Underground School
Underground School
| Date: | May 5-8, 2015 |
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| Time: |
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| 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 2015 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 5
Safety Rules & Regulations: Do We Really Need Them? by Joe Schmidt, CSP, MMUA
Each and every day we are given a different working environment. Recognizing the hazards associated with those changes becomes a challenge because of the differing dynamics with every job we perform. It has become commonplace to feel that personal protective equipment and the respective rules will prevent injuries, but reality show differently.
We have all been in the situation of not wanting to wear PPE, for whatever the reason. Ultimately we are told that OSHA requires its use or the employer mandates it. Are those efforts successful or should there be alternative thoughts in our personal decision making process for PPE use?
Demonstration with Salisbury--New Product/Care and Maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment by Border States Electric
Ergonomics: Why Battery Operated Tools Can Pay For Themselves! by Nick Koch, Huskie Tools and Jeff Wangstad, Lee Noonan
Friday, May 8
Utility Damage Prevention by Mike Mendiola, Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety and Barb Cederberg, Gopher State One Call
BREAKOUT SESSION
Table Top Splicing and Terminations by Jim Stephens, 3M and Bill Bumgarner, Austin Public 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 breakout session will be ongoing on Wednesday and Thursday, rotating students so each has an opportunity to participate.
HANDS-ON TRAINING SESSIONS
Class 1: Proper Cable Identification, Testing and Grounding Methods
Instructors: Martin Meixell, Fairmont Public Utilities; Nick Hall and Sean McDowell, 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 protective equipment needed for the job. Proper tailboard briefings, rubber cover up, lock-out/tag-out, good communication between co-workers and maintaining minimum approach distances will also be covered in this training.
Class 2: Directional Boring with Conduit into Substation Application
Vendor/Instructor: Kevin Kollos, Ditch Witch
Instructors: Wade Williams, Fairmont Public Utilities; John Egan, Sauk Centre Public Utilities; Marshall Municipal Utilities
This class will focus on expansion for the future by directional boring multiple conduits from a newly installed cabinet to a riser pole which will serve as a feeder to a new development. In this class, the students will be instructed on preparing the site, identifying the hazards and other utilities that may be in the area, excavate and directional bore from one site to the other and demonstrate site cleanup when the project is completed. This class will focus on safety and the proper procedures to make the lineworker more comfortable around the equipment.
Class 3: Underground System Maintenance and Repair
Instructors: James Monroe, New Ulm Public Utilities; Brian Remme, Missouri River Energy Services/Luverne; City of Pierre (SD); Watertown (SD) Municipal 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 with computers and other sensitive electronics throughout your neighborhoods and small/large companies alike.
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
Class 4: Trench Excavation--Complete Competent Person & Confined Space Training
Vendor/Instructor: Jordan Fischer, United Rental
Underground maintenance and construction often puts us in unstable or dangerous atmospheres. This class is designed for all employees involved in trenching work and confined spaces giving them the necessary skills and training to determine when and how to enter these work stations. This class will offer classroom training along with hands-on training out in the field.
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: Map Design and Implementation to an Electrical System
Instructors: Bryant Tauer and Joe Moore, Moorhead Public Service; Chad Riess, Rochester Public Utilities
The proper design and system layout of your underground distribution is the single most important function before any wire is installed in the ground. Without this engineering step, it is doubtful that your underground system will perform and function properly.
Topics for this class:
- Design a Residential Neighborhood Distribution System
- Map Electrical Infrastructure
- Discuss System Theory
- Load Calculations
- Transformer Layout and Selection
- Create Material Pick Lists
- GPS Data Collection
- Engineering Analysis
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 5
Product Show and Reception, Ramada Inn, Marshall
Included in the registration is admission to the product show. This is a great place to see what products are available to the lineworker industry and a chance to visit with the vendors about product needs. There will be an assortment of hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar available to everyone in attendance.
Wednesday, May 6
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 shooting sporting clays at Shooter’s Gun Club. If you are unable to bring a firearm we will make sure there are some available for you to use.
Underground School Agenda
Tuesday, May 5
12:00 pm | Registration
1:00 pm | Safety Rules & Regulations: Do We Really Need Them?
2:00 pm | Demonstration with Salisbury
3:00 pm | Ergonomics: Why Battery Operated Tools Can Pay For Themselves!
4:30 pm | Product Show and Reception at Ramada
Wednesday, May 6
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 7
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 8
8:30 am | Utility Damage Prevention
10:30 am | Closing Comments and Adjourn
Certificates
Each participant will receive a certificate of achievement showing the hours of attendance acquired.
Registration Fee
$440 per student for members; $690 per student for non-members. All fees increase $50 on or after April 22.
Fee includes: workshop tuition, materials, Product Show & Reception, two lunches, refreshment breaks and a certificate of achievement.
Refunds
A refund will be given on advance registrations if the MMUA office is notified by 4:30 pm on April 21. A cancellation fee of $25 per person will be charged.
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 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 Rita Kelly at MMUA. Her phone number is 763-746-0707 or email rkelly@mmua.org.
To download a printable version of the Underground School brochure, click HERE.
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