Overhead School
Overhead School
| Date: | September 15-18, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Time: |
|
| Location: | MMUA Training Center, 1004 Michigan Road, Marshall, MN Get Directions |
This event is now closed for online registration | |
Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association and our partners, Minnesota Rural Electric Association and American Public Power Association, are pleased to announce the 2015 Overhead Lineworker School. The class lineup this year has something for all levels of lineworker. Read through the information carefully and make your selection according to your interests and level of expertise.
What You Will Learn
GENERAL SESSIONS
Tuesday, September 15
2016 APPA National Lineworkers Rodeo by Mike Willetts, MMUA
For the first time ever Minnesota is hosting an APPA National Lineworkers Rodeo! The big event takes place April 2, 2016 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee. With the full support of our members it’s sure to be an awesome event! Mike will share the plan on how we collectively can make this rodeo one of the finest events ever. We’ll also have several past rodeo competitors share their experience and expertise.
Beginning the Journey on the Road to Success by Ryan Mihalak, MMUA
Lineworkers diligently prepare for the risks they take daily when working around energized equipment. But all that preparation is useless if you don't make it to the jobsite safely. MMUA's Ryan Mihalak, a former Commercial Vehicle Inspector for the MN State Patrol, will do a refresher session on load securement, CMV regulations and CDL regulations.
Friday, September 18
Arc Flash –A Conversation With Russell Good
This is a unique opportunity to listen to and learn from one of our own—Russell Good. Russell experienced an electrical contact that dramatically affected his life. He feels deeply about sharing his story so that others can learn from it. There will be additional discussion about accidents that have occurred in Minnesota.
HANDS-ON TRAINING SESSIONS
Class 1: Capacitor Bank Installation and Maintenance
Instructors: Tyler Meiners and Todd Keach, Rochester Public Utilities
Placing power factor correction and passive harmonic filtering equipment on an electrical system needs to be properly designed and maintained. This class will cover:
- What is a capacitor
- Why do we need them
- Installation of fixed and switched capacitor banks
- Proper testing on capacitor banks
- Proper fusing on capacitor banks
- The dangers associated with capacitor banks
- Safety precautions to be taken when working around capacitors
Class 2: Trouble Call Best Practices & Restoration
Instructors: Trent Hawkinson, Brainerd Public Utilities; Scott Thoreson, Elk River Municipal Utilities; Jeff Becthold, MRES/Jackson; and John Egan, Sauk Centre Public Utilities
This class is designed for both apprentice and journeyman lineworkers. Troubleshooting is an essential aspect of the lineworker’s duties. To become effective and confident with the troubleshooting experience one needs time in the field working on different scenarios to gain the knowledge to identify the critical factors that lead to a safer and quicker trouble call restoration.
With this class lineworkers will experience hands-on trouble call restoration simulations related to wind storms, blue sky events and that ever so common ”mystery” outage. Crews will be dispatched to trouble calls within the MMUA Training Center field and will be challenged to diagnose and fix outages. During the trouble call restoration MMUA instructors will influence student restoration activities with essential best practices, safety and experiential tidbits gained first-hand from years of tracking down trouble calls and outages.
Class 3: Overhead Maintenance
Instructors: Roger Moltzan, Detroit Lakes Public Utility; Russ Nelson, Austin Utilities; and Gary Greenwald, MMUA
This class is designed for apprentices and first step journeyman lineworker. Participants will practice lineworker safety procedures, testing, proper cover up and grounding. The focus will be on performing safe work practices and methods.
The task training will include:
- Cutout change outs
- Replacing wood arms
- Lightning arrestor replacement
- Completing underground risers
- Repairing damaged overhead conductors
- Additional tasks if time permits
Class 4: Digger Derrick Qualification--Phase One and Phase Two
Instructor: Al Czeczok, MMUA
This class was created by MMUA to keep employees who operate or work around digger derrick/boom trucks current with the new OSHA crane standards.
This class will cover Phase One and Phase Two of the Digger Derrick Qualification program.
Note: Participants will need to complete Phase Three at another time using your utility’s/company’s digger derrick.
Covered topics include:
- Knowing and understanding the APPA safety manual hand and verbal signals
- Written & practical performance based testing with hand and verbal signals
- Digger Derrick setup and operation principles
- Rigging principles
- Load control—weight, center of gravity
- Lifting hardware application
- Use and inspection of chain, wire and synthetic slings
ADVANCED LINEWORKER CLASS
Class 5: Becoming the Effective Crew Leader; System Maintenance and Best Practices
Instructor: Bob Rumbaugh, American Municipal Power, Inc.
