximum air flow of 2500 cubic feet per minute

Regardless of whether an individual is working in the Residential Low Rise or the Sheet Metal

Worker sector, there are complexities and challenges faced by apprentices and journeypersons

that require comprehensive training and supervision. The current 3:1 ratio supports high-quality

training in all environments sheet metal workers perform their work and is vital to maintaining


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trade standards. The ratio has been proven to guarantee that apprentices sent to job sites are

well equipped and prepared to deal with the complexities of the work.

ii.The apprenticeship program established by the College Acting as a Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) recognized Training Delivery

Agency (TDA)for over 10 years, the Local 285 Training Centre not only provides training to

apprentices it also offers upgrading programs to journeypersons on an ongoing basis. The TDA

follows the training standards and curriculum determined by MTCU. The apprenticeship

program duration is 5 years.

The centre is also an accredited training facility for the Technical Standards and Safety

Authority’s (TSSA) gas programs and acted as a curriculum developer for 308R (sheet metal

installer). It is also responsible for delivering programs of the Infrastructure Health and Safety

Association and is a delivery agency for health and safety training of workers on behalf of the

Worker’s Health and Safety Centre.

The partnership between the industry, the union and the training centre has had impressive

results over the years. This is demonstrated by high completion rates of approximately 85%.

This success in a result of constant vigilance by the partners through the LAC. The training

centre has admitted more than 300 apprentices in the last 2 fiscal years of which almost all

apprentices are working in the trade today.

As stated above, the key to the success of our apprenticeship system is the result of a joint

partnership of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union 285, Training Trust Fund, the Heating and

Ventilation Contractor’s Association and the Residential Gas Fitting Contractors Association of

Ontario. Not only does the partnership exceed the expectations of the regulated trade, it truly


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reflects what is needed in the marketplace. It is also accurate to say that the current ratio

regime (1:1 then 3:1) helps ensure the quality of the training and high completion rates.

The partners have also been key players on various government advisory bodies.

iii. How the journeyperson to apprentice ratio for the trade may affect the health and safety of apprentices and journeypersons working in the trade and the public who may be affected by the work. Construction sites by nature are unpredictable environments. There are typically more than 32

trades from various fields on a job site, exposing apprentices to numerous health hazards

caused via machinery, equipment or work practices. The current ratio regime of 1:1 for first

apprentices and 3:1 thereafter, meets the expectation of the public, workers and employers as

well as ensuring that apprentices working on construction sites are qualified and well trained.

The benefits of the current ratio are numerous including allowing apprentices to be exposed to a

wider scope of practices while at the same time not slowing the productivity of the

journeyperson supervisors. Additionally, a lower blanket 1:1 ratio compromises training because

an apprentice is limited to only one journeyperson’s knowledge. The 3:1 ratio minimizes the

pressure to ‘pigeon hole’ an apprentice for specific skills and allows them comprehensive

exposure to proper equipment usage and work techniques. This leads to a better quality

education and training and maintains everyone’s safety on the job site. Should the ratio be

reduced, the chances of the journeyperson being able to supervise the apprentice and ensure

their safety will be considerably lowered.

The current ratio has been established and maintained because it demonstrates the right

balance for the sheet metal worker trade. It reflects what supervisors and employers know to be


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the realities of the workplace. It can be argued that parties calling for the lowering of this ratio

are outside of the groups most knowledgeable about the realities of the workplace.

In the sheet metal trade, cuts to the fingers, hands and wrists are the most common kind of

injury for journeypersons and apprentices. The need for adequate supervision is especially

important for apprentices where something as simple as an improper cut using snips can create

a serrated edge that can cause significant damage if it comes into contact with exposed skin.

This reality, coupled with the fact that overhead work is predominant in the sheet metal trade,

demonstrates the need to maintain the current 1:1, 3:1 ratio. It ensures apprentices have

enough time and supervision to learn how to avoid these injuries and journeypersons are not

pressed in their teaching opportunities. The likelihood of hazardous behaviour is reduced with

adequate journeyperson supervision.

The need to train apprentices properly is demonstrated through the high number of fatalities that

are caused when there is lack of knowledge in the work place. Workplace incidents involving

falls, for example, show the relation between adequate training and worker safety. According to

the Worker’s Health and Safety Centre, falls are the highest contributor to work place accidents.

