WWOCS Director Approved Courses

This article outlines ACUTE’s Water and Wastewater Operator Certification System  (WWOCS) approved courses. Read below to discover what WWOCS is, how to get course approval, and see brief summaries of each WWOCS approved course that ACUTE offers. For more information about certification or the courses we offer, contact ACUTE today!

What is WWOCS and What Are WWOCS Director Approved Courses?

Joint Health & Safety Committee Certification Training (Part 1)

The Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office, or WWOCS, is an online system under the Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO) that allows operators to add information about themselves and their courses. The OWWCO is run by The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC). The OWWCO provides administrative and evaluation services assisting the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change with three main areas:

  • “The classification of drinking-water subsystems, and certification and re-certification of drinking-water operators and Water Quality Analysts under the Certification of Drinking Water Operators and Water Quality Analysts Regulation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (O. Reg. 128/04);” 
  • “the classification of wastewater facilities, and the licensing and re-licensing of wastewater operators under the Licensing of Sewage Works Operators Regulation of the Ontario Water Resources Act (O. Reg. 129/04);”
  • “the approval of training courses to meet annual training requirements under O. Reg. 128/04”

Source: OWWCO – What We Do

Through the WWOCS, trainers and courses can get approval. Only courses that are related to the duties of drinking water operators can be reviewed for Director Approval and become WWOCS Director Approved courses.

Why Is WWOCS Director Approval Important?

Does your workplace have hazardous or high environmental impact? If so, they have many training certification requirements in place. If your workplace falls within the wastewater or drinking water industry, this is where the OWWCO becomes involved.  Courses can be certified by the OWWCO as continuing education credits (CEU, 1 CEU is equivalent to 10 hours of training). For wastewater management, training courses can be also certified as CEUs, helping to meet worker training requirements that employers need to provide. Want to know more? Get more information about certification here.

Source: OWWCO – Getting Your Course(s) Approved

WWOCS Director Approved Courses With ACUTE

The following list includes all of ACUTE’s WWOCS Director Approved Courses. The courses are listed in alphabetical order. Click on the course title to find out more information about the course.

Arc Flash and Electrical Safety
Duration: Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Aims to make workers aware of the hazards of working on or around live electrical
equipment. Provides information on the measures and procedures that are required when live
work is unavoidable. Some training program topics include:

  • Arc fault current calculations
  • Risk assessment (risk categories)
  • Legislation and CSA Standard Z462 review
  • Incident energy calculation

Confined Space Entry Awareness
Duration: Full day training course (8 hours).
Description: Teaches participants the skills and training required to recognize confined
space entry risks and how to establish measured and corresponding controls. This training
program will familiarize participants with the requirements of the Ontario
Regulation 632/05 – Confined Spaces. Some training program topics include:

  • Confined space entry accidents
  • Assessing risk
  • Controlling hazards
  • Air quality monitoring

Confined Space Entry Awareness Refresher
Duration: Full day training course (4 hours).
Description: Confined Space Entry Awareness refresher course is a light version of the
Confined Space Entry Awareness training, tailored to the work context of the client.

Confined Space Entry Rescue
Duration: Full day training course (8 hours).
Prerequisite: Confined Space Entry Awareness
Description: Builds on the content from the Confined Space Entry Awareness course and trains
participants on the safety considerations and how to safely perform a rescue from a confined space.
Some training program topics include:

  • Management of the physical and psychological challenges in confined spaces
  • Protection of personnel from hazards within the confined space
  • Use of victim packaging devices
  • Rescue types

Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring
Duration: Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Provides participants with an overview of legislative and practical considerations for
safe and legislatively compliant excavation and trenching. This program has been designed for those
who work in trenches or excavations deeper than 1.2 metres (4 feet). Some training topics include:

  • Excavation hazards
  • Planning before you dig – Obligations under Construction Regulations
  • Marking and location utilities
  • Working safely with and around heavy equipment

Lock-Out / Tag-out
Duration: Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Teaches participants the methods and the legislative requirements for hazardous
energy control (Lockout) in the workplace. This program trains on locking out all hazardous energy
forms, including: electrical, thermal, chemical, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical and
gravitational energy. Some training topics include:

  • Lock-out/Tag-out definitions
  • Factors to consider when locking out equipment (R.A.C.E.)
  • Legislative requirements
  • Machine or equipment shutdown and isolation

