Launching in October, Ontario One Call is introducing the Professional Locate Administrator Course (PLAC).
The new course is an interactive online program, designed to create expert locate administrators.
The course provides an in-depth understanding of how to effectively request and manage locates within Ontario. PLAC students will be taken through interactive online modules covering various topics related to planning projects, making accurate locate requests, staying within regulations, utilizing tools, avoiding issues and troubleshooting.
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“If you work for a company that digs, and your job involves requesting and organizing locates, this course is for you,” said Ian Simpson, director of education, marketing and compliance for Ontario One Call.
“Whether you are brand new to the industry or are a seasoned professional, when finished, you will be the go-to-person within an organization to answer questions related to locates.”
PLAC is a self-guided online course and is available 24/7. Once registered, students are able to learn at their own pace.
“If a student gets interrupted during a module, they can stop the course, and once they come back can resume where they left off,” Simpson said.
Once the program is successfully completed by the student, they will receive a certificate of completion, which is valid for two years. Most students on average take about six hours to complete the course, which includes nine modules, quizzes and a final exam.
Ontario One Call offers a free service for anyone who needs to make a locate request so they can dig in the province. Until now, there was no industry-wide training available on how to make good quality locate requests. With PLAC, Ontario One Call is looking to change that.
“Making accurate and good quality locate requests would relieve a lot of pressure on the system,” Simpson said. “Good quality locate requests should help utilities and municipalities with the timely delivery of their locates.”
The cost of PLAC is $84.95 + HST. Although the course doesn’t officially launch until October, pre-registration is available.
Ontario One Call is also offering 25 per cent off pre-registration sale running from September 8th to 30th.
To register or find out more details visit: OntarioOneCall.ca/PLAC.
Ontario One Call is a not-for-profit organization that acts as a communications link between utility companies, underground infrastructure owners, and individuals who are planning to dig in the province of Ontario.
In 2012, the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act was passed, which stipulates by law that anyone in the province of Ontario must contact Ontario One Call before they dig.