About 55% of construction deaths in 2008 were due to falls, with 18% from ladders, 10% from

scaffold/platforms and 37% from roofs and floors. The Ministry of Labour has established that

training can radically reduce these numbers.

The following represents equipment that is typically found on job sites and in shops in the sheet

metal trade, each of which pose a real threat if not handled by a properly supervised apprentice

or properly trained journeyperson:

Scissor Lifts

Genie Lifts (Zoom Boom)


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Cutting Shears (manual, power)

Rolling machines (manual, power)

Brakes (manual, power)

Drills (battery, electric)

Power Actuated Fastening Tools

Chain saws

Cranes, hoisting and rigging

Ladders, Scaffolds, work platforms

Electrical hazards

In addition to hazardous equipment, there is the risk of being exposed to exhaust and other

noxious substances such as mould. Both are the results of improper ventilation and exhaust

installation. They can cause serious harm to apprentices, other workers and the general public.

Mould presents a significant risk to workers, even those that do not suffer from allergies or

asthma. This is especially the case in projects involving the retrofit of older buildings where

tradespeople are exposed to multiple and often unseen hazards. Prolonged exposure to mould

and exhaust may lead to skin rashes and itching, eye irritation, congestion. If you suffer from

asthma the risks are great that these environmental conditions will severely aggravate your

condition. If you have an immune suppression or underlying lung disease, you may be at

increased risk for infections from moulds. More serious symptoms include fever, flu-like

symptoms, fatigue, respiratory dysfunction (including coughing-up blood), frequent and

excessive nose bleeds, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, and liver damage.

Mould due to improper installation poses a risk to the general public as well. After project

completion, the consumer will be directly affected by bad workmanship from poorly trained and

supervised tradespeople. Again, this health risk is often unseen and can be toxic for those with

weakened immune systems.


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The risks posed by exposure to hazardous materials also demonstrates the need to maintain

the current ratio. According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, between 2000 and

2009 death from occupational disease rose from 48 to 68 percent.1 Proper training is the best

way to make sure that both apprentices and journeypersons in the sheet metal trade are using

current health and safety techniques to protect themselves from diseases such as:

Asbestos – related diseases

- Asbestosis, cancer (lung, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal) - Asbestos warts

Respiratory Diseases

- Asthma, occupational – fungilmould, hexavalent chromium, dust, epoxies, mineral fibres, PVC

- Benign pneumoconiosis – welding fume - Bronchitis, chronic – organic dust, construction dust, welding fume,

environmental tobacco smoke - Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) - Acute/chronic – fungi/mould, wood dust - Chronic bronchitis – welding - Metal fume fever – welding fume, iron, galvanized metal fumes - Pontiac fever, legionnaires’ disease – Legionella - Pulmonary edema – cadmium , flux, solder, chlorine decomposition, silica

Cancer - Gastrointestinal – asbestos, hexavalent chromium - Leukemia – benzene - Lung – asbestos, diesel, dust, environmental tabacco smoke, silica, bioaerosols,

nickel , hexavalent chromium - Nasal – nickel , hexavalent chromium - Skin – coal tar, ultraviolet light

Neurological

- Chronic solvent toxic syndrome – solvents, paints, degreasers, chlorinated solvents, thinners

- Hand – arm vibration syndrome – vibrating tools - Lead, subacute toxic effect – lead - Neuropathy , toxic – lead - Parkinsonism – carbon monoxide, manganese

Skin Disorders

- Dermatitis , allergic / contact – hexavalant chromium, coal tar, epoxies, paints, degreasers, glues

1 Workers Health and Safety Centre. “Putting workers first”. Source. Winter 2010.

http://www.whsc.on.ca/pubs/ats/ATSwin1011_PuttingWorkersFirst1.pdf


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Miscellaneous Disorders

- Asphyxiation – work in confined spaces - Gastroenteritis – bacteria, animal waste - Hepatitis (chronic solvent toxicity) – chlorinated solvents - Infertility, male – manganese, lead, chlorinated solvents, water- based paint

solvents - Noise – induced hearing loss – power tools, heavy machinery, grinders, industrial

noise - Renal disease – lead, solvents

The current ratio allows for the proper training and supervision to ensure the safety of all

workers on a job site. It also ensures that the general public is protected from the results of

improper installation, so their homes and workplaces can be free of toxic mould and have a

comfortable air quality. Apprentices need to have learning opportunities while working and

journeypersons need to teach and supervise while working. The risks are very real and a 1:1,

