Underground School

Date:	May 17-20, 2016
Time:	Day 1: May 17, 2016 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm Day 2: May 18, 2016 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Day 3: May 19, 2016 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Day 4: May 20, 2016 8:30 am - 11:00 am
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 bring you the 2016 Underground School. The MMUA Job Training & Safety Committee has put a lot of effort into the development of this school, and feels it has a lot of good training to offer to any level of lineworker. We will have a class for everybody, from the apprentice to experienced journeyman.

What You Will Learn 

GENERAL SESSIONS

Tuesday, May 17 - Human Performance, Situation Awareness and Communication by Kit Welchlin, Welchlin Communication Strategies

Situation Awareness is the perception of environmental elements with respect to time or space, the comprehension of their meaning, after some variable has changed, such as time, or some other variable, such as a predetermined event. It can take us by surprise.

But let’s not create the circumstances by being distracted.  According to a survey by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 90 percent of people say they see people walking around glued to their phones, with 64 percent describing those distracted walkers as totally “zoning out.” But only 38 percent of them admit to being zoned out themselves.

This presentation will discuss the five principles of human performance (1) People are fallible and even the best make mistakes. (2) Error-likely situations are predictable, manageable, and preventable. (3) Individual behavior is influenced by organizational processes and values. (4) People achieve high levels of performance based largely on the encouragement and reinforcement received from leaders, peers, and subordinates. (5) Events can be avoided by an understanding of the reasons mistakes occur and application of the lessons learned from past events.

Learn:

1. Understand Situation Awareness  
2. How to Step and Think and Communicate with Others
3. Manage the Distractions of Electronics
4. Communicate About Near Miss Incidents
5. How to Manage Human Performance

Friday, May 20 - Commercial Drivers License and Requirements. Dave Busse, Minnesota State Patrol

This session will address Load Securement and Commercial Drivers Licensing. Some of the other topics to be covered include drug and alcohol testing, health card requirements, DOT vehicle numbers, vehicle inspections, daily pre-trip and post-trip, and annual DOT inspections. We will also talk about what is required during a natural disaster, and requirements when crossing state lines.

BREAKOUT SESSION

Table Top Splicing and Terminations  ?by Jim Stephens, 3M and Bill Bumgarner, Austin Utilities

For utilities looking for a reliable alternative to compression connections, 3M offers the Shearbolt Connectors, QCI Series. Jim will demonstrate how to properly terminate a splice using volunteers to assist him. This Wednesday/Thursday breakout session will rotate so all can participate.
 

HANDS-ON TRAINING SESSIONS, May 18 and 19

Class 1: Proper Cable Identification, Testing and Grounding Methods  Instructor: Brad Gunderson, Rochester Public Utilities

This class is designed to demonstrate proper safety and work procedures for high voltage and secondary underground cable, isolation, identification, verification, and grounding. Students will train and participate in the use of standard operating procedures, switching procedures, and proper personal equipment needed for the job. Also covered will be tailboard briefings, rubber cover-up, lock-out/tag-out, good communication between coworkers and maintaining minimum approach distances.

Class 2: Performing and Preparing General Switching Orders for Tying Circuits on Your Grid  Instructor: Todd Keach and Mark Larson, Rochester Public Utilities, Joe Moore of Moorhead Public Service

This class is designed to demonstrate proper safety and work procedures in switching situations and tying circuits together (paralleling). We will cover performing the tasks while taking into consideration multiple wire sizes, and matching voltages and loads at the transformers in the substations. Switching will be performed in the field in multiple situations.

Class 3: Underground System Maintenance and Repair James Monroe, New Ulm Public Utilities; Rick Hoftiezer, MRES/Luverne; Brad Olson, Brainerd Public Utilities

Underground system maintenance and repair is the heartbeat of your utility. The expertise to find and replace damaged or suspected problems before that unplanned outage is of paramount importance, given the use of  computers and other sensitive electronics by your residential, business and industrial customers.

Topics for this class:

• Proper Isolating, Testing and Grounding
• Appropriate Methods When Installing and Removing Elbow Terminations
• Tool Selection for Terminating Cable
• Switching Procedure
• Lock-Out/Tag-Out
• Trench Layout
• Troubleshooting
• Secondary Problems

Class 4: Substation Feeder Construction  Instructors: Miles Heide and Wade Williams, Fairmont Public Utilities

Using the latest in construction equipment and materials, this class will construct and install feeders from the Training Field east side substation to the MMUA Training Center distribution system. Techniques for terminations and splices will be explained, explored and discussed with top-notch journeyman lineworkers. All safety procedures relating to underground construction will be explained and followed, including proper personal protective equipment and documentation.