Overhead Crane (Rigging and Hosting)
Duration: Full day training course (8 hours).
Description: Teaches participants hazard awareness, how to inspect equipment, types of hardware,
and other important safety techniques when working with or around overhead cranes. Some training
topics include:

  • Hazard awareness
  • Safe hoisting/operating techniques
  • hand signals for slingers and operators
  • capacity rating and load weight

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
Duration: Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Teaches participants the legal and practical requirements for the use of
respiratory protective equipment, such as a supplied air breathing apparatus (SABA), in
the workplace. Some training topics include:

  • Respiratory selection, use and care
  • The requirements of CAN/CSA-Z94.4-11
  • Positive and negative fit check for air purifying respirators
  • Qualitative and quantitative fit testing

Spill Response
Duration: Full day training course (8 hours) & Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Participants will be taught practical strategies to both prevent spills and safely
contain spills that occur in the workplace. Some training program topics include:

  • Recognizing hazards
  • Assessing risks
  • Spill law and regulations
  • 8 safe and practical steps for spill response

Traffic Control
Duration: Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Teaches participants how to develop an effective and efficient traffic
control plan. Participants will learn how to identify and control hazards related to
road construction. Some training topics include:

  • Preparing and developing a traffic protection and control plan
  • Temporary work zones and hazards
  • Review of Ontario Traffic Manual: Book 7– Temporary Conditions
  • Traffic protection responsibilities

Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Duration: Full day training course (8 hours).
Description: Training course teaches participants how to ensure that dangerous goods will be
handled, offered for transport, and transported safely. Participants will be provided with a
thorough overview of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulation (TDGR). Some
training topics include:

  • Definition of the 9 classes of dangerous goods and their associated hazards.
  • Emergency Response Assistance Plans (ERAP) requirements if a plan is required.
  • The requirements regarding mixed loads and the need for segregation of incompatible
    dangerous goods.
  • What constitutes an accidental release and the reporting requirements if an accident
    happens.

ontario health and safety training JHSC

Working At Heights
Duration: Full day training course (8 hours).
Description: Approved by the Chief Prevention Officer under the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s
Working at Heights Training Program Standard and the Working at Heights Training Provider Standard.
Teaches WAH hazards, proper safety measures, ladder safety, rescue plans, and everything
you need to know to safely work at heights. Some training topics include:

  • Working at heights (WAH) legislation
  • Working at heights hazards
  • Safe Work Plans & assessing and controlling WAH hazards
  • Fall prevention strategies and systems

WHMIS 2015 (GHS)
Duration: Half day training course (4 hours).
Description: Teaches workers, supervisors and employers relevant information provided
under WHMIS 1988 and 2015 about the safe handling, use, and storage of hazardous materials in
the workplace. Note: WHMIS is changing to adopt new international standards for classifying hazardous materials – the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). Some training topics include:

  • Responsibilities of employers, supervisors, workers and suppliers
  • Recognizing, assessing, controlling risks as well as evaluating the effectiveness of controls
  • Understanding labels: WHMIS 1988 – 2015.
  • Identify the hazards represented by each hazard class.

Looking for more information about ACUTE’s WWOCS Director Approved courses?

Get Training With A Director Approved Training Provider ACUTE

ACUTE is dedicated to workplace safety and understands the importance of course and training provider approval. Here are just some of the benefits of working with ACUTE.

  • Open Door Instructor-Student Partnership – ACUTE’s training services emphasize client participation. Staff foster relationships with clients and serve as a touchstone for advice anytime moving forward.
  • Serving Your Team and Industry – With a vast array of clients in manufacturing, construction, health, academic, and government sectors, ACUTE brings the best safety practices from across the spectrum to your workplace.
  • 100 Years Combined Experience – ACUTE provides comprehensive health and safety training, on-site safety services, and consulting services. With over 100 years of combined experience, our company staff offer more than theoretical or abstract ideas.  ACUTE offers solutions.
  • Track Record of Success – ACUTE is rated 4.9/5 stars on Google reviews, demonstrating a commitment to our clients, quality, and passion for training.

Click here to see what training courses we have at ACUTE or contact us today for quality training in your workplace or on-site at ACUTE’s proven training facilities!

ACUTE is located in Waterloo, Ontario, and services customers from cities such as Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Milton, Kitchener, London, and Guelph, and others across Ontario.

“Over the years, ACUTE has provided me and my colleagues with the necessary and required health and safety training to keep us safe.  Their safety courses include plenty of hands-on/active personal participation. Highly recommend.”

– Thomas – More testimonials here