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OSHA Trade News Release
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Crane Operator Certification
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled two informal stakeholder meetings to solicit comments on the crane operator certification requirements in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.
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Operator Qualification (OQ) Services
Heavy Enterprises, Inc.
Pierce, CO
Turnco Enterprises, LLC
Lubbock, TX
InfraSource
Ypsilanti, MI
Precision Point Contracting
Shell Knob, MO
Dity of DeFuniak Springs
DeFuniak Springs, FL
La Hacienda Mobile Homes
Portales, NM
Kinley Construction Group
Arlington, TX
3 Star Daylighting
Cresson, TX
Willbros Construction (North Plains Region)
Gillette, WY
Top Hand Lease Service, LLC.
Premont, TX
Parker Lane Directional Drilling
Euless, TX
Left Hook Piping
Casper, WY
Pullen Services, LLC.
Casper, WY
CCB, Inc.
Westbrook, ME
Corrpro Companies, Inc.
Medina, OH
Always Kool, LLC.
Linn Creek, MO
Toney Construction, Inc.
Forest, VA
Maxum Industries
New Iberia, LA
Eagle Sandblasting
Pleasant Plains, AR
Roanoke Gas Company ( VGOA)
Roanoke, VA
Mid Ohio Pipeline Services, LLC.
Lexington, OH
South Texas OQ
Yoakum, TX
Swenson Backhoe Service, Inc.
Electra, TX
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Services
Patriot Pipeline
Uxbridge, MA
Mikell Enterprises, Inc.
Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Tri-State Utility Contractors, Inc.
Senatobia, MS
Compliance Management Services (CMS)
Eakin Pipeline Construction
Burleson, TX
Lowes Construction, LLC.
Seagoville, TX
Barnard EMC, Inc.
White Pine, TN
Southern Cross Pipeline Integrity Services
Farmers Branch, TX
J & N Utilities
Clyde, TX |
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This Week in History | |
March 11, 1829
Spring-Pole Gusher
Boring for salt brine with a simple spring-pole device (used in ancient China) on a farm near Burkesville, Kentucky, Martin Beatty strikes an oilfield. Drilled for a local doctor, the March 11, 1829, gusher shoots "to the top of the surrounding trees."
March 12, 1914
Petroleum and Sea Power
The U.S.S. Texas, commissioned in 1914, was the last American battleship built with coal-fired boilers. By 1927, it had been converted to burn fuel oil - with a dramatic improvement in efficiency. The revolutionary change from coal to oil-fired boilers at sea is another chapter in the story of petroleum.
March 18, 1937
Odorless Natural Gas Explosion devastates East Texas School
Natural gas explosion destroys the New London High School in Rusk County, Texas. The explosion occurred when a spark from an electric wood-shop saw ignited unscented natural gas that leaked into the basement of the high school.
March 20, 1919
American Petroleum Institute founded
Tracing its roots to World War I - when the petroleum industry and Congress worked together for the war effort - the American Petroleum Institute (API) is founded in New York City.
March 20, 1973
Pennsylvania Boom Town listed in Historic Registry
Discovered in January 1865, the Pithole Creek field creates a massive - although short lived - oil boom town for the young petroleum industry, which began in nearby Titusville in 1859.
March 24, 1989
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
After nearly a dozen years of daily tanker passages through Prince William Sound, Alaska, the 987-foot-long Exxon Valdez will run aground on Bligh Reef, spilling about 257,000 barrels of oil and affecting hundreds of miles of coastline.
courtesy of aoghs.org |
Contact Us
Our telephones are answered Monday through Fridiay from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central time. We can be contacted by e-mail also at support@energyworldnet.com
ENERGY worldnet, Inc.
P.O. Box 2106
Decatur, TX 76234
Office - 940-626-1941
Toll free-1-855-396-5267 |
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A Discussion on Abnormal Operating Conditions (AOCs)
 ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY QUALIFIED?
In recent years, approximately 35% of DOT/PHMSA OQ inspections have resulted in OQ Rule violations or possible violations related to non-compliance of Abnormal Operating Condition (AOC) requirements for Operator Qualifications.
Since the inception of the Final OQ Rule in 1999, the intent of the Rule has always been two-fold: 1) to ensure a qualified workforce on jurisdictional pipelines, and thereby, 2) reduce the probability and consequence of pipeline incidents or accidents caused by human error. The ability of employees to properly recognize and react to AOCs is considered a critical element in satisfying that intent.
As defined by Title 49 CFR § 192.803 and 49 CFR 195.503, an AOC means a condition identified by the operator that may indicate a malfunction of a component or deviation from normal operations. An abnormality may (a) Indicate a condition exceeding design limits; or (b) Result in a hazard(s) to persons, property, or the environment.
The OQ Rule also establishes that "Qualified" means that an individual has been evaluated and can
(a) Perform assigned covered tasks; and
(b) Recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions.
To meet this requirement, being properly evaluated requires the use of a process established and documented by the operator. This qualification process determines an individual's ability to perform a covered task, which includes recognition and reaction to AOCs.
Common Qualification Problems found during OQ Inspections:
- Operator violated § 192.805(b) because the operator's written qualification program did not identify both generic and task specific abnormal operating conditions.
