No matter what your job is, you will need to communicate with other people. Your communication skills determine how successfully you receive and transmit information. Communication is arguably the most important of all life skills and plays a significant role in all aspects of work and home life. Communication is verbal, written and non-verbal, and every gesture, voice inflection or facial move…
As you enter the workforce, it is important to understand the major trends in employment and how to find this information. In this Competency, we’ll look some of the current major trends in employment in Canada and British Columbia. This review includes an overview of the economy, skills that employers look for, and employee expectations. We’ll also look at employee expectations and effecti…
Every learner has different abilities, backgrounds and life experiences. Some individuals will be entering a trades program directly from high school as part of a dual-credit program or youth initiative and have limited experience outside of the classroom. Others may have been out of the formal education system for a number of years, but bring valuable years of work experience into the classroo…
Amidst the global financial crisis, international institutions, national authorities and international commercial banks collaborated closely to prevent contagion spreading to Central, East and south east Europe. They built a platform, the Vienna Initiative, that helped curb disruptions and restore confidence in the banking system. Ten years later, the Vienna Initiative has transformed itself in…
What is Europe? A continent fragmented through the centuries by wars, border conflicts and cultural diversity. As Europeans, we do not have a common language or a common history, but we do have common roots, needs and ambitions. These similarities led us to fulfil what at the end of the Second World War could have been called a “reasonable utopia” — the European Union. The Spanish writer …
As a trades worker you have a responsibility to work safely, and fire prevention is a primary concern. Many of the work tasks you carry out include the application of heat and flame. You should be able to apply fire prevention practices, identify fire causes and identify and apply fire extinguishing agents to control or extinguish a fire. You are not expected to be an expert firefighter, but yo…
These Learning Tasks describe the clothing and protective equipment workers must wear on the job site and the safety precautions they must take to protect themselves and others from injury. Special personal protective equipment (P.P.E.) is required on the job site. The equipment used will depend on the hazards anticipated. When working at elevations, significant hazards are present and fall pro…
Part memoir, part crash-course in economic theory, this deeply engaging book by one of the world's foremost economists looks at economic ideas through a personal lens. Together with an introduction to some of the central concepts in modern economic thought, Ariel Rubinstein offers some powerful and entertaining reflections on his childhood, family and career. In doing so, he challenges many of …
Workers exposed to hazardous materials may be at risk for many serious health problems, such as kidney or lung damage, sterility, cancer, allergic reactions or burns. Some hazardous materials can also cause fires or explosions. Legislation and regulations are in place to reduce injuries or diseases caused by exposure to hazardous materials used in the workplace. Every person working with or nea…
In most provinces, one or more agencies are responsible for safe, healthful working environments at job sites. These organizations normally have names such as the Workers’ Compensation Board (W.C.B.) or the Occupational Health and Safety Department. WorkSafeBC is the provincial organization that promotes workplace health and safety for workers and employers in B.C. When a work-related injury,…