Topics for this class:

• Trench Safety
• OSHA Excavation Standard
• Competent Person Responsibilities
• Sloping, Shoring and Shielding Guidelines
• Protective Systems
• Soil Analysis
• Identifying Permit Required Confined Space
• Monitoring Equipment
• Ventilating Equipment
• Duties of Supervisors, Entrants and Attendants
• Permit requirements for Confined Spaces

ADVANCED TRAINING SESSION

Class 5: Horizontal Directional Drilling  Instructor: Kevin Kollos, Ditch Witch of Minnesota and Iowa; Jeff Rustad, Baroid

Electrical infrastructure replacement, new construction and the demands of system reliability has led to an increase in buried electrical lines and fiber optics systems. Often, use of trenchers and backhoe installation isn't practical, feasible or economical, due to existing hazards and terrain. That leaves directional drilling as the best option and the fastest-growing industrial talent among utilities and contractors. Through a combination of classroom and hands-on field training, participants will acquire advanced knowledge and skills required for operating a directional drill according to the standards included in the manufacturer's Operator's Manual and the Best Practices.

Course Objective

The overall objective of this training is to provide participants the opportunity to develop advanced skills with directional drilling equipment.

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

• Identify equipment and describe key functions
• Pre-plan project
• Proceed properly after an electric or gas strike
• Verify a specific "locate" crossed along the bore path
• Mix fluid additives for a prescribed job
• Properly calibrate the tracker to the beacon
• Set up the unit according to the instructions in the Operator's Manual and best practices
• Identify bits and back-reamers used with applicable soil conditions and job specifications
• Locate and take a depth estimate of the beacon
• Operate the directional drill unit with obstructions.

LINEWORKER RODEO MYSTERY EVENT

This mystery event is open to all classes of lineworker, from first-year apprentice to the advanced journeyman. This is a fun event which demonstrates safe working practices and a little speed. A trophy plaque will be awarded to the person with the best time and least amount of infractions.

EVENING ACTIVITIES

Tuesday, May 17
Pizza Reception
One of the intangible benefits of attending an MMUA School is the opportunity to network with your peers. This reception brings everybody together to have a good time in a relaxed atmosphere.

Wednesday, May 18

Sporting Clay Shoot or Golf
At participant’s expense, we will arrange a fun evening of golf at one of the local golf courses in the Marshall area or an evening of sporting clays at Shooter’s Gun Club. If you are unable to bring your equipment, rent it or we will make sure it is available for you to use.

Underground School Agenda 

Tuesday, May 17
12:00 pm  |  Registration
1:00 pm  |  Human Performance, Situation Awareness and Communication
5:00 pm | Product Show and Reception

Wednesday, May 18
8:30 am  |  Table Top Splicing & Terminations (breakout session throughout the day)
8:30 am  |  Hands-On and Advanced Lineworker Class
12:00 pm  |  Lunch served at Training Center
12:30 pm  |  Hands-On and Advanced Lineworker Class
5:00 pm  |  Golfing or Sporting Clay Shoot (at participant's expense)

Thursday, May 19
8:30 am  |  Table Top Splicing & Terminations (breakout session throughout the day)
8:30 am  |  Hands-On and Advanced Lineworker Class
12:00 pm  |  Lunch served at Training Center
12:30 pm  |  Hands-On and Advanced Lineworker Class
3:00 pm  |  Lineworker Rodeo Mystery Event

Friday, May 20
8:30 am  |  Commercial Drivers License and Requirements
11:00 am  |  Closing Comments and Wrap-up

Certificates

Each participant will receive a certificate of achievement showing the hours of attendance acquired. We need your email address to send this to you.

Registration Fee

$440 per student for members; $690 per student for non-members. All fees increase $50 on May 4.
Fee includes: workshop tuition, materials, pizza reception, two lunches, refreshment breaks and a certificate of achievement.

Refunds

A refund (minus $25 per person processing fee) will be given on advance registrations if the MMUA office is notified by 4:30 p.m. on May 3, 2016.

Marshall Hotel Information

For a map of hotels in Marshall, click HERE. The AmericInn and Ramada have special pricing. Just ask for MMUA's reduced rate. 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 Mike Willetts at MMUA. His phone number is 612-802-8474 or email mwilletts@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.