IAMU is planning to hold its second Equipment Demo & Exhibit Day on Thursday, July 20, on our Training Field. Demo Day is a time for IAMU members to connect with vendors who can demonstrate or showcase their equipment, tools, processes, and materials in a real-life setting.

To learn more about the event from IAMU’s very own “Red Green,” click here.

The event is free for utility members and associate members. If you’re not a member, contact us to find out how you might be able to participate. For more information or to register for the event, click here.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities’ Safety Services will be holding two Silica Safety Workshops. Those attending the workshop will learn about the materials and job tasks that may contribute to silica exposures at their work locations. Silica may be found in concrete, brick, block, tile, drywall, and in other materials. Learn about the dangers of silica and the corrective measures to take that will protect your employees’ health. We will also discuss the requirements of OSHA’s new silica regulations that are now in effect.

Who Should Attend:
Directors, Supervisors, Lead Workers whose employees may have exposure to silica.

Two Dates Available:
Click here to register for the June 21st Workshop.

Click here to register for the August 23rd Workshop.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities’ Safety Services will be holding a Drug & Alcohol Employee/Supervisor Training webinar. The webinar will address the following:

• The effects of drugs and alcohol on the body
•  How to know if someone is on drugs
•  Suggestions for what an individual can do about it

60 minutes will be spent on symptoms of alcohol abuse;
60 minutes will be spent on symptoms of drug/controlled substance abuse

*Certificate of Completion will be emailed to registrants after the event*

Who Should Attend?
Employees and supervisors involved with CDLs and gas operations
 
Presenter:
Paul Kittelson, IAMU Safety Services
 
Webinar Time and Length:
June 15th, 2017 - 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
 
Cost:
$40 per IAMU Member participant; $65 per Non-IAMU Member participant
 
Webinar instructions and information will be sent to the registrant’s email.
 
To register, please click here.

Working in hot environments and/or prolonged exertion can raise the body’s temperature, resulting in heat stress that may lead to heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rashes, and heat stroke.

According to NIOSH, heat stroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness and can be fatal if not quickly treated.

The symptoms of heat stroke include a change in mental status that can range from confusion or bizarre behavior to seizures or loss of consciousness.

Heat stress may be avoided by taking the following steps:

• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, such as cotton. Avoid
  non-breathing synthetic clothing, and always wear a hat.
• Be aware that protective clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) may increase the risk of heat stress.
• Schedule heavy work during the coolest parts of the work day.
• No matter how tempted you are to skip them, take more breaks in extreme heat and
  humidity. Find shade or an air-conditioned space when possible to cool off.
• Acclimatize workers by exposing them for progressively longer periods to hot work
  environments gradually or bring in relief workers for physically demanding jobs.
• Use the buddy system to keep a watchful eye on your co-worker. Recognize the
  warning signs for heat stress and make sure that they move to a cool area immediately.

Drink water and low-sugar, electrolyte replacing drinks frequently, even if you are not thirsty. Consume approximately 1 cup every 15 to 20 minutes. By the time you become thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

Looking for ways to reach your municipal utility customers? The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) has a few marketing opportunities that we want to let you know about.

• Our Buyer’s Guide is a bi-annual electronic booklet that allows you to highlight your company and its products and services. You have an entire page to do with what you wish -- photos, contact information, sales copy, whatever you can dream up (within reason).

• Our 70th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine advertising allows you to have extended ad exposure compared to typical magazine advertising. Readers are much more likely to keep this special publication than a reoccurring magazine. This is a limited first-come, first-served opportunity.

• Our Golfin’ Fore Safety event is your chance to make our safety fundraiser even more fun for participants by sponsoring various aspects of the day. Bonus: You can come golf, too, as part of most sponsorship levels.

• Our Equipment Demo & Exhibit Day is a great way to show potential customers what you can provide by demo-ing or exhibiting your products or services in a real-life setting. You’ll also be able to invite your other clients (beyond the IAMU members whom we will invite) to come out and check out what you do. This is a free event to participate, but we need you to sign up. We’re also looking for event sponsors.

If you have any questions about these opportunities, please feel free to contact Jen Cronin at 515-289-1999 or jcronin@iamu.org.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in conjunction with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming capital improvement planning workshop. The session provides participants with an understanding of what to include in a Capital Improvement Plan, who should be involved and why it’s important to implement a plan, strategies for replacing existing equipment, infrastructure, and planning to meet existing or new regulatory requirements.  The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.

This training would be beneficial for Financial/Accounting Staff, Finance Directors, Utility Directors, City Managers, City Clerks, Board/City Council Members, Customer Service Managers, Operators, Engineering Staff and other utility employees/stakeholders.

*5 CEU hours available for Water Treatment, Distribution, or Wastewater.

For more information, and to register, click here.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in conjunction with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming rate setting and financial planning workshop.

The session provides participants with an understanding on major considerations when setting rates; rate structure options and pricing objectives, financial planning considerations, and strategies for communicating rate information to your board and community. The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.

This training would be beneficial for Financial/Accounting Staff, Finance Directors, Utility Directors, City Managers, City Clerks, Board/City Council Members, Customer Service Managers, Operators, Engineering Staff and other utility employees/stakeholders.

*5 CEU hours available for Water Treatment, Distribution, or Wastewater.

For more information, and to register, click here.

Mark your calendars for the return of one of IAMU’s popular workshops.  Skip Collier of Professional Training Systems, Inc. will be presenting his Electric Utility System Operation Short Course July 25-27 and the Smart Grid Course on July 28.

Skip is very well regarded and has an extensive background in electric utility design, construction, maintenance and operation.

The EUSO Short Course is designed for any employee whose job performance will benefit from a basic understanding of the operations side of the business.  This includes those from legal, rates, engineering, purchasing, computer application, marketing, customer service, inventory control, finance, accounting, safety, risk analysis as well as those from generating plants.  One goal for this class is to have students leave with the ability to easily identify all of the electrical equipment they see in a substation as they walk by, along with all the equipment found on the poles in a residential area.  Non-electrical engineers are often at a disadvantage in the electric utility environment due to a lack of familiarity with technical issues.  The better you understand the utility’s product – electrical energy – and how it is created and distributed, the better you can serve the utility and your customers.  This course assumes no electrical background, and builds on the basics to provide a comprehensive understanding of the equipment and operations.

In addition to the EUSO course, Skip will offer his Smart Grid Course.  This class explains what a grid is, the differences between a dumb grid and a smart grid, and the mandates that ensure a smart grid will be implemented in each utility.  Once again, this course assumes no electrical background, and builds on the basics to provide a comprehensive understanding of the equipment and operations.  Participants, however, who have attended the EUSO course will better understand the true capabilities of a smart grid.

Registration is now open.
If you are planning on sending more than one participant from your organization, please make sure to share this with multiple departments so that you qualify for the reduced cost with the initial registration.

EUSO Course

• $878 for a single registrant OR $798 each for two or more participants from the same utility/organization

Smart Grid Course

• $303 for single registrant OR $270 each for two or more participants from the same utility/organization

BOTH Courses

• $1,100 for single registrant OR $990 each for two or more participants from the same utility/organization

For additional information, brochure, and registration, please click HERE.  The registration deadline for the workshop is Tuesday, July 18, 2017.

*Line Maintainer apprentices will receive 21 Basic OJT Hours for taking the course*