Do you have someone in your organization who is seeking professional development?  We are revitalizing our Chapter's Future Leaders group and planning for the first meeting on Friday, October 10th, 10 AM until 2 PM at Campo di Bocce in Livermore.  We are pleased that Justin Reginato, Ph.D., will facilitate the gathering.  Justin is an Associate Professor in the Construction Management Department at CSU Sacramento and has published research reports for Electri International.  You can learn more about him by visiting his website.  Details are still being developed and will be distributed soon.  We are developing an attendee list, so if you would like to be included or if you would like to recommend someone to this group, contact Julie Russell at the Chapter office.  
 

Contractors, Chapter Managers, IBEW reps and business development professionals gathered last week in Sacramento for the Statewide LMCC 2nd annual meeting/retreat.  The first day included an update on statewide activities including continued participation at the annual California School Boards Association conference, and a report on a Coalition letter for school districts and municipalities addressing best practices for energy efficiency projects where Proposition 39 and bond funds are used.   Justin Reginato, Professor at the Construction Department at Sac State and researcher for Electri International, also joined us to lead a discussion on the importance and value of business development in contractor firms, as well as the value of NECA business development efforts.  A lively discussion on the value of contractor and worker certifications, best practices, and mentoring was held.

Doug Avery, formerly with Southern CA Edison and currently consultant to the Statewide LMCC, discussed CALCTP and working with utilities to adopt incentives for customer who use CALCTP certified contractors and installers.  He noted that SCE will soon roll-out an incentive program.  Statewide LMCC continues to work with other utilities to follow suit. 

One of the most common questions asked, almost daily, is "can someone work on energized equipment."  According to the NFPA 70E, a "Qualified Person" is one who is trained and knowledgeable of the construction and operation of the equipment or the specific work method, and trained to recognize the hazards present with respect to that equipment or work method.  Such persons shall also be familiar with the use of precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools and test equipment.  A person can be considered qualified with respect to certain tasks but still be unqualified for others.  In addition, to be permitted to work within the limited approach of exposed energized conductors and circuit parts, the person shall be trained in all of the following:

• The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment;
• The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts;
• The minimum approach distances specified in this section corresponding to the voltages to which the qualified employee will be exposed; and
• The decision-making process necessary to determine the degree and extent of the hazard and the personal protective equipment and job planning necessary to perform the task safely

A few notes to add to the NFPA 70E definition:

• Only the employer can deem an employee qualified after they have had the proper training and have demonstrated proficiency using the skills and methods learned.
• There is no such thing as NFPA 70E certification; going to a training course does not make an employee qualified.
• The most misunderstood part of the "qualified" term is that it is all encompassing; you are "qualified" to work on a specific type or piece of equipment.
• Neither a Journeyman card, license, or an engineering degree make you a "qualified person."

On Wednesday, September 24, 2 PM Eastern Time, Electrical Contractor and Westex by Milliken will host a webinar on the causes and consequences of arc flashes and the 2015 changes to NFPA 70E.  The webinar will focus on historical data, real accidents, body burn, and the differences between non-FR and FR clothing.  Westex will feature a new HD super slow motion video of arc flashes on real 480V equipment with clothed mannequins in typical working position.  The videos, which have led to a significant leap in understanding the arc flash hazard, will show arcs from 0.6 up to 40+ cals.  Following that, there will be a discussion about hazard analysis and FR clothing performance testing, focusing on the quantification of incident energy and ATPV (or arc rating).  Finally, Westex will review changes to NFPA 70E 2015.  Register here.