Getting Prepared... Early!
by Judi Rubin, MEA President
It was a tired group of contractors at our December meetings. The construction season was long, and the contractors were already thinking about how to get training done early so they can be prepared for a busy 2016. The following are some ways to get ahead:
The Minnesota Stray Voltage Installation Guide . . . was the result of a collaborative effort by numerous agricultural agencies, utilities and organizations, including the MN DLI. MREA President & CEO Darrick Moe, President of the MN Rural Electrical Association, asked MEA if we would tell electrical contractors how they can get a copy of the guide. The guide outlines the steps farmers, licensed electrical contractors, utilities and their advisors can take to discover and resolve stray voltage concerns on livestock farms. The guide is intended to provide a base level of knowledge for those who are concerned about whether the animals on a livestock farm are experiencing a level of stray voltage that may be impacting animal behavior or milk production. When planning electrical installations where stray voltage is a factor, your local utility is an excellent source of experts to provide assistance. Download at www.minnesotastrayvoltageguide.com.
OSHA Consulting . . . this is a great time of year to apply for an OSHA safety equipment grant at www.dli.mn.gov/WSC/Grants.asp. You can also have OSHA Consulting tour your work place and provide training for your electricians.
AWAIR . . . This is a great time of year to update your AWAIR Safety Plan and training. Having this document up to date and available on the jobsite can help reduce penalties in the event of a violation. Employees must be able to answer basic questions, and you need documentation proving that employees have received training. MEA worked with OSHA Consulting to create an AWAIR workbook specifically for electrical contractors. It provides model letters and policies that you can quickly and easily modify to fit the needs of your company. The cost is only $99 and it will save many hours of your time.
NFPA 70E Training . . . To make sure they are up to date on the PPE requirements in the NFPA 70E manual, contactors and manufacturing companies are scheduling 4-hour classes with MEA. Jeff Keljik and his team of trainers will do a great job for you. Just call Barb at 612-827-6117 to find out more information. As you know, the demand to complete this training before working on industrial projects is strong.
Reciprocal Licenses . . . The National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) is a group of states that have agreements with each other to allow master and journeyman electricians to reciprocate their licenses without taking an examination. The representatives of these states will be meeting in Duluth this summer. They gather to share ideas not only about licensing, but also about continuing education and other aspects of the industry. We know that Sam Sampson and John Williamson will do a great job of hosting these meetings. The 17 states in NERA are shown in green on the map below.
Class A Journeyman: Applicants may obtain a MN journeyman license without exam if they obtained their journeyman license by exam in AK, AR, CO, IA, MT, NE, ND, SD and WY. Applicants that hold the equivalent of a MN master license in these states may also obtain the MN journeyman license. Class A Master: Applicants may obtain a MN master license without exam if they obtained their master license by exam in IA, ND, SD or NE. (WI is requesting to join NERA.) For exact details about MN’s reciprocity, visit the DLI site at http://tiny.cc/7kjl8x.
MEA Leadership Conference on April 11-13 and the NCEL Expo on April 13-14 . . . Mark your calendars for these important events. For more info, go to www.electricalassociation.com. We hope to see you there!