New Generation/Apprenticeship

[rcdallas]

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[electric squirrel]

What you say is totally true, the industry is goin' to be so short handed in a few years we will be hiring off the street.You know what that's goin' bring in, so right now its OUR job as JL 's to train these kids right in the short amount of time that you have.These line schools are pushin' kids out at a record pace,then if they don't go RAT and get into a JATC they think you ought to give a ticket and a foremans truck right outta the gate! The apprentice programs should be a little bit longer, but that wont change unless the JL's demand it!
I've been real lucky that the ape's I've had since topp'n out (4 yrs) have been excellent kids,but I think I could have been a better JL . There where honestly things I could show them how to do , but couldn't explain why, and that's not right! All I can say is TAKE the TIME to teach the good ones the correct way, and the SAFE way to do things and cut the broke dicks in the clear! My 2 cents,,,, E.S.:cool:

[topgroove]

I am ibew working for national grid. been doing this for 21 years. we've hired quite a few apps out of linesman college. when we hire one they start at lineman A. services and secondary no transformer poles. than after one year they go to B school where they learn transformer theory and electrical theory. they work two years at that level and can work primary and transformer poles as long as a journeyman is up the pole at the working level with them. after that as long as they can cut it they go to C school. after they graduate C school they are considered journeymen. they can work primary out of hooks or bucket but can't touch anything above 4.8kv alone. they work at C level for 2 years and than go to hotstick school. after they pass hotstick school they can finally rubber glove or hotstick 7.6kv or 13.2kv by themselves. here at grid we don't rubber glove 7.6kv out of hooks. bucket or hotstick only. so when we hire a app out of a line school its at least five years minimum before they can work 7.6kv and above on a two man crew. Don't feel too bad though,,, Pike Electric throws them in the killing zone 60 days out of linemans college.

[BigClive]

Do you know what would really help the new generation? Seeing a video of someone making full contact with high voltage and making them realise exactly what it is they're messing with at work....


This video has been posted before. It's gruesome. It involves an Indian train and a cocky individual who doesn't seem to realise that you can't safely ride on top of an electric train........

YouTube seem to have systematically removed this video because of its graphic nature.

http://trogoglin.ning.com/video/video/show?id=3237886:Video:322

[rcdallas]

I'm starting to think another thing will help is to get rid of people after a year that still don't know their connectors, wire sizes, dies, how to frame up a set of doubles, and roll up a handline for starters.

Damn, did I say that?

Preciate the input... fellas...

[bones]

Maybe I take a different view on this but looking back, I learned the most after I topped out. Had transmission down good and thought I knew it all. Only later in my apprenticeship did I realize transmission was a joke, at least what I was doing. Got hooked on distribution and haven't strayed too much since over the years.

What the apprenticeship taught me was how not to kill myself. Meaning I could work unsupervised when I topped out.

I suppose it all comes down to what do you consider a qualified lineman? Is it someone who knows every trick, every shortcut, every easier proceedure, works fast, works smart, and is safe. Or is it just someone who is safe and possesses the building blocks for the rest? I admit I was the later when I was stamped JL. If I was to be the first guy, that may have been a 10 year apprenticeship just to come close to it.