Building & Safety Training a Must to Buy Land
Policy Change Makes Safety and Training a Priority for Saskatoon Home Builders
SASKATOON, SK (29 July 2016): The Saskatoon and Region Home Builders’ Association (SRHBA) and the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) applaud City Council’s approved changes to contractor eligibility criteria, which now require home builders to complete mandatory builder training and safety certification in order to qualify for purchasing city-owned lots.
Under the revised policy (Council Policy C09-001-Residential Lot Sales – Contractor Allocations), all Eligible Contractors are given two years to complete a total of seven mandatory training courses, either through the SRHBA’s Certified Professional Home Builder program, or other training institutions first approved by Saskatoon Land. In addition, one of two safety courses – Leadership through Safety Excellence provided by the SCSA, or Health and Safety for Supervisors and Managers, provided by OH&S Canada online – must also be completed.
“As the voice of the home building industry in Saskatoon and Region, we continually advocate for increased education among the professionals we represent. These standards bring a higher level of consistency and efficiency to the home building industry that protect the investments of consumers and increase the quality and safety of housing in Saskatoon,” said Chris Guérette, CEO of the SRHBA.
Collin Pullar, President of the SCSA, agrees that companies will see noticeable improvements to business operations with the addition of safety training and certification requirements.
“Homebuilders who invest in safety management systems are not only protecting their workers, they are investing in methodical practices for becoming higher-performing companies that can deliver quality homes to consumers on time, on budget, with zero deficiencies and zero injuries,” said Pullar.
“Embedding safety measures in an industry where we see high rates of injury, year-over-year, is a step in the right direction for our province,” he added.
Other safety training accepted by Saskatoon Land includes the SCSA Certificate of Recognition (COR™) and Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR™) programs, which are the national standards in safety certification.
For more information on safety training and the Certified Professional Home Builder Program, please visit:
The Saskatoon Home Builders’ Association online at
saskatoonhomebuilders.com/certified-professional-home-builders/
The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association online at www.scsaonline.ca
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