3:1 ratio ensures that there is no compromise to health and safety.

iv.The effect, if any, of the journeyperson to apprentice ratio of the trade on the environment. The current ratio is an important element of ensuring proper installation practices by

journeypersons and apprentices. Proper installation practices have a direct affect on the

environment because they impact energy consumption and costs. Energy audits have shown

that proper installation can result in significant savings for the consumer. Less energy usage

results in the reduction of emissions into the environment. The 1:1, 3:1 ratio ensures proper

training and installation – both journeypersons and apprentices must maintain a high standard

of work to allow for the efficient usage of energy resources.

The Sheet Metal trade is particularly relevant to good environmental practice. Poorly installed

ventilation systems can contribute to the following environmental issues:

Waste of energy;


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Reduce occupants’ comfort;

Increase risk of fires spreading in a building; and

Increase the risk of mould and other contaminants being diffused. To be clear the risks to residential and working environments are real. For example, although

many countries have banned the use of asbestos, many older buildings remain contaminated.

The minerals were popular among builders due to their physical attributes such as sound

absorption, strong resistance to fire, heat, electrical and chemical damage and affordability, but

are quite toxic. All types of asbestos fibres are known to cause serious health hazards in

humans such as tumours as well as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. This material

exists in Ontario’s built environment.

While asbestos will gradually work its way out of our building over many years (perhaps many

decades or more), new hazards are being introduced. In fact no building materials should be

considered benign.

Despite public perception, numerous old buildings still have hazardous material and with the

renovation market growing at such an intense rate, it is essential to realize the importance of

having well trained individuals working in old structures, who are well equipped to deal with

asbestos and formaldehyde, materials commonly used in old buildings.

If the current ratio was to drop, the new apprentices will not get the training quality and range

their predecessors had and will in effect create health and safety hazards in the environments of

future residents of a building or to the workers themselves. The negative affect of poor training

does not end with each individual and the current environment. These poorly trained

apprentices will be journeypersons in charge of training a new generation of sheet metal

workers. The lack of quality and resulting environmental impact will multiply exponentially over


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time.Thus, the current journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio is an integral part of the system for

ensuring the quality of work done now and into the future.

v. The economic impact of the journeyperson to apprentice ratio of the trade on apprentices, journeypersons, employer associations and where applicable, on trade union, employee associations, apprentice training providers and the public. Despite the constant demand there is a need to maintain control over the number of apprentices

allowed into the work force. As stated, in part, this control is meant to ensure the quality of

training. Economically, flooding the market would only result in high cyclical unemployment.

Past trends have repeatedly shown that this inevitably results in apprentices seeking work in the

underground economy or facing unemployment. A dramatic increase overall difficulties in

finding full-time work with a contractor who must balance between fully certified workers and

apprentices. The current ratio ensures that a steady workforce can meet the constant demand

and maintain training standards.

Training under the current apprentice ratio properly results in a higher efficiency leading to

better overall results. In the long run, the current ratio goes a long way in providing competent

apprentices who can later become experienced, well-informed journeypersons. Solutions to

market demand are more complex than flooding the market with poorly trained workers.

Expediential growth will allow for a controlled and high quality traineeship leading to high

standards of training for future apprentices seeking to become journeypersons. The current

ratios do not stifle growth. A journeyperson’s career can range anywhere between 45 to 50

years and during this time span, given the current ratio it is possible for them to train 8-9

apprentices. A dramatic increase in the number of journeypersons would also result in larger

numbers of layoffs during slow periods and overall difficulties in finding full-time work with a

contractor who must balance between fully certified workers and apprentices.


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While it is true that from time to time there can be short-term labour shortages it should be noted

that having a larger number of less skilled apprentices will only create health and safety hazards

for the apprentices as well as the general public. The solution to dealing with a shortage should

not be basing human resource strategies on these temporary peak conditions. The current ratio

is designed for ongoing labour demands and is meant to produce well trained and certified

journeypersons.

Improper installation due to poor training and supervision also has an economic impact on the

consumer. The current ratio is key to preventing bad workmanship that can cause costly energy

wastage and damage to surrounding infrastructure such as drywall. Recent cases in

condominiums in British Columbia and Alberta have demonstrated the devastating effects of

poor construction techniques on owners. In cases of mould, the resulting health costs fall on

both the consumer and the publicly funded health care system.

