Penhall’s established mentor program is a core reason why we’ve maintained one of the best safety records in the industry for over 50 years. Penhall is very particular about the operators they hire. No matter the level of experience, newly hired operators must graduate from our mentor training program prior to working independently.
Specially-trained, knowledgeable mentors guide trainees in their change through a series of steps designed to take the new employee from novice to journeyman at a pace determined by the trainee’s mastery of required skills and understanding of safety on the job.
Once a new employee has completed Penhall’s in-depth employee orientation, served in various work capacities, been evaluated by the Division Manager and the Mentor Champion, and received in-class and shop training, the trainee is placed with an established mentor.
Penhall mentors are facilitators and coaches. Mentors guide trainees to find answers, rather than provide the answers. This process of guiding the trainee in a helpful, non-judgmental way enables the trainee to discover, learn, problem-solve, and develop their own natural strengths and potential on the job site.
Penhall’s mentorship process is designed to help trainees build a strong foundation of experience in the concrete service industry and achieve a level of independence in the operation of concrete scanning, coring, and cutting with, flat saw, wall saw, and wire saw equipment.
For each of these skill-sets, the trainee:
Based on the interview and daily mentor reports, the trainee may move on to operate a service truck where the trainee will be monitored, guided, and evaluated regularly by a designated mentor.
The trainee either completes the three remaining levels of training for that capability (i.e. flat sawing) or moves on to another capability to work with an experienced mentor for that discipline.
Each stage of Penhall’s mentorship program has sub-levels to measure the competency level of the training. Proficiency levels range from Level 1 (covers basic information for entry level operators) through Level 4 which covers advanced work processes and denotes proficiency levels for operators at the highest level of knowledge, experience, and expertise.
All trainees must pass a series of hands-on and written examinations for each level and have a score of 90% before they are allowed to move on to the next level.
Once completed, Penhall trainees receive the following certifications:
In addition to requirements for Level 1 certifications, Level 2 trainees may be required to obtain certifications in:
In addition to receiving certifications required for Level 1 and Level 2, trainees at Levels 3 and 4 may be required to obtain certifications in: