Mark your calendars for this year’s Underground Electric Distribution Workshop.  This year’s workshop will take place September 18 – 20 at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.

A variety of classroom topics and hands-on stations will be offered at this year’s training including:

• Directional Boring & Duct Handling
• Technical Locating
• Elbows & Terminations
• Troubleshooting / Protective Grounding
• Cable Identification
• Primary & Secondary Splicing
• Trencher Operation

Apprenticeship testing is available on September 17 and the morning of September 18.  Apprentices are able to take their Year-end/Module Final Exams as well as Year-end/Module Final Skill Evaluations.  *Apprentices must pre-register for testing and skill evaluations.*  These are the only available times, during the workshop, for evaluations and registration is limited.

*Registration is capped at 48 participants.*

For additional information regarding the workshop, including online registration, brochure, agenda and schedule, please click HERE.

Mark your calendars for the IAMU Water Distribution & Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshops.  The workshops will take place September 10th - 11th at the IAMU Training and Office Complex.

Water Distribution Training topics will include:

• Fire hydrant maintenance
• Water main tapping / HydraStop
• Water main installation / repair & fittings

Water Leak Detection / Line Locating topics will include:

• Water leak detection (with various equipment)
• Line locating
• Trenching & shoring
• Fittings

0.6 CEUs each day for Water Distribution.

Cost:
Early Registration (on or before September 6th)

• IAMU Members - $65/day or $115 both days
• Non-Members - $105/day or $190 both days

Late/At-the-Door Registration

• IAMU Members - $75/day or $135 both days
• Non-Members - $115/day or $210 both days

Registration is open.  For more information about the workshops, brochure, and online registration, click HERE.

Jester Insurance/EMC Insurance will be holding their annual seminars in early October. Below are the dates and locations. IAMU will share more information in the near future.

Tuesday, Oct. 1
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Prairie Meadows
1 Prairie Meadows Drive
Altoona, Iowa 50009

Thursday, Oct. 3
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
7213 Nordic Drive
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Thursday, Oct. 10
King’s Pointe Resort
1520 E. Lakeshore Drive
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Even though summer is winding down, chances are there will still be some hot days remaining. EMC Industrial Hygienist Jordan Curzon answers common questions about heat illness. To learn more, check out this article from the EMC Loss Control Insights.

The Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm has put together important information related to the Recertification Election Process for Collective Bargaining Agreements that expire on June 30, 2020 and what employers need to do and by when.
 
To view the information, click here.
 
If you have any questions, you may contact Tim Whipple, IAMU General Counsel, at 515.289.1999 or by email at twhipple@iamu.org.

We take our member’s safety seriously and we know that you do, too! So, this year IAMU is participating in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and shares ideas on how to keep workers safe.

Here are a few simple suggestions from OSHA that you can follow to make a difference in your employee’s perception of safety:

• Create a board for workers to display suggestions to help find and fix workplace hazards.
• Hold a demonstration on proper use of safety equipment.
• Host an informal “lunch and learn” on a part of your safety program.
• Recognize a safety milestone and employee contributions with a party.

One of the most effective ways to promote safety year-round is to make a “why I work safely” board with pictures of your employee’s loved ones. We will be sharing extra Toolbox Talks during Safe + Sound Week about the importance of hearing conservation and the proper fit of hearing protection. Take a few extra minutes during Safe + Sound Week to promote safety and health (at home, too).

From Lessons Learned and Toolbox Talks to webinars and workshops – we make every effort to make safety easier for you. If you have a safety suggestion, please send it to mmeade@iamu.org so that it can be shared. If you observe Safe + Sound Week in any way, please share what you did with us by sending a message to mmeade@iamu.org. IAMU will be providing appreciation gifts to all those who participate.

The American Public Power Association has partnered with Nissan to offer its member public power community across the United States exclusive rebates on the all-electric 2019 Nissan LEAF. 
Public power customers and employees are eligible for a rebate of $3,500 on the 2019 Nissan LEAF 40 kWh Standard and of $2,500 on the 2019 Nissan LEAF 62 kWh ePlus.

Utilities, joint action agencies and state/regional associations may use the rebate for fleet vehicles. The rebate on the LEAF 40 kWh Standard for fleet vehicles may be up to $5,000 in ZEV states — ask your local dealer.

To claim the public power rebate, public power customers must download this flyer and take it to a local Nissan dealer, along with proof of eligible residency and a current electric bill.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Safety Services department will be holding mobile crane certification and examination classes for digger derrick, service truck, and mobile crane operators.  OSHA’s updated crane standard REQUIRES that operators of lifting equipment be trained, evaluated and tested in order to obtain certification.

Background Information:
Although the new standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, specifically exempts the digger derrick and the operator from meeting the requirements of the standard, the exemption applies only when it is used for work within the provisions of the power generation, transmission and distribution standards, or for construction work within the telecommunications standard.  The exemption does not apply if the digger derrick is used for lifting materials or to operate in working environments outside the scope of the standard because the equipment is essentially being used as a mobile crane.  For example, unloading materials from a truck, lifting a motor from a pump house to assist your water department, or providing assistance to any other city department will mean that the exemption no longer applies.  When equipment is used as a mobile crane, all provisions of the standard apply, including the operator certification rule.  OSHA also now requires that an operator be certified in specific areas when they operate equipment outfitted with a boom and winch and able to lift at least 2,000 pounds.  This includes service trucks in your public works, or water departments.

The new standard has very specific operator requirements, one being to obtain operator certification from an independent testing organization accredited by a nationally recognized organization.  OSHA’s updated crane standard, 1926.1427 in Subpart CC, requires that for a testing organization to be considered accredited to certify operators, it must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency based on that agency’s determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment and personnel have been met.  IAMU is an Accredited Assessment Center through the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).  We are authorized to conduct both hands-on assessments and practical examinations which are part of our Mobile Crane Operator Certification Program.  Additionally, we are offering Qualified Hand Signal Person and Qualified Rigger programs (available at a future date).

Who Should Attend:
Digger derrick and service truck crane operators who do not currently hold a mobile crane operator’s certification.

What Do These Classes and Certification Consist Of:
Classes will be a week long, requiring classroom instruction, an on-line exam that has a 80% pass requirement, a practical exam for certification of mobile crane, and then finally a short class and practical exam for the signalperson and rigging qualifications. Students who pass the written and practical exams receive nationally recognized certification from the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).

Where Do These Classes Take Place:
IAMU Training and Office Complex
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA  50021

When Will Classes Be Held:
Dates have been scheduled for 2019 at the IAMU complex (unless otherwise noted).  Please click HERE or visit the IAMU website for available dates.

August 19-23
October 7-11
December 9-13

Mobile Crane Operator Certification/Examination Class Schedule:
 
Class Day
Times
Classroom/Exam

Monday & Tuesday
9:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Classroom

Wednesday
8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Classroom/Exams

Thursday
8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Practical Exams

Friday (if needed)
8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Retake Exams
Class/Exam
Examination retakes are $100 and may be taken during any scheduled exam date.
Additional Notes:

• Registration for all dates is open
• There is a maximum of 12 participants per class session.
• Lunch will be provided Monday through Thursday.
• All participants will attend classroom days. Exams will take place on the Thursday of each class session. Depending on the number of participants, Wednesday evening and Friday may also be used for exams.
• Each participant will need to create an account with NCCER before class; step-by-step instructions are included with the study guide.  Please bring your account number with you to class.

For additional information about the classes and online registration for each event, click HERE.

Cancellation Policy:
IAMU will issue a full refund for a registration cancellation up to 30 days prior to class date.  Cancellations within 30 days of class date will result in a refund less a $50 cancellation charge per registration.

If unable to attend, IAMU will allow a registration to be transferred within the same organization for the registered class date at no additional charge.

Questions?
If you have any questions in regards to the classes, or requirements, please contact:

Margret Meade, IAMU Safety Outreach Coordinator (mmeade@iamu.org)
Phone:  (800) 810-4268

IAMU is planning to hold its Equipment Demo & Exhibit Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 1 – 6 p.m. 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.

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.