For many consumers, a home is the biggest investment of a lifetime. While some may argue

that a lower ratio would reduce costs for contractors, the long term impacts on both the

environment and the overall economics for workers and consumers demonstrate that the

current ratio is in the best interests of all parties.

vi. The number of apprentices and journeypersons working in the trade. According to the Construction Sector Council the number of individuals working in the sheet

metals industry is as follows:


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o Central Ontario - 3701 o Eastern Ontario - 1320 o GTA - 3836 o Northern Ontario - 852 o Southern Ontario - 1067 o Total - 10776

vii. The rates of completion for apprentices in an apprentice training program for the trade. The rates of completion for both 308 A and 308 R taught at our Training Delivery Agency are

consistently high at around 85%. Forecasting critically and carefully will deliver even better

completion results in the future. There is simply no need to alter the current ratio system for our

trades.

viii. The journeyperson to apprentice ratio, if any, for a similar trade in other jurisdictions. Local 285 acknowledges that while other jurisdictions may have lower ratios, workmanship as

well as the health and safety of the public and workers are much more important factors in this

review process. Maintaining the current ratio, therefore, will go along way in protecting and

saving lives and ensuring a high quality of work. For example, in British Columbia and Alberta,

lower ratios have directly affected the quality of residential buildings. Numerous press reports

attest to the public outcry and disappointment when their biggest investment (their home) has

significant structural problems.

Rather than focusing on lowering the ratio, Local 285 advises that the focus should be placed

on completion rates, which in turn lead to more apprentices finishing their programs quicker.

Lowering the number of years it takes to complete an apprenticeship program will open more

opportunities for apprentices because there will be a larger pool of journeypersons to register

against. This can be achieved through a curriculum review, and will not compromise health and

safety in the workplace. It is common knowledge in the construction sector that some of the

strongest advocates for lowering ratios are also the same people who allow their apprentices to


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languish in the system rather than graduating them to certification.While this may save on

wages, it is detrimental to the system and to the workers.

Lowering the current ratio will also affect apprentices’ training, as not every journeyperson is

meant to teach. Having more journeypersons supervising each apprentice exposes the

apprentice to a variety of skill sets and ways of doing things, expanding their knowledge base

and experience.

ix. The supply of, and demand for, journeypersons in the trade and in the labour market generally. The sheet metal trade has a consistently steady supply of apprentice candidates. Despite the

economic turmoil, there is a constant demand for journeypersons in the Sheet Metal trade by

contractors. The current boom in the housing and condominium market has created a greater

need for Sheet Metal Workers. But as stated earlier, flooding the market with poorly trained

workers does not solve labour market challenges. It is also important to order maintain job

security for those in this trade. This is also important for newcomers, as it will set the false

expectation that they are starting a career rather than a temporary posting.

In addition to the necessity to keep the number of those entering the field at a controlled rate

that reflects ongoing market conditions, the work environment for our trades is often

unpredictable. Allowing too many apprentices to enter the field will create an imbalance in the

important teacher/student dynamic.

Lastly, the in-school funding will be wasted if apprentices cannot complete or find ongoing

employment as the markets shifts.

x. The attraction and retention of apprentices and journeyperson in the trade.


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There are currently 2 to 3 yearly intakes conducted by the LAC, and a constant demand for

apprentices in the field. We believe that lowering the duration of the program by working to

ensuring apprentices graduate will lead to higher application numbers because there will be

more journeypersons available for registering. As stated above, part of the barrier for new

registrants is the artificial delaying of completions.

Compensation is also an attraction for potential candidates. The hourly rate for member

journeypersons is $51.35, including benefits.

xi. The average age of apprentices and journeypersons in the trade and the projected attrition of journeypersons working in the trade. The average age of applicants is approximately 29.5 and many more applicants are choosing to

become apprentices as a 2nd or 3rd career choice. Lowering the apprenticeship program from 5

years to 4 by not holding them back will attract more applicants, enabling apprentices to get into

the work force quicker. This in turn satisfies employers who need more apprentices and

currently may delay sending apprentices to school due to a high workload and long duration of

the program.

The overall average age of sheet metal workers is 43.7, with 10% of the workforce being over

60 and 16% under 30.

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