Educational Seminars

Regulator & Relief Valve Training

• This seminar will include instruction on sizing, installation, and working fundamentals of residential, commercial, and industrial gas regulators, relief valves and will include hands-on activities using regulator equipment props and the GasTEC regulator facilities.
   
  
  

• Rob Mistretta [John H. Carter]

• Brannon Cook [John H. Carter]

OSHA Competent Person Training & Certification​

• Competent person training focuses on qualifying an individual to be the competent person on a field job site to oversee the safe excavation and protection of personnel before entering the excavation. An OSHA "competent person" is defined as "one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them" [29 CFR 1926.32(f)]. By way of training and/or experience, a competent person is knowledgeable of applicable standards, is capable of identifying workplace hazards relating to the specific operation, and has the authority to correct them. Some standards add additional specific requirements which must be met by the competent person.
  
  
  
  *$175 for Members.
  
  You will earn OSHA Competent Person Certification card!* 

• Jason Sibley & Paul Johnson [United Rentals]

Gas Distribution Safety Roundtable

• This round table will consist of specific safety related agenda topics such as working in hazardous natural gas atmosphere, work zone safety, excavation best practices, competent person responsibilities, personal protective equipment requirements, damage prevention, root cause analysis, and federal & state regulation as they relate to job site safety for gas work. It will also include some of the latest safety challenges and solutions that have proven to improve safety results in our industry.         ​

• Keith Gauchet & Panelists from  [NuLine Utilities, Gridsource, Entergy, Atmos]

• Digital Testing Technologies & Natural Gas Measurement Fundamentals Training:  Gas line pressure testing plays an important role any time natural gas piping systems are installed. It helps to identify any design flaws or any weaknesses in the pipe, fillings or joints before the pipe is taken on line, which can prevent gas leaks and potential issues down the road. Learn about the newest digital technologies that are transforming pressure testing in our industry. 

Registration Coming Soon

June 17
9:00 - 3:00 pm

• Mike Talkington [JM Test]

Locating, Grading & Managing Natural Gas Leaks

• Actions taken when a Gas Line is leaking (inside or outside a house or business). How to locate and track a gas leak situation with the latest leak locating equipment and best practices. As a first responder arriving on the scene of a gas fire or blowing gas, the first 5 minutes can make the difference between life or death for a customer. Knowing what to do and what not to do, to make the scene safe could mean the difference between saving lives or a fatality.

June 19
9:00 - 3:00 pm

• Cole Vanderlick [EGW Utility Solutions]

• This interactive seminar is designed to deliver practical management training for front-line field supervisors and team leaders while teaching critical fundamental of supervision to achieve successful outcomes. The program gives supervisors and other construction leaders the opportunity to build their leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as, add to their management expertise. The course is designed to prepare managers to face trends in the business and construction world by providing practical solutions to real-world problems.

June 25
9:00 - 3:00 pm

• Rusty Burroughs [NuLine Utility Services]

Electrical Basics 101 Seminar

• ​The seminar will focus on the basic principles of electricity including the three most basic components of electricity which are voltage, current, and resistance. Knowing basic electrical concepts is important to the work we perform in the natural gas industry.  Voltage is like the pressure that pushes gas through a pipeline. It is measured in volts (V). Current is like the diameter of the pipeline. The wider it is, the more gas will flow through. It is measured in amps (I or A).  Resistance is like debris or fittings in the pipeline that slows down the gas flow. It is measured in ohms (R or Ω). Voltage, current, and resistance are all related. If you change one of them in a circuit, the others will change, too. The seminar will also cover safety aspects of working in and around power lines both underground and overhead.

July 8
9:00 - 3:00 pm

• Mike Talkington [JM Test]

Confined Space in Construction Training

• Confined space training equips workers with the knowledge and skills to safely enter and work in confined spaces, including identifying hazards, using PPE, and communicating with attendants, ultimately reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. This training covers various aspects, including hazard Identification recognizing potential hazards within confined spaces, such as oxygen deficiency, toxic atmospheres, flammable materials, and engulfment risks. 
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) understanding the proper use, storage, and maintenance of required PPE, such as respirators, harnesses, and safety lines. 
  Establishing clear communication protocols between entrants and attendants to ensure safety and coordinate actions. Emergency Procedures knowing how to respond to emergencies, including self-rescue techniques and calling for help. 
  Attendant responsibilities training for attendants who are responsible for monitoring entrants and ensuring their safety outside the confined space. 

July 10
9:00 - 3:00 pm

• Jason Sibley & Paul Johnson [United Rentals]

• ​The lifeblood of any safety-conscious organization begins with training and awareness of locating and exposing underground facilities. Awareness and knowledge about how to help prevent damages to underground facilities results in a safer working environment for excavators and the general public. This seminar provides an opportunity to recognize the significant knowledge and expertise required to complete the complicated task of locating underground facilities, including dig laws, best practices, and locating field knowledge. The seminar will include hands-on training with locating equipment and underground facilities.

July 22
9:00 - 3:00 pm

• Billy Forest [LA811], Greg Galle [LADENR], & Raymond Sonnier

Liability Exposure Training for Field Staff

• To effectively educate utility & construction contractors on liability exposures, focus on understanding the various types of liability risks, including general liability (bodily injury, property damage), professional liability (errors/omissions in design/supervision), and pollution/environmental liability, and how to manage them through insurance and operational risk management strategies. 

July 30
9:00 - 1:00 pm

• Brian Monistere [Pro Safety Co.]

Gas Equipment & Tool Calibration

• Regular calibration of gas equipment and tools, including gas detectors, is crucial for accurate readings and worker safety, requiring periodic bump testing and full calibration, often every 6 months or as recommended by the manufacturer.  
  Calibration verifies that gas detectors and other equipment respond accurately to the gases they are designed to detect, preventing false alarms or missed hazards.
  Accurate readings are vital for preventing worker illness, injury, or death in hazardous environments. Many industries require regular calibration of safety devices to ensure compliance with regulations. Uncalibrated or malfunctioning equipment can lead to unexpected downtime, impacting productivity and profitability. 

• Mike Talkington [JM Test]

• The Louisiana Damage Prevention Law became effective in 1988. This law requires excavators and demolishers to call a regional notification center at least two full business days before they begin their work. The locating instruments used in this training covers a wide range of introductory to more advanced concepts on instrument use best practices, the science behind locating and various utility characteristics that can affect a locate. Just a sampling of the extensive topics covered include: the receiver, the transmitter, peak and null, signal, current, shape and endpoint, conductive and inductive locating, bleed-off and gain, creating the circuit, digital depth, near myths, maps and visual clues. Hands-on training is part of the seminar using field applications at the training site.

• Mark LeBlanc [Utility Solutions Supply]