As "green" construction grows in importance and the creation of "green" jobs becomes more of a key component of federal and state stimulus funds, Ironworkers need a broader understanding of their specific roles in this emerging market sector.
The Ironworkers International has conducted an in-depth review of the challenges "green" construction might bring to Ironworkers in the field. As a result, IMPACT and the National Training Fund have developed a new Green Construction for Ironworkers training package.
The new training package provides a comprehensive guide to the Ironworkers' role in the "green" construction workforce. The training materials will be Ironworker specific and will be supplemented with marketing materials that can be used by local unions, apprenticeship programs, and signatory contractors.
There are 7 units in the new manual:
- Introduction
- Green Energy vs. Green Building
- USGBC and the Building Life Cycle
- Five Main Areas of Green Building Standards
- LEED Accreditation
- LEED Certification
- Take it Home
The new training package will be available this spring. A preview of the reference manual will be available at the North American Iron Workers / IMPACT Labor-Management Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida February 21-25. There will also be an afternoon breakout session on Monday the 22nd during the conference that will include an overview of the General Foreman / Superintendent Training for Ironworkers, Wind Turbine Training for Ironworkers and Green Construction for Ironworkers training packages.
"A well-trained workforce is required to successfully erect, install and maintain the promising "green" energy sector," says Ironworker General President Hunt. "Our members are ready and able to work, well trained and committed to improving the economic and operational success of those contractors we work with in the "green" energy sector."
For more information on the Green Construction for Ironworkers training package, contact IMPACT's Assistant Director of Education and Training Harvey Swift at (800) 545-4921.