Becoming an effective crew leader is of the utmost importance to the success of any electric utility and line crew. Leading a line crew can be a daunting task, but with the appropriate tools and training, a crew leader can be very effective and earn the respect needed to cultivate and motivate a productive and safe line crew. This advanced leadership class will focus on system maintenance and repairs best practices used by some of the finest leaders in the electric utility business.
This session will cover:
- Record keeping safety rules and meetings
- Building a good work and safety culture
- Leadership skills
- Effective job briefings
- Time management
- Preventive and reactive maintenance
- Yearly inspections
- Equipment testing
- Flame Resistant clothing
LINEWORKER RODEO: Obstacle Course
This event is open to all classes of lineworker from the first-year apprentice to the advanced lineworker. The obstacle course will consist of climbing up through and over crossarms, transitioning to a new position at a different level. At each level there will be another task to perform before proceeding on to the next.
This is a fun event which demonstrates good climbing skill and safe working practices. A trophy plaque will be awarded to the person with the best time and the fewest infractions.
A sign-up sheet will be available at registration on-site.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Included in registration: Tuesday evening Pizza Reception. The reception offers participants the opportunity to network and meet/reconnect with other students.
Optional activities at participant’s expense: Wednesday evening Sporting Clays or Golf. Sign up available on-site.
Overhead School Schedule
Tuesday, September 15
12:00 -1:00 Registration
1:00-1:45 General Session: 2016 APPA Rodeo
2:00-4:00 General Session: Beginning the Journey on the Road to Success
5:00-7:00 Pizza Reception
Wednesday, September 16
8:30-12:00 Hands-On Training & Advanced Lineworker Sessions
12:00-1:00 Lunch served at Training Center
1:00-4:00 Hands-On Training & Advanced Lineworker Sessions
5:00 pm Golfing or Sporting Clay Shoot (at participant's expense)
Thursday, September 17
8:30-12:00 Hands-On Training & Advanced Lineworker Sessions
12:00-1:00 Lunch served at Training Center
1:00-3:00 Hands-On Training & Advanced Lineworker Sessions
3:00 Lineworker Rodeo: Obstacle Course
Friday, September 18
8:30-10:00 General Session: Arc Flash
10:00-11:00 Lunch served at Training Center
11:00-12:00 General Session (continued)
12:00 Closing Comments & Wrap Up
What to Bring
Hands-On Class:
- Hard Hat
- Safety Glasses
- Work Gloves
- Work Boots (no tennis shoes allowed)
- High Visibility Clothing--appropriate for the weather
- Rain Gear (just in case)
- Fall Restraint (if you plan to climb). Required regardless of experience. MMUA has a limited number available for the student to use.
Advanced Class:
- Note Pad and Pen/Pencil
- Calculator
- Hard Hat
- High Visibility Clothing--appropriate for the weather
Certificates
Participants earn hours for attendance and a certificate of achievement will be available online. Watch for an email notification from MMUA.
Registration Fee
$440 per student for members; $690 per student for non-members. All fees increase $50 on September 2.
Registration fee includes workshop tuition, materials, Tuesday evening pizza, Wednesday and Thursday lunch, Friday brunch, refreshment breaks and a certificate of achievement.
Cancellations/Refunds
MMUA charges a $25 processing fee/person for registrations cancelled on/by September 1, 2015. MMUA must be notified by 4:30 pm on September 1, 2015 to qualify. Sorry, no refunds issued for cancellations after September 1.
Marshall Hotel Information
For a map of hotels in Marshall, click HERE. The AmericInn and Ramada offer special pricing for participants. Just ask for MMUA's reduced rate when making your reservation. The Training Center is located in the upper left corner of the map.
Questions?
If you have questions about the program and its content, contact Pete Wyffels at MMUA. His phone number is 507-380-9578 or email pwyffels@mmua.org.
If you have questions or problems with registration or reservations, contact Theresa Neddermeyer at MMUA. Her phone number is 763-551-1230 or email tneddermeyer@mmua.org.
To download a printable version of the Underground School brochure, click HERE.
***To register for events, you MUST be logged into the website (upper right corner of this page). Use the "Forgot Password" option to reset the password or if you don't know what it is. Try this option before creating a new account too. You may already be in the system.***
73% of our municipal
electric utilities have
successfully operated
for 100 years or more.