- Operator violated § 192.805(b) because employees were not able to recognize and react to AOCs that may occur, specifically employee skills were not formally evaluated (through documented performance verifications or other performance-based mechanisms), therefore no assurance existed that they could recognize and react to task-specific AOCs for covered tasks.
- The written operator qualification program and evaluation materials identify AOCs, but do not address the required reactions to the AOCs.
- Operators do not evaluate individuals on appropriate AOCs and/or do not have documentation supporting evaluations of qualified individuals for recognition and reaction to AOCs.
- Operator documentation demonstrates evaluation for AOC recognition and reaction, but field inspection of individuals performing covered tasks reveals unfamiliarity with subject.
- Operators include AOC evaluation for employees, but do not ensure AOC evaluation for contractor individuals.
- Operators do not include AOC evaluation as a part of the periodic re-evaluation process for covered tasks.
The ENERGY worldnet Solution
In order to ensure EWN clients are in full compliance with both the intent and the prescriptive requirements of the OQ Rule, EWN provides both general and task specific AOCs in a variety of formats:
- EWN provides general AOCs for Natural Gas, Hazardous Liquids, and Control Rooms
- EWN provides Task Specific AOCs (21 training/evaluations and 30 evaluations only)
- EWN incorporates AOC training into OQ Training Courses and Written Evaluations
- EWN incorporates AOC questions into OQ Performance Evaluations
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Safety Alert - Hazmat Cylinders
Unauthorized Hazmat Cylinders
PHMSA has become aware of approximately 496 improperly-marked DOT 3AA and 3AL cylinders used in carbon dioxide service. Unauthorized cylinders were purchased or serviced from Flint Welding Supply Company from June 2010 to December 2012. Kraus Fire Equipment Co. marked cylinders provided by Flint Welding Supply Co. with a requalification identification number (RIN) without first performing a valid hydrostatic requalification test, which is required under the Hazardous Materials Regulations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Richard Battstone, Jr., Owner, (810) 744-4780
Kraus Fire Equipment Co.
G-4080 S. Dort Highway
Burton, MI
courtesy of phmsa.dot.gov |
To learn more about how to ensure that employees are in full compliance with Operator Qualification requirements, visit us at www.energyworldnet.com.
Also, make plans to participate in the Texas Gas Association's 2013 Safety Roundtable meeting on April 24-26, 2013 at the Atmos Energy Charles K. Vaughn Center in Plano, TX. During the event, Geoffrey Isbell will be speaking on this topic and will be facilitating a discussion on the question; "Are your employees in compliance on operator qualifications?"
To download an overview of the AOC topic and EWN's approach to AOCs, go to
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MASTER EVALUATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The Master Evaluator Certification Program is an evaluator/proctor course that provides participants with the principles for conducting effective evaluations and provides opportunities to apply these principles by practicing them in a comfortable environment. This is achieved by discussing individual testing techniques and performance observation techniques; reviewing various Operator Qualification Plan Evaluation requirements; and by providing practice using actual evaluation tools. Upon completion of this course, participants will understand the requirements of 49 CFR 192 and 195 as it relates to written and performance evaluations, know how to prepare for an evaluation, know how to perform and evaluation and know how to properly document an evaluation and maintain records.
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING
The System Administrator Training Course provides designated OQ plan administrators and/or supervisors with a hands-on review of the EWN system and prepares them to effectively manage their OQ program utilizing the ENERGY worldnet system and services. This is achieved by discussing the overall layout and navigation of the EWN system for Ooperators and Contractors; reviewing the features and function of the system and assisting with the setup of custom options and settings; and by providing practice using actual functions, tools and processes.
Location: Pensacola Energy
Donald E. Baisden Service Center
1625 Atwood Drive
Pensacola, FL 32514
Instructor: Jeremy Green, Director of Business Development, ENERGY worldnet, Inc.
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Regional Training, Pensacola, FL |
 MECP Class:May 1
Location: Leak City, Athens, AL
Leak City - City of Athens Gas Department
807 East Sandefer Road
Athens, AL 35611
Instructor: Jeremy Green, Director of Business Development, ENERGY worldnet, Inc
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April 2013
April 9: Master Evaluator Certification Program, (MECP): Decatur, TX
April 10: Basic System Administrator Training: Decatur, TX
April 11: Advanced System Administrator Training: Decatur, TX
April 11 & 12: Instructional Design and Authoring (2 day course): Decatur, TX
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April Training Events Decatur, TX |
May 2013
May 14: Master Evaluator Certification Program: (MECP), Decatur, TX
May 15: Basic System Administrator Training: Decatur, TX
May 16: Advanced System Administrator Training: Decatur, TX
May 16 & 17: Instructional Design and Authoring (2 day course): Decatur, TX
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May Training Events Decatur, TX |
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"I called Energy World Net to request information on OQ courses for a client. Cory Mattison was absolutely fantastic to work with. She not only answered my questions, she went above and beyond and gave me the details that the client needed to make the best decision on how to most effectively train his employees. She was patient, upbeat, and outgoing, and best of all, she knew her product!! She's a great model for quality customer relations."
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