The telecommunications industry and the TIRAP Board recognize the growing problem of workplace accidents during operations and maintenance on wireless infrastructure. We are committed to proactively addressing this problem through various educational and outreach efforts. The TIRAP apprenticeship program is a key, multi-faceted tool in this effort.
First, the apprenticeship builds on the collective experience and generally-accepted best practices of the wireless industry to create the safety curriculum. The apprentice also learns and applies the skills to perform quality work in an efficient manner as a part of a team through understanding and communication.
Second, apprentices who successfully complete the program will receive certification that stays with them from employer to employer, job to job. As such, each employer that participates in the DoL apprenticeship program will have documentation from current and potential employees that attests to their training and knowledge. This will address the planning requirements necessary to ensure that quality work is performed in the safest of manners. TIRAP recognizes the responsibility of the employer to deem competency in their skills and ability to perform a given Scope of work in a safe and quality manner. The program is flexible setting a base line for education while allowing the employer to improve on this base line for their specific needs.
Third, the training will be constantly and consistently updated so that the cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art techniques are incorporated into the program. As new safety, or quality concerns and solutions arise, the TIRAP board will integrate them into the work process so that apprentices are not only knowledgeable about the newest trends and technology in the telecommunications industry, they will also know how to perform quality work safely within these new circumstances.