Proposed job standards hit the mark

The draft versions of plastics industry occupational standards compiled by the Canadian Plastics Sector Council are getting acceptance from the vast majority of those who review them. Anyone in the industry is free to view, approve, reject or modify the proposed standards.
"We’ve had over 200 people validate the standards so far, with a 95% acceptance rate," reported Susan McNerney, project manager of the national occupational standards project.
All the proposed standards, which cover a multitude of positions within the injection molding, blow molding, extrusion and fabrication sectors, are accessible online at www.cpsc-ccsp.ca (click on Standards Validation). Industry participants are encouraged to view the standards and suggest any modifications.
Once the validation period closes in mid-June, CPSC will finalize the standards. They will then be available as a national standard to evaluate job skills in particular positions. Employees will be able to assess necessary skills for the position they are in, and have a clear path for career advancement.
McNerney says CPSC hopes to move toward a certification process, but for now will oversee a "qualification" process which relies on self-assessment and peer evaluations.